Tertiary Basketball League: Defending champions UG and undefeated LTI to contest final

…as Bayley, Grimmond continue to dominate

Defending champions University of Guyana (UG) and the undefeated Linden Technical Institute (LTI) booked themselves a spot in the 2024 Tertiary Basketball League final, after riveting semi-finals at the National Gymnasium, with contrasting wins.
The first semi-final of the night saw the LTI, with their ability to convert baskets, emerging victorious against a dominant Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), with a 51-point margin of victory for a final score of 89-38.
National junior player Kimol Grimmond, with 32 points, led the LTI from the jump ball, with an all-round performance from his team. Colin Phillips was pivotal as he contributed 20 points supported by Neil Marks with 15 points.
Cadasie Fraser with 16 points and 7 rebounds was the lone scorer to reach double digits for the GSA as the team failed to cross over the finish line.
Grimmond, in giving an exclusive comment to Guyana Times Sport, divulged the key to the team’s success and the confidence they went into the game with.

“Well, we feel great, you know; it’s a wonderful feeling, but we feel good and confident going into the finals tonight. I think it was the same confidence that we came with from the last game against them, so we came with the confidence in the same game and played good defence; we stepped up a little bit on our defence, and our offense scored wonderful,” he remarked.
With the final game of the night being decided from the three-point line, UG managed to prevail with a 16-point victory over Government Technical Institute (GTI). Their opponents failed to score free throws which resulted in their demise 60-44.
With a phenomenal 41 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 steals, Jushawn Bayley continues to be pivotal in UG’s offensive attack with his ability to manoeuvre the ball. He was supported by Malachi Grimmond, who scored 17 points and 5 rebounds.
Also giving an exclusive comment to this publication was UG Head Coach Warren Wilson, who stated that mental fortitude was needed for the win.
Wilson said, “Well, feelings, neither here nor there, ‘cause the job is not finished as yet ,so one more game to play, going back to practice this week to get ready next Sunday against LTI. Well, the thing about it tonight is that I have been talking to our guard, Jushawn over the past couple of weeks about his ability to lead the team and I think he did a good job; he played the kinda game that I wanted to hope that he can this into the finals.”
The champions of the tournament will be decided this Sunday at the National Gymnasium.