POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Georffri Silvestre
Group A
Trinidad and Tobago - Bahamas 86-82
Trinidad and Tobago made it one more time. Three games - three wins and of course the first place in Group A. It means that in CBC Semifinals Trinidad and Tobago will meet the second ranked team from Group B - British Virgin Islands. On the other side, Bahamas for sure stays out of the medal on this contest, but it will continue battle for the fifth place. Their first rival will be No.4 from Group B - Bermuda.
After opening ten minutes of the game the score was tied, 22-22. Bahamas started the second period much stronger, especially at the defensive end. That resulted with only 13 points scored by Trinidad and Tobago until the HT. At the same time Quentin Hall (174-G-77, agency: Promotex, college: Gonzaga) and his teammates drained 24, having comfortable 35-46 lead. However, totally different picture was seen on the court after that. Ian Young (191-G-81, college: Auburn) and Julius Ashby (205-F/C-82, college: Colorado) were on fire, and together with Wilfred Benjamin (201-F/C-84, college: Marist) managed to come on minus 6 before the last frame. During these ten minutes Trinidad and Tobago improved even more (27-17) grabbing the first place in Group A in style.
Ian Young top-scored in victory with 23 points. Julius Ashby had 17 pts and 12 boards, while Wilfred Benjamin also nailed 17 pts, but including 8 rebs. Quentin Hall responded with 24 pts and 7 rebs in loss. Alonzo Hinds (183-G-84, college: Midland CC) and Doyle Hudson (203-F/C-84, college: Roane State JC) contributed with 21 and 11 pts respectively.
Trinidad and Tobago: Ian Young 23, Julius Ashby 17+12 boards, Wilfred Benjamin 17+8 boards
Bahamas: Quentin Hall 24+7 as, Alonzo Hinds 21+6 boards, Doyle Hudson 11
Barbados - Jamaica 74-96
That was the crucial win for Jamaica, who finished the Preliminary Round as No.2 in Group A with 2-1 record. The Jamaicans will meet No.1 of Group B (Cuba) in the Semifinals. Barbados ended the first stage winless having poor 0-3. It will continue in classification round trying to improve and maybe to reach the fifth place. However, it won't be an easy job as they will have to beat Antigua first and after that Bahamas or Bermudas.
Andre Smith (188-G-80, college: NC-Asheville) stepped up for Jamaica yesterday scoring 18 points. Kimani Ffriend (211-C-77, agency: Court Side, college: Nebraska) also was good netting 16, while Samardo Samuels (203-F-89) added 15 pts and 7 boards. Oritseweyinmi Efejuku followed them netting 13 points. In Barbados, Jeremy Gill (183-G-81) was way better than the others delivering 24 points. Andre Lockhart (183-G-86, college: Rust) had 14 and Kelvin Patterson (194-F-77) contributed with 9 pts.
Jamaica was better rival during the entire time. Each of four quarters Jamaicans ended with bigger and bigger lead. During the last 10 minutes they totally slowed down, and despite that finished it 19-21. That was totally deserved 74-96 victory.
Barbados: Jeremy Gill 24, Andre Lockhart 14, Kelvin Patterson 9
Jamaica: Andre Smith 18, Kimani Ffriend 16, Samardo Samuels 15+7 boards, Oritseweyinmi Efejuku 13
Group B
Antigua - Bermuda 70-59
It was a game between two winless teams of Group B. Of course, even before this game it was clear that from this pool Cuba and British Virgin Islands will advance to CBC Semifinals. Antigua and Bermuda will continue battle for the fifth place and the yesterday's winner will have a more chance to do it as they will meet No.4 from Group A (Barbados) in the first game. Bermuda will take on Bahamas. The winners of these two games will play for the fifth and losers for the seventh place.
Marlon Charles (186-G-76) was a key player for Antigua yesterday as he scored 18 points. Toray Henry (203-C-88) also had pretty important role added 13 points and 7 boards. Gerrard Gore and David Mahijah Davis helped with 7 pts apiece. In Bermuda, Akil Smith was on fire with 16 points. John Lee (-82) stopped on 13. Antigua controlled rhythm of the game from the very beginning. After 10 minutes they already had pus 13, as Bermuda scored only 6 points. Later Bermuda improved, but they needed a way more. Third quarter was 20-17 and the last one 15-14 for the winners.
Antigua: Marlon Charles 18, Toray Henry 13+7 boards, Gerrard Gore 7, David Mahijah Davis 7
Bermuda: Akil Smith 16, John Lee 13
British Virgin Islands - Cuba 77-84
That was a derby game of Group B as both teams were undefeated after two days of CBC. Cuba managed to win yesterday and to finish the Preliminary Round on top of the above mentioned pool with 3-0. British Virgin Islands are No.2 and they also go to Semifinals. At that stage Cuba will meet Jamaica, while BVI will take on Trinidad and Tobago. Both games will be played today.
Geoffrei Silvestre (202-F/C-79) (202-F/C-79) was a key player for Cuba collecting 23 points and 9 rebounds. Georvys Elias (199-F-81) had 12 pts and 7 boards, while Allens Jemmott (193-G-80) was the last one with double-digits in scoring - 10 pts. Kennedy Bass (196-F, college: Anderson) responded with 18 points in the loosing squad. BVI also got 15 pts and 6 rebounds from Randy George (200-F-81, college: Henderson St.), while Steve Parillon (196-F-78, college: Henderson St.) added 9 pts and 6 rebs.
Cuba had wonderful first half of the game. After opening quarter it was 14-20 and 10 minutes later the Cubans extended lead to 27-42. At that point it was already clear who will be No.1 in Group B. However, BVI improved a lot after the breather making 28-17 in third stanza, but that was all from them. Cuba managed to stop their run and to finish this game successfully.
British Virgin Islands: Kennedy Bass 18, Randy George 15+6 boards, Steve Parillon 9+6 boards
Cuba: Geoffrei Silvestre 23+9 boards, Georvys Elias 12+7 boards, Allens Jemmott 10
