Big 4 Semifinals: Nets Clinch Finals Spot, Pacers Edge Royalty in U17 Thriller

The Kelvin Roberts North Zone Basketball Commission League delivered another night of high drama on August 28 at the Woodbrook Youth Center. Both the First Division semifinal and the U17 third-place playoff went down to the wire, each decided by a single point, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

Feature Game: Straker Nets 58 – TTDF 55

Straker Nets booked their place in the First Division finals with a second straight hard-fought win over the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF), clinching a 58–55 victory in a low-scoring thriller. The Nets will now face the unbeaten Maloney Pacers in the championship series.

The tone was set early. Nets gained a slim 16–12 lead in the first quarter behind Richard Guiseppe, who drilled two three-pointers. TTDF responded in the second, as Ivan Williams hit back-to-back triples in the closing minutes to outscore Nets 18–12, putting the army ahead 30–28 at halftime.

The third quarter was evenly matched, both sides adding 11 points. TTDF got buckets from Zion Nicholas and Kensley Sandy, while Maurice Francis answered with a clutch three-pointer for Nets, leaving the score tied 41–39 heading into the final session.

The decisive fourth quarter brought the drama. Nets leaned on their experienced guard Sadiki Guerra, who poured in five points, including four crucial free throws. TTDF fought back through Jediah Celestine and Williams, who nailed two late threes to keep the game alive. But in the end, steady free-throw shooting made the difference. Shaquille Lewis, Chike Augustine, and Guerra sealed it at the line, outscoring TTDF 19–14 to punch Nets’ finals ticket.

Top Performers – Straker Nets:

Sadiki Guerra – 13 pts (1 three), Triston Benjamin – 12 pts

Top Performers – TTDF:

Kensley Sandy – 15 pts, Jediah Celestine – 11 pts (1 three), Ivan Williams – 10 pts (2 threes)

Quarter Scores:

1st: Nets 16–12 TTDF

2nd: Nets 12–18 TTDF (Halftime: TTDF 30–28)

3rd: Nets 11–11 TTDF (TTDF 41–39)

4th: Nets 19–14 TTDF (Final: Nets 58–55)

U17 Third-Place Playoff: Maloney Pacers 64 – Royalty 63

The night opened with a classic in the U17 division, as Maloney Pacers rallied from double digits down to snatch third place with a dramatic 64–63 win over Royalty.

Royalty started strong, leading 21–17 in the first behind Jason Best (7 points, including a three) and Jaheem King, who added another triple at the buzzer. They extended their lead to 38–31 at halftime, with King again connecting from deep, while Pacers’ Kayne George kept his side close with six points in the quarter.

Royalty looked in control after the third, stretching the lead to 56–45 thanks to Jalen Elun’s explosive 9-point burst, including a three-pointer. But the game turned in the final session.

Pacers stormed back as Royalty’s offense faltered, outscoring them 19–7 in the fourth. George scored seven more points to cut the gap to 60–61, but King answered for Royalty to make it 63–61. From there, Isaiah Mitchell scored to trim it to 63–62 before Joshua Finlenelle delivered the game-winner in the closing moments, sealing a memorable comeback victory for Pacers.

Top Performers – Pacers:

Nkobe Ince – 21 pts, Kayne George – 17 pts, Joshua Finlenelle – 13 pts

Top Performers – Royalty:

Jalen Elun – 15 pts (1 three), Jason Best – 14 pts (1 three)

Quarter Scores:

1st: Pacers 17–21 Royalty

2nd: Pacers 14–17 Royalty (Halftime: Royalty 38–31)

3rd: Pacers 14–26 Royalty (Royalty 56–45)

4th: Pacers 19–7 Royalty (Final: Pacers 64–63)

The Final Awaits

The stage is set for the Big 4 finals. The unbeaten Maloney Pacers will square off against Straker Nets in a best-of-three series beginning September 6 at 8:30 p.m. at the Woodbrook Youth Center. Pacers will look to defend their perfect record, while Nets aim to avenge their regular-season loss and claim the championship.

Meanwhile, TTDF and Morvant Oilbirds will battle for third place on September 4.