AS the Eastern Community Basketball League moved into the semi-final stages at the Maloney Indoor Sport Complex, Unit Trust Maloney Pacers whipped  the Maloney Old School outfit 102-64. The 38-point victory was courtesy good performances for Pacers both on offence and defence by Derrick Boxhill and Kenyatta Alfred who scored 12 points each, giving support to Michael Alert who had a  game-high 25. On defence the Pacers pair of Julian Kenny ripped down 15 rebounds and also had  three blocked shots, while Kenrick Bernard had 14 rebounds and four steals. Kirt Pierre was Old School’s saving grace scoring a cheeky 20 points and hauling in nine rebounds, while Anderson Joseph scored 12 and Andre Morrel put in 11, while getting four rebounds and two blocks and handing out three assists.

In another game, after being deadlocked at half-time Marabella Raptors and Edinburgh 500 Hawks were separated by 15 points at the final whistle. Raptors fought off  their opponents to record an 83-68 win. The efforts of Hawks leading scorer Dereck Hughue, who put in 14 points accompanied by nine rebounds, and Khary Alexis who added 13 and pulled down 10 rebounds, came to nil as Ako Pascal had eight steals and a game-high 23 points for Raptors. Louie Davis  supported Pascal with 21 points,  Damian Caton had 16 and claimed 11 rebounds and four steals. Semi-final action continues at the Maloney Indoor Sport Complex

MORVANT JETS will stage their 25th athletic championships at the Morvant Recreation Ground, Park Street, Morvant on July 27. The 96-event programme,  including road and track and field events catering to youths between the ages of nine and 23 will begin at 11am. An affiliate of the National Athletic Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NAATT),  the club consists mainly of school children from ages five to 19 with 15 adult members. Contested in six age groups, the championships feature a unique no loser format, as all places apart from the first three will receive participation awards in a total prize package of $8,400. Among the club’s members are CARIFTA bronze and gold medallist Carlan Arthur, Joel Romain, Onica George and Junior John, who have become role models in their community. The main objective of the Morvant Jets are to enhance the total development of their membership.

TOP seeded stars Sho Sasaki (men) and Anu Weckstrom (women) showed their class and moved to the round of 16 at  the 2003 Caribbean Regional Bad-minton Confederation (CAREBACO) International Championships at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex yesterday.

As the battle heats up for the places into the medal rounds, Sasaki, the Japanese world-rated number 29 player, first took care of Suriname’s junior champion Virgil Soeroredjo at 15-2 and 15-4. He returned to the court later in the day to whip world-ranked Andrew Dadeka 15-3 and 15-1. The immensely-talented and agile southpaw will clash with Spain’s champion Arturo Ruiz who got the better of the plucky Trinidadian Kerwyn Pantin at 15-7 and 15-5. But he had to pull out all the stops to get past Japanese Kwawagucchi at 13-15, 15-3 and 15-12. TT’s three-time singles champion, Anil Seepaul (#312), fought bravely but could not withstand the power and placements of world number-63-ranked Tooru Matsumoto who triumphed at 15-4 and 15-4.

The Japanese star did not have it that easy against Germany’s Stefan Wojcikiewicz (rated #88) but prevailed with superb drop shots and court mastery. Matsumoto won at 10-15, 17-15 and 15-8. His compatriot Yuichi Ikeda (#70) disposed of Pardo (#84) 15-5 and 15-0 and will battle with Canada’s Bobby Milroy (#46) who outfoxed American Ragu Rai (#162) at 15-9 and 15-9. Portugal’s Marco Vasconceles (#66) defeated Canada’s Kyle Hunter (#210) 15-5 and 15-4 and will face up the might of the tournament’s number two seed, Conrad Huickstadt in the round of 16 today. Germany’s Huickstadt got a mild a scare from the talented Suriname’s Mitchell Wongsodikromo who claimed the first set at 12-15 but did not have the experience to create the biggest shock of these annual championships which became an International Badminton Federation (IBF) Grade I tournament   since 1999. The 17-year-old showed glimpses of great potential before bowing out at 15-4 and 15-3. And the German, world-rated numder 46, outlasted the determined Spaniard Sergio Llopis (#71) at 15-5 and 15-11. On the distaff side, Finland’s Anu Weckstrom (#22) blanked out Barbados three- time champion Dionne Forde 11-0 and 11-0 and will take on Jamaica’s leading star Nigella Saunders (#161) who made light work of USA’s Meginee Mangkalakari (#70) at 11-5 and 11-1.

