Police's Mikahail Williams and fellow forward Tyrik Singh of Team Elite will match skills when their teams meet in the final of the Championship Division in the South Zone Basketball League, starting on March 22.
The teams swept their respective best-in-three semifinal series against Bronx and Advanced Genetics in matches played at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando.
The police officers progressed to the final series on Sunday, completing a two-game sweep of Bronx with an 88-80 win in game two in the Big Four Playoffs.
Williams scored a team-high 35 points and his teammates post-player Dextroy Manswell and point guard Joel Hinds, each netted 14 in a match which Police led throughout.
It was no easy runover for the Police team, who despite leading at the end of each quarter – 22-17 in the first, 36-34 at the half and 66-58 in the third – had to contend with Ako Pascal. The forward notched a match-high 44 points, but it was all in vain as he was unable to help the Bronx extend the series after losing game one, 64-50, last week.
Police now head into the best-in-three final against Team Elite, who on Friday closed off the other semifinal series with a competitive 87-64 win over Advanced Genetics.
For the winner, Singh led with 18, Jason Friday poured in 17 and Jelani Valley netted 16 in a match where their team trailed in the first quarter, 17-8. However, Team Elite recovered quickly in the second session to take a 34-31 lead at halftime.
The Elite team pushed further out front in the third, 66-48, and held on to the advantage in the fourth period before sealing the 23-point win.
For Genetics, Michael Pantin (13), Kyle Sergeant (12) and Kirk Baptiste (10) were best on offence.
In more Big Four Playoffs action, Rising Stars and Hoop Nation are one win away from reaching the Under-21 Division final.
Rising Stars met Point Fortin Veterans Basketball Academy (PFVBBA) in the opening match on Sunday and led by 31 points from Ariel La Rode emerged with a 79-74 victory.
Simba Edwards (25) and Justin Mitchell (24) excelled for PFVBBA but their efforts were insufficient. They will aim to rebound in game two tomorrow at 4 pm at the Pleasantville venue.
Today, Club Enterprise will try to do the same against Hoop Nation after falling in game one, 77-56.
Leading the way for Hoop Nation was Ronaldo Palmer with a match-high 24 points while Necoise Moore topscored with 16 for the losing side.
The finals for both divisions start on March 22 at tentative venue, the Southwestern Regional Indoor Spoors Arena in Egypt, Point Fortin.
Results
Sunday
Championship Division
Bronx 80 (Ako Pascall 44, Kent Weekes 7) vs Police 88 (Mikahail Williams 35, Dextroy Manswell 14, Joel Hinds 14). Quarter scores: 1st 22-17 ; 2nd 36-34 ; 3rd. 66-58 (All in favour of Police). Police win series, 2-0.
U-21 Division
PFVBBA 74 (Simba Edwards 25, Justin Mitchell 24, Micahel Jordan 14) vs Rising Stars 79 (Ariel La Rode 31, Kelvin Wellington 15, Khaliyil Jackson 13) OT. Quarter scores: 1st 11-9 (PFVBBA); 2nd 30-29 (Rising Stars); 3rd. 46-31 (PFVBBA); 4th 71-71. Rising Stars lead series, 1-0.
Friday
Advanced Genetics 64 (Michael Pantin 13, Kyle Sergeant 12, Kirk Baptiste 10) vs Team Elite 87 (Tyrik Singh 18, Jason Friday 17, Jelani Valley 16). Quarter scores: 1st 17-8 (Genetics), 2nd 34-31 (Elite), 3rd 66-48 (Elite).
Thursday
Hoop Nation 77 (Ronaldo Palmer 24, Mikiel Phillips 14, Isaac marine 12) vs Club Enterprise 56 (Necoise Moore 16, Joseiah Parris 12, Negus Moore 10). Quarter scores: 1st 14-10; 2nd 32-24; 3rd 61-42 (All in favour of Hoop Nation).
Matches
U-21 Division Big Four Playoffs
Friday
Game 2: Club Enterprise vs Hoop Nation, 7 pm
Saturday
Game 2: Rising Stars vs PFVBBA, 4 pm