Defense Force stops Morvant Oilbirds

Defense Force began their title quest with a hard fought 60-56 victory over a young Morvant Oilbirds team during the second week of the Destiny Invitational Arima League (DIAL), Premier Division, at the Princess Royal Basketball Court on Thursday 25 January.

Prior to the start of the tier one clash, The Honourable Penelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development, made an appearance. Minister Beckles, who is also the Member of Parliament for Arima, spoke highly of the talent on display, commending the event's organizers for creating a platform for current and future stars to showcase their abilities, and expressing great anticipation for the finals of the event.

From the tipoff, Morvant Oilbirds led by point guard Kevon Williams with a game high 22pts control the early tempo against their experienced opponents. By the end of the first quarter, Oilbirds were ahead, 18-13. From the second session, the army team regain ground outscoring Oilbirds 16-9 and 16-11 in the third. The final period started with Defense Force ahead by seven points, 38-45, but Oilbirds retaliated when Head Coach Casey Belgrave subsistuted for a two point guard lineup by inserting Leo Medina to play alongside Williams. Median was immediately impactful at both ends of the floor. With less than 2mins left, Oilbirds regained a 3-point lead as Medina scored a layup followed by two free throws in the next possession. However, several unforced errors by Oilbirds and a late surge by Defense Force led by Jedidiah Celestine with 21pts, 1ast, 4rebs, 4stls & 1blk inspired an exciting win. Williams, also added 1ast, 5rebs & 1stl for the Morvant based team, while forward Michael Cruickshank enjoyed a career high 4 blocks.

Meanwhile in Thursday's opening fixture, UWI faced off against Maloney Pacers in a roller coaster Championship Division clash. Pacers led in the 1st, but UWI responded in the 2nd. It was a deadlock in the 3rd, but Pacers pulled away in a decisive final quarter.

On Saturday (27th), Championship Division action unfolded as Matthew Pierre Basketball Academy faced off against the University of Trinidad and Tobago. UTT got off to a great start in the 1st quarter, but Matthew Pierre found their rhythm, dominating the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters to secure a 63 - 52 victory. In the Premier Division showdown, NCA brought early fireworks against Black Mamba, securing strong leads in the 1st and 2nd quarters. While Black Mamba rallied in the 3rd, it wasn't enough to turn the tide. NCA maintained their advantage, clinching a 72 - 63 win.

The final game day began with Spartans TT taking on Defense Force in an explosive Championship Division matchup. Signaling their intent from the opening tip-off, Spartans dominated from the jump, outscoring Defense Force in each quarter. Their relentless performance not only secured a convincing 102 - 48 victory but also maintained their position at the pinnacle of the Championship standings.

In the evening's Premier Division battle, tournament favourites Maloney Pacers displayed unwavering consistency, maintaining a stellar scoring pace. Despite a spirited comeback by Caracas City, the dynamic duo of the Boyd twins, Ahkeem (36 points) and Ahkeel (31 points), proved insurmountable. Pacers emerged victorious with a final score of 103 - 88, solidifying their top spot in the standings.