TT’s senior runner-up Zeudi Mack provided stiff  resistance in the second set but Japanese Miyo Akao (#105) romped to 11-0 and 11-8 victory. Canada’s Charmaine Reid (#27), rated number two for this Championship, had easy passage against TT’s former junior champion Nadine Julien at 11-3 and 11-0. She will take on American Eva Lee (#137) who turned back Santi Wibowo (#73) at 11-5 and 11-4. Her compatriot, Jody Patrick (#89) created a mild upset when she whipped Finland’s Nina Weckstrom (#34) 11-4 and 11-3. She will now face Peru’s champion Lorena Blanco who beat Barbados Mariama Eastmond 11-3 and 11-4. TT’s juniors  Rahul Rampersad (under 19), Justin Siu (under-17), Vikie Singh (under-17), Earnesto Dean (under-17) and KerryAnn Quan Chee (under-17) also made it to the round of 16 in their respective age groups singles competition. The real fireworks starts at 10 am as players battle for places to the quarter-finals and medal rounds. The men’s doubles and mixed doubles among the open category were contested last night.

AN 18-member cricket team from the Paradise Youth Organisation will play four matches during their forthcoming tour of St Vincent. The team, led by Bobby Kallie with Pradeep Singh as his deputy, will be in  St Vincent from July 25-August 4.

Team:  – Bobby Kallie (capt), Pradeep Singh (vice-capt), David Romero, James Carlos Boodram, Deonarine Maniram, Surendra Kallie, John Fernandes, Gagraj Pirman, Robert Perreira, Sonah Ramdath, Richard Perriera, Derryck Ragoobar, Nizamath Ali, Frank Joseph, Faran Beharrysingh, Beolal Sagram, Subash Ragbir (managers), Kenneth Ninah.

THIS year there will be $5,000 in cash and other prizes at stake in the Croisee Supermarket Football League. Action in the league was scheduled to get underway on Sunday last. Senator Satish Ramroop of the Chaguanas area pledged to support the league with a grant of $5,000, while Croisee Supermarket will take up the rest the slack in staging the 2003 series.

KINGSTON: World netball queens Australia moved one step closer to keeping their crown, when they beat hosts Jamaica 48-43 in their final preliminary round game of the 2003 Cable & Wireless 11th World Netball Championships in front a vociferous crowd at the National Sports Centre, here last night.

The Sunshine Girls who lost a warm-up series 2-1 to the Aussies in May this year, made a spirited  effort. The first quarter ended 10-10, Jamaica led 21-20 at the half, but the Aussies took over for good 34-31 at the end of the third period. But with star goal-attack Eloise Southby in accurate form, the Jamaicans who fancied their chances of becoming only the second country apart from the Aussies, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago to win the coveted title, were nullified. Earlier, coach Maureen Hall said, “The game means a lot to us and we will be giving it our best shot.”

In addition to wanting to maintain their winning  momentum, the Sunshine Girls who won their opening four games were hoping to beat the Australians so as to avoid a semi-final clash with New Zealand. The much vaunted Silver Ferns last night extended their unbeaten run by beating England 60-41. Australia will be matched against England who recovered from their defeat to the Silver Ferns to beat Nuie 67-21 in the other semi-final.

