Defence Force trumps Suriname in final match

After claiming easy victories in their first two matches, Surinamese champions Sociaal Culturele Vereniging Uitvlugt (SCVU) were upset by Super-10 Basketball League holders Defence Force 91-78 in the final match of the Central Zone Basketball Commission’s (CZBC) Republic Day Weekend Regional Basketball Festival, on Sunday. The miniature tournament concluded at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena (CRISA) with the “army/coastguard combination” proving too formidable an opponent. Just as the SCVU opened the tour with straightforward wins over Central All Stars (88-52) and another Super-10 outfit Ministry of Sport (MOS) Schoolaz, Defence Force was just as commanding. After the two teams ended the first period at 16-16, Defence Force began to control the match and left the court at half-time leading by five points (37-32).

 

Defence Force never gave SCVU any sight of a comeback as they ran riot, outscoring the latter team 26-15 to take a healthy 63-47 lead, with one period remaining. SCVU finally had the better exchange in the final period, but only by three points, which was not nearly close enough to consider a comeback. The best finishers of the match came from familiar names in Steven “Lighter” Lewis, who led the pack with 28 points, followed by Derrick Boxill, on 19. Wilt Vincent and Kevan Bacquain assisted with 12 and 11 points, respectively. SCVU’s leading scorer on the day, Roberto Graanoogst finished with 15 points, 12 of which came from the three-point range, while Ryan Russel and Sergio Panka scored 14 and 13 points. In the opening match the Ministry of Sport defeated Central all Stars 76-67. Ronell Winter and Ashton DeMurrell were the top players for MOS Schoolaz, with 22 and 20 points. Mervyn Springer led the charge for Central All Stars with 14 points. The Surinamese team will leave tonight.