The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the Patron Regulators have booked their ticket into the New Providence Basketball Association championship series, they have to wait on the outcome of the Commonwealth Bank Giants and PJ Stingers to determine who their opponents will be.

At the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Wednesday night, the Regulators pulled off a 109-98 decision over the Mail Boat Cybots to win their best-of-five series with a 3-1 decision. The Giants, on the other hand, levelled their series with the Stingers with a 93-78 decision to force a fifth and deciding game slated for 8pm tonight.

Giants 93, Stingers 78

With their backs against the wall, Commonwealth Bank showed why they are the defending champions. The Giants, coached by Perry Thompson, got 19 points with eight rebounds and three assists from Michael Bain.

Samuel Johnson came off the bench and helped out with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Kevin Hinsey had 16 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists. Mark Hanna had 10 points and seven rebounds and both Robson Memmon (seven rebounds) and Patrick Brice (five rebounds) chipped in with eight points.

For the Stingers, coached by Lavardo Bowleg, Devon Ferguson matched the game high honours with 19 points, five assists and four rebounds. Batchlette LaFleur had 14 points and five rebounds, Daniel Bullard came off the bench to score 11 points with 10 rebounds and Able Joseph was held to just eight points with eight rebounds.

After falling behind 20-19 at the end of the first quarter and 51-40 at the half, the Giants turned things around in the second half. They outscored the Stingers 25-14 in the third quarter and 28-13 in the fourth to secure the win.

In one of the critical areas, PJ’s had a 22-14 advantage in turnovers and they committed a total of 31 fouls, compared to just 19 by Commonwealth Bank.

Regulators 109, Cybots 98

Coach Don ‘Robo’ Dorsette admitted at the start of the series that they have a team that he feels is capable of beating the Mail Boat. His Patron had to go four games, but they finally proved him right.

Kenneth Pratt exploded for a game high 26 points with 10 rebounds and three steals to lead a balanced attack. Cordero Thompson had another big night with 24 points and seven rebounds and Cruz Simon came off the bench and added 21 points. Gamaliel Rose had 16 points with 18 rebounds, eight assists, four block shots and three steals and Robert Missick contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Ernest Saunders had 26 points with five assists and three rebounds to pace the Mail Boat. Eugene Bain had 21 points and 17 rebounds, Lerecus Armbrister scored 20 points with five rebounds and four assists, Brian Bain had 16 points and five assists and Delano Knowles added eight points with 11 rebounds.

The Cybots couldn’t get it together, turning the ball over 29 times, 13 more than the Regulators and they also had 33 fouls, compared to 25 by their opponents. The winner of the NPBA championship will go on to represent New Providence in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s National Round Robin Championships in Bimini in April.