It had little preseason hype but men’s basketball is back on Cayman’s sports scene.
The Cayman Islands Basketball Association 2012 national men’s basketball league began last week. Competition is split into two categories: division one and division two. Matches take place on Sundays at 5.30pm and 7pm (division one) and on Tuesdays at 6.15pm and 7.45pm (division two). The University College of the Cayman Islands multipurpose hall is serving as venue.
Heading into the season focus rests on defending champions the Dominos Warriors and team Charterland. Technical director for Cayman basketball Victor ‘Voot’ O’Garro states both will face fierce competition.
“I’m expecting it to be a bumper league,” O’Garro said. “All of the teams are well-stacked and every game will be a fierce competition. Division one is ready to go. Division two has one or two flaws but it’s still growing.
“Dominos were on a bye for the first week so we don’t know what they are packing. After I see Collin (Anglin, the team captain) and his guys play then I can give a better assessment. With Charterland their maturity stands out along with their knowledge of the game. They are a competitive team with veterans like Ovaine (Monteith) now playing for them. They could step up to division one but they don’t want that challenge. Shockwaves played a wonderful (season-opening) game and they have the legs.”
Dominos, with the likes of Kenval Bryan, captured their first national championship last season by downing the Wolves in a best-of-three series. Charterland, behind talents like Scott Murray, beat the Grand Pavilion Shockwaves for the division two crown.
Both teams face a compact field en route to a repeat. Division one features four other teams besides Dominos in the DHL Wolves, Esso Blazers, Moneygram Philippines and Shining Stars Childhood Care and Education Centre. Aside from Charterland, division two has the Butterfield Shockwaves, Rock Hole Fire Ants and Titans.
The biggest statements were made in the top flight as Shining Stars (essentially the old Silver Bullets team) downed Philippines in the season opener 58-55 while Esso clipped Wolves 75-63. Curtis Wilson was top scorer for Shining Stars with 14 points and 16 rebounds while Chris Lucas (15 points, 19 rebounds) and Omar Clarke (13 points, eight rebounds) steadied Philippines.
Esso had four players in double figures in Kevin Maxwell (17 points, 10 rebounds), offseason addition Jasen Campbell (17 points, four steals), Deandre Simpson (15 points, 16 rebounds) and Perry Levy (15 points, five steals). Wolves countered with three top scorers in Andres Kirchman (16 points, five blocks), Sandi Jiminez (11 points, four rebounds) and Gary ‘Butcher’ McLaughlin (10 points, eight rebounds).
O’Garro states those results show the league will have great parity this year.
“We had seven teams last year and five teams this year. Fortunately for division one, every side is a threat. With games being on Sundays, everyone can come out and support.”
Matches continue on Tuesday, 28 February, in division two as Rock Hole faces Titans at 6.15pm while Charterland battles Shockwaves at 7.45pm.
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