Underdogs and first-time finalist C.A.M Smart Assurance City United Celtics registered the ideal start, defeating Burger King Clapham Bulls 72-65 on the opening night of the Co-operators General Insurance Barbados Amateur Basketball Association Premier League three-best-of-five finals.
Played on Saturday at the Barbados Community College, the Celtics held the advantage throughout the match, taking the lead 17-16, 38-28 and 59-53 in the first three stanzas over last year’s runnersup Clapham Bulls.
The Celtics starting five led by the unstoppable Joel Hunte with a game-high 21 points, Renico Brewster (16), Markahli Downie (9), Anand Joseph-Thorne (7) and Theo Greenidge (7), were energetically pumped up from the start.
Even before the tipoff, the Celtics’ attitude during their warm-up sessions looked intense. There was a clear level of focus and that translated onto the court, passing possession around the wings and corners for several three-point shots.
Brewster in particular had four of six treys for Celtics while other contributors to the overall tally were Joshua Gibbs (7) and Captain Tehron King (5).
Coached by Charles Vanderpool, the Celtics performances thus far in top-flight basketball has been phenomenal having ousted last year’s champions Pinelands in the two bestof- three semi-final playoffs a few days ago to reach their maiden league final.
The Celtics on paper had the best defensive implementation with 57-46 compared to the Bulls. Just as good as Brewster and Hunte were at serving those beastly cold three-point shots over the head of Bull’s defence, they were also just as good at securing possession on defence.
Played on Saturday at the Barbados Community College, the Celtics held the advantage throughout the match, taking the lead 17-16, 38-28 and 59-53 in the first three stanzas over last year’s runnersup Clapham Bulls.
The Celtics starting five led by the unstoppable Joel Hunte with a game-high 21 points, Renico Brewster (16), Markahli Downie (9), Anand Joseph-Thorne (7) and Theo Greenidge (7), were energetically pumped up from the start.
Even before the tipoff, the Celtics’ attitude during their warm-up sessions looked intense. There was a clear level of focus and that translated onto the court, passing possession around the wings and corners for several three-point shots.
Brewster in particular had four of six treys for Celtics while other contributors to the overall tally were Joshua Gibbs (7) and Captain Tehron King (5).
Coached by Charles Vanderpool, the Celtics performances thus far in top-flight basketball has been phenomenal having ousted last year’s champions Pinelands in the two bestof- three semi-final playoffs a few days ago to reach their maiden league final.
The Celtics on paper had the best defensive implementation with 57-46 compared to the Bulls. Just as good as Brewster and Hunte were at serving those beastly cold three-point shots over the head of Bull’s defence, they were also just as good at securing possession on defence.(ML)
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