Laventille will be making full use of its home ground advantage today when the title favourite hosts La Romaine in the first leg of the Hoop of Life Community Basketball League semifinal at St Barb's Basketball Court, Laventille, tonight, from 7 pm.
However, La Romaine is expected to travel with sizeable south-based support as they relish having the home court advantage in this home and away series. The second leg, and ultimately the decider, will be played in La Romaine on Sunday.
Laventille entered the Big Four following the team's incredible win over Maloney at the same venue two Wednesdays ago, after they defeated the Eastern winner 96-63. Maloney had earlier defeated the "Boys from the Hill" 95-66 in the opening fixture of the Elite Eight quarterfinal.
It meant Laventille had to score 30 points or more than its rivals to make the cut. A daunting task, but with a home crowd backing the team with its rhythm section, they were able to show a gutsy finish by getting a three-point lead to take the match at the end of the fourth quarter.
La Romaine, however, enters the Big Four as the only unbeaten team in the 60-team league and will be seeking its tenth win in a row. In its last outing, the team demolished Cocorite 121-69.
In both teams' quest for the grand $1 million prize, tonight's encounter is slated to be a thriller.
?