Other scores last night: SAMOA (52) vs USA (44); GRENADA (31) vs SCOTLAND (53); ENGLAND (67) vs  NIUE (21); ST. VINCENT (71) vs CAYMAN (24); HONG KONG (25) vs NORTHERN IRELAND (58); BERMUDA (24) vs WALES (49); ST. LUCIA (47) vs CANADA (30); ANTIGUA/BARBUDA (59) vs SRI LANKA (67).

Trinidad and Tobago will be based in Jamaica for this year’s Red Stripe Bowl limited overs cricket series which gets underway from October 1.

This country will be grouped with hosts Jamaica, Canada, The Rest Of The Leewards and  the Windwards champions. A source close to the situation noted, however, that there could be some adjustments made and these will have to be discussed by WICB officials. The tournament is slated to run from October 1 to 19, with the first zonal round being played in Antigua and Jamaica from October 1 to 12. The Final Four will again be played on Jamaica’s north coast, with the semifinals on October 16 and 17 and the final on October 19. There is a possibility that the Windwards could revert to one side and either West Indies “B” (Under-23s) or the West Indies Under-19s could take that slot.

The source said this would make more sense as the Windwards champs have been weak over the years and a developmental side would allow more of the region’s talented players on the horizon  to get exposure. What is working in favour of a West Indies Under-19 side is that the Bowl would serve as early preparation for the International Cricket Council Youth World Cup, which is slated to be played in Bangladesh  in January to February, 2004. The West Indies side for that tournament is to be selected after the TCL Group Tournament in Guyana next month and the Bowl could give the players a first chance to play as a team.

Defending champions Barbados could have a smooth path to the Final 4 during this year’s Red Stripe Bowl Competition. It shows the Bajans coming up against lightweights University of the West Indies, Antigua and Barbuda, Rest Of Windward Islands; with the only real challenge expected from Guyana. In related news Trinidad and Tobago opener Imran Jan who has been performing very well in the English leagues will be coming back in time for trials that will get underway early next month. There were some concerns that the left hander would not be back in time, instead fulfilling his contract in the Durham League, but a source close to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) revealed that he would be back for the warm-up games and trials.

TRAINER Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj never fails to seize the opportunity when it arises to earn upkeep with his horses. And the first two races on the Arima Race Club Day 22 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday, is a classic example of his knowledge and shrewd placements. Maharaj, who owns and trains one of the the largest strings of horses at our centralised racing facility, again saw an opening to earn prize money  in the early events by dominating them with entries from his stable. Maharaj has ploughed in 14 of the total of 17 runners in the two events, which guarantees him a minimum of five prizes. The astute Maharaj, who brought his two-year-olds to an advanced stage early in the season, has again been a dominant force in the 900 metres opener with seven entrants in  the eight-runner field.

And alike the opening juvenile event this season two weeks ago, his lone opposition will be the Harold Chadee-trained Shear Magic. In the Handicap 1 and Lower contest, which is the day’s feature on the 10-race card, the stable famous for the green and white colours has a similar number of runners. In that 1100 metres spotlight,  his string, which in the main comprises Man Of Class, Smooth Operator and The Guv’nor will be opposed by Song Of Freedom and Champagne Wager. With the racing enjoying a nest day next weekend,  trainers filled the card with a total of 95 entries.

Following are the framed races, entries, weights and jockeys for the entire card.
RACE 1: (12.15pm) W I BRED 2 Y.O MAIDENS – PURSE $22,000 – 900 METRES.
1. SUNDAY JEWEL – 53 – L.KEIZER, 2. JAVA IN STYLE – 55 – R.SINGH, 3. SHEAR MAGIC – 55 – B.HARDING, 4. LAURA’S BOY – 55 – L.MUNOZ, 5. ALL SET FOR BATTLE – 55 – J.ARNEAUD, 6. SALSA MOVES – 55 – F.RAZACK, 7. MUSIC MAN – 55 – K.BISSOON, 8. JAVA TAKEOVER – 53 – R.MANGALEE.
RACE 2: (12.50pm) HANDICAP 1 & LOWER – PURSE $32,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
1. HEMLOCK FALLS – 44.5 – R.CHADEE, 2. SMOOTH OPERATOR – 54.5 – J.ARNEAUD, 3. MAN OF CLASS – 52.5 – L.MUNOZ, 4. SONG OF FREEDOM – 56.5 – B.HARDING, 5. SWEET LAURA LEE – 46 – F.RAZACK, 6. MANDELA – 50 – L.KEIZER, 7. JOINT VENTURE – 45 – K.BISSOON, 8. THE GUV’NOR – 51.5 – R.MANGALEE, 9. CHAMPAGNE WAGER – 52 – R.JADOO.

