Basketball: League Championship-Baya’s wings clipped, Désir’s killer trey |23 May 2006

Defending Men division 1A champions PLS Hawks, who had also lost to SMB Razorback on a day of double upset, redeemed themselves with an 84-75 defeat of Baya, proving to their supporters that they remain a strong candidate for the defence of their own little.

Unlike PLS Hawks who must be happy to have reversed the situation, Premium Cobras will have to wait a little longer before they get back to winning ways after their match against MBU Rockers on Sunday was postponed because of a lack of officials.

Also last Saturday in the Baya/PLS Hawks match, some spectators got back to their bad habit of throwing bottles onto the court. Although the referees allowed play to continue, there will surely come a time when matches will be stopped as officials will not be able to handle the situation.

When this happens, it is the image of the sport that is tarnished. It is preferable then that spectators behave themselves and avoid getting into trouble which could very well reflect on their teams.

PLS Hawks 84 … Baya 75

With PLS Hawks taking a 28-18 lead at the end of the first quarter, it was clear that Baya, who went into the match with a four-game winning streak, were going have a fight on their hands.

Although Bernard Cherry equalised at 28-28 on a lay-up with two minutes elapsed in the second quarter, PLS Hawks, through Baya’s former player Nigel Annette, distanced themselves from the Bel Air-based team.

As if he had a score to settle against his ex-team, small forward Annette gave PLS Hawks the impetus, banking four treys for 12 of his 18 points, two less than the total of big centre Barry Baron.

With Dave Roseline fouling out with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter and shooting guard Steve Denis a shadow of his usual devastating self - missing or not even setting himself free to attempt shots - Baya trailed by 14 points (63-77).

Playing like a wounded team, PLS Hawks, who were still without Ugandan all-rounder Stephen Omony who is out of the country, got 14 points from veteran power forward Jim Domingue, while playmaker and reigning basketballer of the year Thomas Collie intelligently avoided fouling out after having been hit with his fourth personal foul early in the fourth quarter.

For Baya, centre Robert Léon had the hot hands with 23 points including his team’s first six in the game, while Denis and Nigerian Ugoh made contributions of 10 points apiece.

Following the defeat, the first in five games for Baya in this year’s Men division 1A league, coach Michel Malbrook’s team have lost top spot in the eight-team standings on the head-to-head rule.

Both Baya and PLS Hawks have nine points but the latter sit in the driver’s seat thanks to their win over the former.

Angels 76 … RC Dynamics 56

After putting an end to a three-game losing streak, RC Dynamics came to the Palais des Sports last Saturday looking for their second win but they fell short against a determined Angels who had themselves been on a two-match losing skid.

Coach James Joubert’s Angels did a terrific job on the offensive end, outscoring RC Dynamics 22-17, 20-17 and 22-4 in the first three quarters and they could afford to lose the fourth 12-18.

Norcy Agathine was on fire for Angels, scoring 16 points including three 3-pointers, while skipper Steven Servina was the Anse Boileau-based team’s only other player in double digits with 14 points.

Missing centre Terry Poris and with captain Hendricks Denis netting a paltry two points, Kenneth Domingue carried RC Dynamics’ scoring load with a game-leading 19 points, 12 of which came from behind the 3-point arc.

With the win, Angels have brought their points tally to seven out of a possible 10 in five games to hold fourth position, while RC Dynamics, coached by Jim Domingue, are fifth with six points.

Bel Air 45 ... Mont Fleuri 44

A 3-pointer by Burtina Désir with 1 minute 40 seconds left on the clock gave Bel Air the lead at 45-44 and it proved to be the killer shot against Mont Fleuri who had led all along.

Bel Air, who had lost to Hot Shots in their previous match and were starring defeat in the face on Sunday, celebrated victory by the slightest of margins for their third win in four games. They boast seven points and occupy third place on the seven-team table.

Malagasy forward Lalatiana Razaiarisoa carried Bel Air’s scoring load with 16 points and Désir added 11.
For Mont Fleuri, who have now suffered three defeats in five games and are in fourth position with seven points, power forward Bernadette Songor finished with 23 points to lead all scores.

Songor, who has shed weight and whose game has improved, needs more support in the front court if Mont Fleuri are to make a serious challenge on winning the championship.

Hots Shots, with five wins and a defeat for 11 points, lead the standings and are followed in second place by defending champions Anse Etoile Stars with 10 points after five wins in as many games played.

Meanwhile, in three Men division 1B matches, Anse Etoile beat Praslin Warriors 55-52, Pointe Larue Falcons defeated Bel Air Blazers 68-60 and AAP Brothers inflicted a 38-32 defeat on Beau Vallon Heat.

In the men’s second division, RA Herons had to work hard for their 73-70 win over Pointe Larue Falcons.

G. G.