The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Commonwealth Bank Giants capped off a near perfect season by holding off The College of the Bahamas Caribs 83-81 at the AF Adderley Gym on Wednesday as the New Providence Basketball Association completed its regular season.

The NPBA is preparing for the opening of the postseason this weekend.

In the other game, the Double R Services Limited won by default over the Elite Basketball Club.

Giants 83, Caribs 81

Robson Memnon canned the first of two free throws with just 12 seconds on the clock to clinch the two-point win for Commonwealth Bank, who posted the best record overall as they led the John Archer Division with a 12-1 win-loss record, dropping the College of the Bahamas to third in the Vince Ferguson Division at 10-4.

The Giants had taken a 82-77 lead with 2:02 left on the clock as Tehran Cox hit the first of his two free throws. But the Caribs came back at 1:47 on a shot by F McKenzie to cut the deficit to 82-79. Both teams missed a couple of opportunities to score until Memnon’s winning charity shot.

Memnon, in 26 minutes, scored 15 points and 10 rebounds. Michel Bain Jr and Cox both had 15 points and six and five rebounds respectively. Cox also had seven steals and four assists and Bain Jr had four steals. Mark Hanna had 13 points and six rebounds, Quentin Demeritte had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists and Samuel Johnson helped out with eight points and three rebounds.

The Giants led 29-22 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 49-39 at the half. However, the Caribs turned things around in the second half. In the third quarter, the Caribs went on a 30-18 tear to surge ahead 69-67. But they were out-scored 16-12 in the fourth quarter by the Giants.

Commonwealth Bank outrebounded the College of the Bahamas 49-46, but they made 31 turnovers compared to 23 by their opponents.

In a losing effort, Justin Smith scored 16 points with seven rebounds and three assists. Kemsy Sylvestre had 16 points and four rebounds, Ramon Dames had 15 points and four assists, Alvano Laing had 12 points and nine rebounds and Davon Adderley chipped in with seven points and four rebounds.