RACE 3: (1.25pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($6,000 – $5,000) – PURSE $14,000 – 1350 METRES.
1. KAY GEE BEE – 53.5 – R.FREEMAN, 2. REGENT BOY – 48.5 – V.CHARLES, 3. JUSTICE – 51.5 – W.GALVIZ, 4. CASH REWARD – 54.5 – R.JADOO, 5. ONCE IN A LIFETIME – 49.5 – W.BHARATH, 6. MUTOLA – 46.5 – B.HARDING, 7. MYSTILE – 50.5 – L.MUNOZ, 8. BOBS TREASURE – 51.5 – L.KEIZER.

RACE 4: (2.02pm) STARTER ALLOWANCE – W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER WINNERS AND IMPORTED 3 Y.O & OVER – PURSE $23,000 – 1200 METRES.
1. GOLD CONVEYOR – 56.5 – L.MUNOZ, 2. BAJAN CONNECTION – 47.5 – L.KEIZER, 3. LOVELY HONOREE – 54.5 – W.GALVIZ, 4. GAZA STRIP – 49.5 – R.JADOO, 5. FROMNOWUNTIL – 46.5 – W.BHARATH, 6. ISLE BE TRUE – 50.5 – H.EMAMALIE, 7. BON VOYAGE – 49.5 – R.MANGALEE, 8. SQUEEZED MOMENT – 48.5 – G.LABAN.
RACE 5: (2.38pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF FOUR RACES IN CAREER – PURSE $20,000 – 1250 METRES.
1. SUPREME DANCER – 56.5 – S.RODRIGO, 2. QUEEN’S BAND – 54 – G.LABAN, 3. INDIAN DECISION – 53 – N.ABREGO, 4. TRICKY GUY – 55.5 – R.PERSAD, 5. TORONTO STAR – 53.5 – B.HARDING, 6. FRANCESCA – 53 – R.JADOO, 7. RUBY RICH – 53.5 – W.GALVIZ.

RACE 6: (3.15pm) 23 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($7,500 – $6,500) – PURSE $17,000 – 1150 METRES.
1. COTONOU – 48.5 – G.LABAN, 2. VAQUEIRO – 48.5 – L.KEIZER, 3. INDIAN GAME – 53.5 – R.MANGALEE, 4. TOUCH WOOD – 53.5 – S.RODRIGO, 5. INDIAN TROUBLE – 46.5 – K.BISSOON, 6. STORMY SEASON – 52.5 – N.ABREGO, 7. SHEZABUTE – 46.5 – R.JADOO, 8. ESTILON – 51.5 – R.FREEMAN, 9. CAT WOMAN – 47.5 – W.BHARATH.

RACE 7: (3.50pm) HANDICAP – W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES IN CAREER – PURSE $19,000 – 11OO METRES (TURF).
1. RICHIE RICH – 48.5 – W.BHARATH, 2. REIGN OF FIRE – 53 – R.JADOO, 3. MIR ON FIRE – 56.5 – K.BISSOON, 4. A FIRM RELIEF – 54 – N.ABREGO, 5. LOUD MUSIC – 53 – J.ARNEAUD, 6. LADY ROSSIE – 49.5 – W.GALVIZ, 7. AFFIRM DECISION – 55 – B.HARDING, 8. HYARIMA – 50 – S.RODRIGO, 9. NATURELLY CLASSY (M.0) – 54.5 – H.EMAMALIE, 10. TRIBAL PLACE – 44.5 – F.RAZACK.

