NFM cruise into b-ball final

NATIONAL Flour Mills, the Royal Extra Stout North zone champions, cruised into the final of the renewed National Basketball Championships, following a 90-81 victory over PSAEL Marabella Raptors in Game 2 of the best-of-three semi-finals. Playing in front their home crowd at the Pleasantville Indoor Complex, San Fernando, the Raptors put in a spirited display in Saturday night’s game, but it was just not good enough. “Flour” dusted off to a ten-point lead at the end of the opening stanza — 25-15, and they extended it to 12 points at the half-time interval at which they led 41-29. Raptors only managed to trim one point off the lead at the end of the third period 62-51. But with “Flour” clearing their bench midway through the final quarter, the Raptors managed to outscore them 30-28.

Ashley “Dr Dunk” Bynoe led “Flour” with 19 points and nine rebounds.  He also blocked two shots. David King added 15 points and nine rebounds and Keston King poured in 12 points, ten rebounds and three assists. Ako Pascall knocked in a game-high  31 points, five boards and four assists for Raptors, who also got 25 points from Luie Davis along with eight carooms, and Damien Caton had 11 points, ten rebounds and two blocked shots. “Flour” will now meet UTC Maloney Pacers in the best-of-three match final starting on Wednesday. Police forced a deciding Game 3 with Courts Horizon in the women category following their 61-58 triumph also at Pleasantville on Saturday night. Adina Cummings led the Policewomen with a game-high 19 points and added four rebounds, while Peggy Ann Brown had 15 points, two rebounds and four assists and Monica Maule had 13 points and six rebounds. Chezelle Griffith had 18 points and eight rebounds for Horizon, with Philomena George contributing 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists and Sasha James 11 points.