PremiumFit Bears have tentatively been crowned Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) First Division champions after a stunning 76-75 comeback victory over the Zephrin’s Bakery & Grady Marketing Police Sports Club at the Wildey Gymnasium on Thursday night.
Leading by 11 points (58-47) with five minutes left to play in the third quarter, Police looked poised to even the series at 1-1, with Dario Cumberbatch and Jamali Holder pushing the pace of the game and consistently putting pressure on the Bears’ defence.
However, the Bears staged a comeback for the ages, with a layup by Akeem Supa Williams, followed by a big trey by Romaine Lovell tying the game at 72 with 33 seconds on the clock.
Tremaine Shaw of Police was then fouled but missed both free throws, giving the Bears a chance to take the lead, which they did when Williams again drove hard to the basket and found Lovell for a baseline jumper to give them a 74-72 advantage with 6.6 seconds left in the game.
Without a timeout to stop the clock, Shaw rushed the ball down the court and, though draped by the Bears’ defence, hit a three pointer to put Police back ahead 75-74, with a mere 0.3 seconds on the clock.
But in almost unbelievable fashion, the Bears ran their play to perfection, with Mark Bridgeman curling off a back-screen and connecting with the inbound pass from Decino Corbin to score a layup as the buzzer sounded.
After referee Andrew Mayers conferred with his colleague Reco Watson, the basket was deemed good and the Bears took the series 2-0 to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Police have officially protested the outcome of the game, contending that the clock had already expired before Bridgeman released the ball.
It means a decision will have to be handed down on whether the Bears will be crowned champions or if a decisive third game will have to be played.
Bridgeman finished with 22 points for the Bears while Lovell added 20, including ten consecutive points to end the third and start the fourth. Williams added 13, sinking three key treys in the game.
Cumberbatch scored 18 points in a losing effort for Police, Holder scored 16, Shaquan George Newton contributed 14 points, and Shaw along with Daniel Durant both had 12 points.
Bears coach Shakeil Rock told Barbados TODAY: “This season was truly a testament to the resilience and commitment of the PremiumFit Bears Basketball Club. From as early as January, the players dedicated themselves to intense beach training, fitness courses and long hours on the court buying into the systems I envisioned us moving forward with. That discipline and belief carried us throughout the season and ultimately paid off in the finals against the Police Sports Club, a very respectable and well-prepared opponent.
“That same resilience showed when we found ourselves down in the last quarter of the elimination game. The guys trusted the system, each other and executed a play I called at the buzzer to seal the championship. Moments like that define who we are as a team, determined, prepared, and united,” Rock said.
“Now, as we look ahead to the Premier League, we understand that the preparation and intensity must go to another level. The team has already dedicated their minds and bodies to that challenge and we’re committed to putting in the work needed to make a strong, stable showing next season.” (AS)
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