The inaugural Commercial League 2013 Basketball Championships came to an exciting and epic finale at the Beausejour Indoor Facility this past Saturday evening.
The five-week long tournament concluded with the third place game tipping off the night’s proceedings at 6:00 pm, followed by the championship game at 8:00 pm. Renwick and Company were victorious in the third place game over ScotiaBank with a final score of 56 – 42.
Renwick took full control from the start leading at the half 25-13.
ScotiaBank showed glimpses of a comeback reducing the deficit to seven points in the fourth, but Renwick led by Joel Polius stormed back with 12 unanswered points to gain some breathing room and covet the third place trophy in this year’s tournament.
For Renwick, Joel Polius led the scoring with a huge double-double of 27pts and 30rebs and Glen Mathurin added eight pts and 31rebs.
Shamoir Jn. Baptiste led all scorers for ScotiaBank with 35pts and eight rebs in their loss.
The big game of the night was undoubtedly the championship game between two undefeated teams thus far in this year’s tournament.
The finalists St. Lucia Fire Service and Royal St. Lucia Police Force, both got through their group games and semi-finals unscathed with easy wins.
St. Lucia Fire Service quickly took the game to Police with excellent transition basketball and forced turnovers from Police leading to easy buckets up the floor for Fire Service.
Marcian Calderon from Fire Service continued his dominance in the middle for them creating and converting on every opportunity he got. At the end of the first quarter they were in full control over Police 26 – 8. Police came out with a better second quarter but were still facing a 12-point deficit at the half, 41 -29.
A more competitive third quarter saw both teams finishing with 16pts apiece but Fire Service were still in the driving seat to enter the fourth, clinging onto a 12-point lead. But Police were not prepared to throw in the white flag yet, chipping away on Fire Service lead until with 3:25 to go, they tied the game at 64 each.
Both teams exchanged baskets to stay tied at 70 but with .02 secs to go, Police’s Shane Vitalis was fouled and got two free throw attempts to put his team ahead and possibly secure the win. He calmly knocked down two clutch free throws putting Police up 72 – 70 with .02 secs to go. Fire Service had one last chance to tie or win with a three but was unsuccessful when an attempt from Marcian Calderon of Fire Service missed and time ran out to complete the great escape for Police, crowning them as champions of Commercial League Basketball 2013, final score 72 – 70.
Imran Henry had 16pts, 7rebs and Celsus Alexander added 12pts and 2rebs for Police Force in their win. Marcian Calderon finished with 33pts and 11rebs for Fire Service and Owen Cazaubon chipped in with 15pts, 9rebs and 8 steals in their loss.
Awards were handed out for the following:
Player of the Game Award (third place game) – Joel Polius from Renwick& Co. – 27pts and 30rebs
Player of the Game (finals) – Shane Vitalis from Police Force – converting game winning free throws
MVP of the Tournament – Shamoir Jn. Baptiste from ScotiaBank. Averaged over 30+pts and 12rebs in tournament
Most Supportive Commercial House: Joint Winners – Renwick & Co. and Scotia Bank