THE men’s first division league is just two weeks old and already it is apparent that there is a big gap in play between the title hopefuls and the teams likely to linger in the danger zone.
Big guns Premium Cobras, Baya, PLS Hawks and MBU Rockers collected comfortable victories during the weekend at Victoria Gymnasium to prove that they remain a par above the rest of the field.
Defending champions Hawks started their title defence last Friday with a 106-24 drubbing of top-flight debutants RA Herons, who are already feeling the heat with a second heavy loss – the first coming against Premium Cobras who beat them 109-30.
With Nigerian playmaker Michael Ohiero proving to be a source of motivation with a game-high 33 points, including five of the 10 treys his team scored, Premium Cobras steamrollered Cascade Bullets 104-52.
Skipper and power forward Dominic Pillay added 22, Steven Servina came off the bench to bury four 3-pointers for 12 of his 14 points and Amadou Sylla scored 13.
Yannick Rose and playmaker Christopher ‘Toto’ Camille combined for 23 of the Bullets’ points with 12 and 11 respectively.
Coach Tony Juliette’s Bullets had won their first match against Mont Fleuri Dawgz on a 64-57 score.
Playmaker Giovanni Laval came off the bench to get a game-leading 22 points including two treys, centre Robert Léon added 21, captain Dave Roseline got 18 and shooting guard Steven Denis made a 13-point contribution in Baya’s 85-61 victory over RC Dynamics who had four players – Kenneth Domingue, Emmanuel Jupiter, Ronny Julius and Jean-Paul Desaubin – fouling out.
Like Premium Cobras, Baya have now won their first two games after getting a first win against last year’s division two champions Razors on 94-55 score.
Julius top-scored with 10 points for RC Dynamics who have two defeats after a first-game 48-57 loss against MBU Rockers who have brought to two their number of wins.
Coached by Alvin Alcindor, Rockers’ latest triumph on a 37-point margin came against Angels 87-50.
Playmaker and captain Nigel Sinon led all scores with 20, swingman Cyril Agrippine buried three treys for 12 of his 17, Brian Morel got 16 and Nigel ‘Jah’ Henriette added 10 in Rockers’ easy win.
Keiren Agathine and Garry Duprès scored 13 apiece and Eddy Armand added 10 in Angels’ loss.
In the women’s league, outgoing Top-of-the-table winners Mont Fleuri got off to a flying start with a 66-48 victory over the much-improved Juniors.
Meanwhile, in the men’s division two, Beau Vallon Heat walked over Cadet for their second win, Juniors beat AAP Brothers 77-40 before walking over LMS Youth and Pointe Larue Falcons defeated Anse Etoile 85-54 after losing their first match against Drifters by forfeit as their paperwork was not in order.
G. G.