Centre Dwayne Virgil won the battle of the big men when he scored a season-best 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds which helped Valencia Heat to a 69-67 win against Petro Jazz in Game-1 of the Best-in-Seven Big-Four finals of the Mackeson Super 10 Basketball League at the Southern Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville, San Fernando on Wednesday.
Valencia Heat trailed at half-time 33-32 but rallied to lead the third quarter 48-47. After two lead changes in the fourth Valencia Heat Jazz took a 64-62 lead with three minutes to play and never looked back.
Virgil was supported by forward Fabrice Fisher, who scored 16 points and 12 rebounds. For Jazz which will travel to Maloney for Game-2 on Friday night, point-guard Adrain Joseph scored 13 points and centre Steve McSween had 11 and five rebounds. Forward Ako Pascal was held to a season and play-off low of just four points.
In the first match, Quarters United defeated Police 72-66 in Game-1 of the Women's Best-in-five Finals. Quarters which led the contest 25-12; 36-28 and 55-54 after three sessions of play, got 20 points and 11 rebounds from Pietra Gay, Donnette Reed also scored 20 points and Melissa Guerero finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
For Police forward Rhonda John-Davis netted 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds while centre Alicia Liverpool and forward Kielle Connelly both finished with 11 points.
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