It?s Nets vs. Kruzzaz in basketball finals
It was a hastily organised season, played without the presence of big name imports, and as a result attendance has been disappointing. But that has not dampened the enthusiasm of the players of the two teams facing off in the finals of this year’s semi-pro basketball championship. News 5’s Patrick Jones offers a preview of Thursday night’s opener.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The 2004 semi pro championship series will feature Kruzzaz, the rookies of the league, going up against the tried and tested BTL Nets. And there is enough talent on both sides of the court to burn up the hard wood floor. Point Guard Keith Acosta says the guys wearing the green jersey will be playing strong from the tip off.
Keith Acosta, Guard, BTL Nets
?We intend to use the same strategy we?ve been using all season long. That?s to try and speed up the tempo of the game and trying to work with our stronger guys down low in the post and hopefully that helps us to get the advantage.?
But the upstart shooting Guard for the Kruzzaz Marlon Gillett says getting that advantage will be no walk in the park.
Marlon Gillett, Shooting Guard, Kruzzaz
?They?re going to have to bring defence I know. So if they want to stop us that?s what they got to do, because we?re going to bring defence.?
Frank Lord, Coach, Kruzzaz
?Everybody knows BTL; we are very aggressive when it comes to defence and we always think that if you play defence, then your offence will always come easy and that will help you to get over.?
Sounds easy enough, but execution takes a lot of practice and both teams have been wearing out the nets at the Bird?s Isle this week leading up to the opening of the championship series. Kruzzaz Captain Kevin Siroki says while the objective will be to win, for these guys its all just about having fun.
Kevin Siroki, Captain, Kruzzaz
?We become a good team right now. So we?re excited about getting there and I know young kids who haven?t been there yet, you know lot of smiles on their faces, they got a lot of spring in their legs. So we?re excited about that.?
The two teams are fortified with a good number of veteran players mixed expeditiously with young talent to produce what head coaches Fred Gabourel and Frank Lord hope will be the winning formula. Both players and management know that for there to be success, everyone must be heading in the same direction.
Frank Lord
?I think my team is more experienced than the opponents. My core of the talent has been together for some years now. So I think we should have an edge there.?
Keith Acosta
?As they say experience is the key. I think with the team that we have, we have more experienced players than they do. They have Siroki, Kenroy Smith and Kirk Smith; they have a couple of experienced guys. Our team, we have the more experienced guys, myself, Augustine, Bovell, just to name a few, but so we think the more experienced you are the better chance you have at winning. So I think with the experience we have, hopefully we can put it together on the floor come Thursday and get a victory.?
And while it?s become almost cliché by now, the familiar ?it?s BTL?s year for the championship? chants are already beginning to sound in some quarters. Captain of the Nets A.C. Augustine says you can believe the hype this time around for one significant reason.
A.C. Augustine, Captain, BTL Nets
?We got a lot of discipline; the guys listen to older players. Previous teams before didn?t want to do whatsoever you told them, and whenever you talk to them they feel like you are just taking away from their game. And I think no. if you listen to the older guys they have a lot of experience and I think you can go all the way with just unity. Playing as a team you could go very far.?
Marlon Gillett
?The team is unified. We get some tips from the older guys. They guide us around the court or off the court sometimes, so it?s good.?
Keith Acosta
?I think we?ve been trying to instil a bit of more focus with the team plays. We?ve been trying to get the players individually more encouraged to go out and play matter be what they throw at us. But we try to get the players to be more psyched up about the game and more into the game than the previous regular season games.?
And maybe that added focus will help to bring this veteran player his first semi-pro championship. We?ll keep you posted. Patrick Jones, for News Five.
Tip off time for Thursday night’s game is nine thirty. The championship is a best of five series. Games two and three will be played next Wednesday and Friday, with games four and five, if needed, to be played the following Wednesday and Friday.
