San Cas U.B. evens series at 2-all
At various times it looked like either team in the B.B.A. playoffs could turn the series into a route. But instead, the best of five series is knotted at two-all with the final game coming up this Friday. News 5’s James Adderley has the highlights of last night’s big win for San Cas U.B.
James Adderley, Reporting
The Capital Life Basketball Championship, already a hotly contested affair, brought in additional drama for game four last night. A thousand dollars in fines was levied against the defending champion San Cas U.B. for their post game reaction after losing game three 98-92 to the Raiders Friday night.
The U.B. players felt this was the last straw in a steadily deteriorating relationship with the league and at a hastily called meeting yesterday evening decided not to partake at the City Centre court.
Santino Castillo, Sponsor, San Cas U.B.
“We got a letter at the thirteenth hour from the league fining us twelve hundred dollars…and we hadn’t received an fines last year or this year. And the team just felt that if we paid those fines, which they said we had to pay before we play, we would be conceding to guilt. That was the last was like the straw that broke the camel’s back, so deh bwai noh mi want play. I had to go, use a little PR, tell them we will still win tonight, just come. We noh have Jeffrey Clifton, big Shand couldn’t play, and we still wah win.”
Apparently, Santino Castillo was able to convince most of the team to play. In fact even after that, Kevin Shand was sticking to his guns and wouldn’t suit up as Dwight Myvette plays the peacemaker.
Nevertheless, it’s a go around 9:15 p.m., and San Cas goes up against the two and one Raiders without the services of 6’9 Jeff Clifton still in the U.S. and 6’11 Kevin Shand still refusing to perform. So Clinton Fuller steps into the big man role against Raiders big man Thomas Gillespie and we’re underway.
In game four it’s San Cas U.B. with the first bucket thanks to the efforts of American Reggie Elliot. Stepping up, big time tonight is Clinton Fuller, who hails for 3, giving U.B. a quick 7-2 lead.
At the other end, good defence from Gillespie allows Darwin Carter and Dwight Myvette to team up for 2.
Meanwhile, we must say fate certainly loves an underdog because the undermanned U.B. comes up with something even when there’s nothing, if you can see what I mean.
Down by 12, the Raiders go to Darwin and he gets them 3. Bart Sanchez then displays a nice finish off the Dwight Myvette feed. In the meantime, Clinton Fuller Lamb, where was this intensity in game one and three. Must be the minutes.
But it’s the Raiders firmly in control when Brandon Titus flashes the left-hand finger roll. At the half it’s a 47-41 in favour of the team in black, the Raiders.
Just want to say hello to last year’s MVP and this year’s leading scorer Keith Acosta displaying his social skills right here. Looking good my man.
But back to the action, the second half deficit is 6, so U.B. cuts it in half with 3 from Reggie Elliot. The answer, and in Raiders ball, that means Darwin Carter. QED for all you mathematicians.
Of course Clinton Fuller is playing big today as we proceed to demonstrate. But U.B. is still down by 4 and its getting late.
What do you say, better late than never? Well enter the giant Kevin Shand with some 12 minutes to go. Obviously, he has a change of heart. And he says let me say hello to all my little friends whom I’ve kept waiting.
Teammate Reggie Elliot then strikes for 2 as U.B. goes up by 4 with 8 to go. Again, Darwin Carter answers as he beats everybody downcourt and a missed dunk here would have been rather embarrassing.
And coach Brads Neal smells the fat lady, so he lets coach Glenn Gill know, hey, we want a level playing field, we’re tied at 73 apiece.
U.B. grabs a 5-point lead when Reggie Elliot gets this big 2 surrounded by 3 black shirts. Darren Bovell wheels and deals baseline and gets rewarded with a 2 off the glass.
Again when the Raiders show poor defence in moneytime, Darren Bovell makes them pay. And down the stretch U.B. able to convert its free throws to record the 99-91 big W. It’s a shocker.
Brads Neal, Head Coach, San Cas U.B.
“I want to say the first three games we learnt a lot. I think tonight showed us that we can play and we can beat this team. And no matter plane or what playing field they want to play in.”
James Adderley
“So you feel a lot more confident going into Friday night’s ballgame with the arrival of Jeff Clifton, who was not needed tonight?”
Brads Neal
“That is true, and that’s 20 plus points, 15 boards. We could use him. I think we’re gonna change, there’s a lot of things we’re learning, we’re learning a lot about that team and I think we’re ready for game five.”
James Adderley
“I had a feeling before the game that it wouldn’t have happened. I spoke to Santino, your owner/sponsor and he was intimating to me that probably you all wouldn’t have played tonight. Was that a factor on what had you on the bench for so long?”
Kevin Shand, San Cas U.B.
“No, I actually I’m hurt and normally I wouldn’t have played, you know, I had to help my team.”
James Adderley
“Kevin you’ve been a journeymen for a long time. How would you characterise your experience in Belizean basketball this year?”
Kevin Shand
“It’s different, but I got to say there’s some quality basketball here. They fix it up a little bit here and there and you have a great league. But I’ve been all over the world and it’s different.”
James Adderley
“What’s gonna happen Friday night?”
Brads Neal
“Friday night, it’s a toss up. You’ve got to come out and play hard. Whoever doesn’t play hard is gonna lose.”
Santino Castillo
“Half of the team didn’t want to play, half wanted. I told them that the truth is, it’s all for one and one for all, just like the three musketeers. So at the end of the day they say we’re all going. Big Shand wasn’t going to play, but at half time after everybody exited the locker room at halftime, I stayed with him and I said, from a little guy to a big guy, since you’ve been to Belize and I’ve conceded to all the requests, I only want one favour, can you play. Are you hurt that you can’t play, I said, I’ve ridden injured, go in for me noh. He said, but I don’t have my gears and I don’t have my tennis. I said I’ll take you home to get your gears and tennis. And that’s what I did, I took him home and from a little guy to a big guy it was a simple request and that was it.”
James Adderley
“Well this win is obviously what the doctor ordered.”
Santino Castillo
“You’re right.”
James Adderley
“Now going into Friday night, you’re gonna have Jeff Clifton, Kevin Shand is back in business, what’s your prediction?”
Santino Castillo
“It’s will be a San Cas U.B. victory by at least ten points. I could feel it, I mean it’s my time!”
The unexpected occurred at the City centre last night. The Raiders were supposed to have drank champagne, instead they let an undermanned U.B. team steal their thunder. Can they find redemption in game five Friday night at the City Centre? Of course you know it, I do too, the winner Friday night gets the 2002 Capital Life Basketball title. It’s Evan X Hyde against Santino Castillo in a match for all the marbles.
I’m James Adderley, reporting for News 5.
Game time Friday night is 9:30. Fans are urged to buy their tickets early as it will be standing room only at City Centre.
