The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

KEMSEY Sylvetre may have saved his best game in the postseason for the last as he helped the PJ’s Stingers dethrone the defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants.

The Stingers’ 95-94 victory in the fifth and deciding game of the New Providence Basketball Association’s semi-final sealed a trip to the best-of-seven final that will start tonight at the AF Adderley Gymnasium against the first year Patron Regulators, who advanced by eliminating the Mail Boat Cybots on Wednesday night.

Sylvetre, one of five players in double figures, shot 9-of-23 from the field, 1-of-4 from the free throw line and 5-of-11 from behind the three-point arch as he exploded for a game high 24 points with 12 rebounds in 30 minutes and 32 seconds.

Kendrick Curry scored 16 points with four rebounds and as many assists, while Able Joseph finished with 13 points, five steals and four assists. Vernon Stubbs had 10 points with five rebounds and Devon Ferguson had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Mark Hanna paced Commonwealth Bank with 22 points and nine rebounds, Michael Bain had 17 points, five assists, four rebounds and as many steals. Kevin Hinsey had 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, Patrice Brice contributed 12 points, Samuel Johnson had 10 points and six rebounds, Lyndrick Storr helped out with eight points and Robson Memmon had just five points with 10 rebounds.

It was a keenly contested match-up that saw the Giants race out to a 27-19 lead at the end of the first quarter, but they held on the second quarter for a 46-42 advantage at the half. By the end of the third, the Stingers were within four (70-66) and throughout the fourth, neither team was able to open more than a five-point lead as the final decision was not decided until the winding seconds.

When it counted the most down the stretch, Sylvetre converted 1-of-2 free throws with 29.8 seconds for a Stingers’ 91-90 lead and Bullard got a fast break lay-up to extend the lead to 93-90. With 15.6 seconds left, Bain canned a pair of charity shots to bring the Giants within one, 93-92, but on the next possession, Curry was fouled and he also converted his pair of shots for PJ’s with just 14.2 on the clock. The Giants cold only work inside for the final basket by Robson as the Stingers waited for the final buzzer to start their celebrations.

“We persevered. We fought right down to the wire,” Sylvetre said. “I want to give credit to my coaches on the sidelines and my teammates for getting me the ball. They just put it all out on the court and came out to play. It’s my first year in the league and the first year that we beat the defending champions, so it’s a real good feeling.”

Bullard admitted that the Giants gave them all they could handle and more, but they were not raffled.

“Through all of what happened, we pulled it off,” Bullard said. “We just have to play defence because defence wins games. We have to bring our D and execute.”

And for Joseph, their defensive specialist, he said he can’t speak for the rest of his teammates, but he was “feeling good.” And as they prepare to face the Regulators, he said they just simply have to play “Stingers basketball.”

Nobody was more thrilled about the Stingers’ efforts than head coach Lavardo Bowleg, who was assisted by Moses Johnson.

“It’s wonderful. This is five years in the making,” said Bowleg of their start in the league. “We had some adversities with Wire (Ian Pinder) out with an injury, Batch (Batchlette LaFleur) had to go to work and Stephen (Culmer) suffering an injury, but we battled through the adversities and I just want to thank God for the effort they put forth tonight.”

As for the final against the Regulators, Bowleg said they will have to come out with the same type of intensity and put up a fight.

It was a disappointing loss for the Giants because head coach Perry Thompson said they had the Stingers right where they wanted them. They just couldn’t deliver the knockout punch and now they are on the outside looking in.

“Unfortunately, the free throws killed us down the stretch,” he said. “When we looked at the make up of the referees tonight, wee knew that our hands were full. I don’t normally complain about the officiating, but tonight we had a lot of things against us. Not taking anything away from them, the Stingers played well and when it came down to it, we missed our free throws and they executed.”

Despite being sent packing, Thompson said he has to commend his new look Giants, featuring a number of first year players. Thompson said they gave it their all.

The Stingers now prepare for the Regulators. The winner of the series will earn the rights to represent the NPBA in the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s national round robin championship next month in Bimini.

While game one of the series will be played tonight, game two is set for Wednesday. The league will then take a break for the Easter holiday and resume on April 6.