RACE 8: (4.27pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O MAIDENS – PURSE $22,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
1. YOU’VE GOT MAIL – 52.5 – S.RODRIGO, 2. GUACHO (T.O) – 44.5 – L.KEIZER, 3. SMALL AXE (R-2) – 44.5 – R.RAGOONATH, 4. NEVER EVER WORRIE – 46.5 – W.BHARATH, 5. MISA’S GOLD – 54.5 – R.PERSAD, 6. CLASSY KIM – 53.5 – R.THOMAS, 7. HONEY BELLE – 52.5 – B.HARDING, 8. TORA BORA – 55.5 – N.ABREGO, 9. PRINCIPLE – 50.5 – R.FREEMAN, 10. CHEERLEADER -0 50.5 – G.LABAN, 11. COPY CAT (R-1) – 46.5 – R.MANGALEE, 12. ROYAL MADRID – 52.5 – R.BADAL, 13. FIRST TIME – 51.5 – W.GALVIZ, 14. MISS EMMA – 50.5 – L.MUNOZ.

RACE 9: (5.04pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($10,000 – $8,000) – PURSE $18,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
1. NANDO – 55.5 – R.PERSAD, 2. IN SWINGER – 55.5 – R.FREEMAN, 3. ALIBI IKI – 51.L5 – R.JADOO, 4. SEA SPIDER – 55.5 – N.ABREGO, 5. SINGINGINTHEWIND – 49.5 – L.KEIZER, 6. REDOUBLED – 52.5 – F.RAZACK, 7. V FOR VICTORY – 54.5 – B.HARDING, 8. RHYTHM DIVINE (M.O) – 55.5 – L..MUNOZ, 9. LAZAR WOLF – 52.5 – G.LABAN, 10. DURABILITY – 48.5 – R.RAGOONATH, 11. COLD RISK – 43.5 – W.GALVIZ, 12. HILLSIDE SYMPHONY – 53.5 – H.EMAMALIE.

RACE 10: (5.40pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($14,000 – $11,000) – PURSE $19,000 – 1350 METRES.
1. FRUITION – 50.5 – N.ABREGO, 2. BALTHAZAR – 53.5 – B.HARDING, 3. FRESH HONEY – 49.5 – W.BHARATH, 4. CITY OF LIGHTS – 52.5 – H.EMAMALIE, 5. HUNDRED PERCENT – 52.5 – S.RODRIGO, 6. MAGEN – 52.5 – R.BADAL, 7. FEMALE BANDIT – 49.5 – G.LABAN, 8. SOCA TEMPO – 48.5 – R.JADOO, 9. PEACE CONSORT – 50.5 – W.GALVIZ, 10. NEW STAR – 55.5 – L.MUNOZ.

Eastern Quarry won the inaugural Laventille Youth Development Organisation (LYDO) over Sogren Trace recently.

The tournament which was held in an effort to generate an atmosphere of peace and harmony and to encourage residents to engage in community activities despite the many incidence of gang warfare. Teams invited to take part were St. Barb, Picton Road, Laventille Road, Point Pleasant Park, Sogren Trace and Eastern Quarry. Member of parliament for the area Eulalie James was on hand at the prize giving ceremony and shared her sentiments on the positive vibes that she felt being around the tournament.

LYDO HONOUR ROLL
Winners: Eastern Quarry
2nd place: Sogren Trace
3rd place: Point Pleasant Park
4th place: Picton Road
Most disciplined team: Sogren Trace
Most runs: Male — Christopher Sebro, Female — Sherma Toby
Most wickets: Male — Rodney Stowe/ Dereck Thomas, Female — Barbara Julien