Royals shoot their way past Kwakwani to capture title

Linden: 4X4 U-18 B-ball Tournament…

Brilliant shooting and aggression were hallmarks of the National 3×3 Under-18 Basketball Champions Victory Valley Royals as they crowned themselves the inaugural winners of the novelty 4×4 Under-18 championship over Kwakwani ‘A’ on Saturday night.

The finale ended 18-14 at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court, in a tournament which was staged by United States-based Lindener Gary Stephens in association with the Kings Basketball Club and the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA).
The Royals showed their Royalty once more, as their combination of the National champions Emmanuel LaRose, Kobe Tappin, Omar Green and Delroy Belle, in addition to the female players who had to be on the court according to the rules of this special tournament, in Cliffana Hunter and Reshaba Carroll, proved a winning unit.
In the thrilling final, they held off a surging Kwakwani ‘A’ side comprised of YBG Under-16 Titan Bowl Most Valuable Player Hosea Conway, Elijah David, Hansel John, Huon Bethune and female players Shakeila Sampson and Kennesha Leacock.
It was a superb final, and Kwakwani were in with a chance as they pressed hard for second chances and possession at times, but the will of the Royals proved superior in the end, and justifiably handed them their second crown of the year at this level.
The Royals’ Emmanuel LaRose and Omar Green were awesome close to the basket, while Tappin showed poise in shooting and Belle added variety and steadiness with the female players Hunter and Carroll, who hustled their way into positions throughout the encounter.
In the end, LaRose finished with eight points and Tappin six, to lead the Royals to that win.
For the Kwawkani team, Bethune and David each had four points in a losing cause, as their players came up short.
After the final, Stephens, a former coach and current president of the Kings Basketball Club, told the gathering: “Myself, the Kings Organisation and the LABA made this possible. There were a few hiccups, we ironed it out and I must compliment Mr. Gravesande and his official team. There were (possibly) a few bad calls on both sides.”
He was particularly happy that parents came it to support their kids.
Stephens was very serious about discipline in the game, and he accosted a player who was unwilling to adhere to one of his teammates, saying: “If needs be, the tournament could go lower to under-15, or lower to ensure that players understand the seriousness of being disciplined.”
He noted that players also have to “respect the referees and teammates always.”
He said that once the LABA is on board again, they want to have another tournament targeting the female players’ involvement once more, this time with two male and two female players.
This tournament, unlike the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) recent National Under 18 3×3 qualifiers to select a team to represent Guyana next year in a regional tournament in Guadeloupe, which was won by Victory Valley Royals, was specially arranged for Under 18 Boys, but was open to any age category among the female players, to ensure more participation by clubs.
To reach the final, Kwakwani ‘A’ eliminated their ‘B’ side 12-5, upturning an earlier loss to them in the preliminary round of play; while the Royals again shot their way past Kings 17-14, who had handed them their lone loss in the preliminary round of the competition.