GBF Elite 16 knockout basketball tourney 2024: Region 10 teams secure tourney’s semifinal spots

– after sending Georgetown teams packing

Region 10 teams Kwakwani Untouchables and Victory Valley Royals have booked their spots in the semifinals of the Guyana Basketball Federation Elite 16 Knockout Basketball tournament, after showcasing their prowess in come-from-behind victories against Georgetown teams on Wednesday evening at the National Gymnasium.
The Kwakwani Untouchables decimated the Pacesetters in the first game, despite the Untouchables’ offensive unit not powering in the first quarter, when The Pacesetters had a 24-17 advantage.
In the second quarter, the Untouchables, showing glimpses of their shooting ability, managed to reduce the Pacesetters’ lead by putting up 14 points. The scoreline read 37-31 at the end of that period.
With the Pacesetters enjoying a nine-point lead at the end of the third quarter,
they appeared to be on course for a win, but the determined Untouchables managed to convert that 9-point deficit to a 3-point lead, and the scoreline at the end of the game read 69-66.

Guyana Times Sport spoke with Kimmol Grimmond of the Kwakwani Untouchables after the game, and he emphasized that the team focused on defence and talks within the group coming from the first half.
Grimmond said, “Honestly, we focused more on defence tonight, because we were slacking up a lot. We realized we were slacking up since the last game, and tried to do better this game. What we talked about in the line-up is: ‘Just don’t lose confidence. Keep being aggressive, and just don’t give up. Even if we’re down 11-8, just don’t give up’. We still need to stop making a lot of fouls and giving a lot of free throws to opponents to nine in the third quarter.
“The final scoreline for that quarter was 68-49, giving the Untouchables a significant lead. We need to cut down on that and maintain our composure and keep our offensive.”
The University of Guyana Trojans saw their powerful season come to an end in the night’s final game, as the Victory Valley Royals, with their emphatic performance and their ability to make penetrative passes, secured a 16–point win. The scoreline read 91-75.