The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE defending champions PJ Stingers and the league’s top team during the regular season, the Commonwealth Bank Giants, highlighted the opening weekend of the New Providence Basketball Association men’s playoffs at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

On Friday night, the Stingers began their quest for two straight by knocking off the Athletico Bahamas 109-91 and the Giants, who only lost one game this year, held off the Pyramid Food Rockets 109-99. Then on Saturday, the Real Deal Shockers shocked the Mail Boat Cybots 96-76 and the Mr Ship It Freight Regulators got by the College of the Bahamas Caribs 78-75 in game one of the respective best-of-three series.

Stingers 109,

Athletico 91

Able Joseph knows how to step it up when it counts the most as he made his contribution with a double-double, scoring 22 points with 12 rebounds in 32 minutes to lead PJ’s in their opening victory. Joseph was 9-for-17 from the field, 2-for-6 from the three-point line and 2-for-4 from the free throw line.

Randy Williams came off the bench and scored 21 points with seven rebounds, Daniel Bullard had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Dion McPhee had 14 points and six assists, Vernon Stubbs had 13 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, Jervonne Atkins had 12 points and four rebounds and Devon Ferguson chipped in with 10 points and three rebounds.

For Athletico, Shakwon Lewis scored 19 points, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals, Dylan Musgrove had 19 points, four rebounds and three assists and Jamaris King added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Stingers had a big 26-22 run in the first quarter and a 33-16 spurt in the fourth to pull off the win.

Shockers 96,

Cybots 76

Salathial Dean came off the bench with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead the Real Deal in what turned out to be a real shocker. In his 27 minutes, Dean was 7-for-11 from the field, 4-for-4 from the three-point line and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe to help seal the deal.

Floyd Armbrister also came off the bench and scored 20 points with four rebounds and four assists, Rashad Stubbs also got of the bench and poured in 15 points and 10 rebounds, Kamal Murphy had 13 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds and Crosley Wilmore added 13 points.

In a losing effort, Livingstone Munnings came off the bench with 18 points and 15 rebounds, Lerecus Armbrister 13 points and seven rebounds and Brian Bain 10 points and six assists.

The Real Deal, surprisingly, won all four quarters as they pulled off the opener in grand style.

Regulators 78,

Caribs 75

Gameliel Rose came through in the middle with another big night as he finished with 22 points and eight rebounds as Mr Shit It Regulators took the opener. Playing about 36 minutes, Rose was 9-for-14 from the field, 2-for-4 from the three-point arch and 2-for-11 from the foul line.

Kenneth Pratt had 18 points and five rebounds, Leonardo Lightbourne had 12 points and eight rebounds, Alexander Rolle had eight points and six rebounds and Miguel Mackey seven points, seven assists and five rebounds.

In a losing effort, Kemsy Sylvestre had a game high 25 points and seven rebounds off the bench, Justin Smith also came off the bench with 13 points and nine rebounds, Ramon Dames had 12 points and five assists and Davon Adderley Jr also had 12 points and four steals.

Giants 109,

Rockets 99

Michael Bain Jr came to work and exploded for 31 points, eight rebounds and three assists to pace Commonwealth Bank to victory. He was 10-for-16 from the field, 2-for-3 from the three-point line and 9-for-15 from the free throw line in 35 minutes.

Tehran Cox had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, Mark Hanna came off the bench and contributed 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Kevin Hinsey had 10 points and five rebounds, Robson Memnon had nine points and 12 rebounds, Lyndrick Storr had nine points and four assists and Quentin Demeritte chipped in with six points.

The Giants opened a 31-19 lead after the first quarter and they never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.

Henderson Curry and Corey Williams both scored 16 points and six rebounds in a losing effort for the Athletico. Rashad Saunders had 15 points and five rebounds, Perez Thompson had 14 points and five rebounds and both Rashad Morley and Christoff Stuart had 13 points and eight rebounds.

Tonight’s schedule

7:30pm - Pyramid Food

vs Commonwealth Bank

9pm - PJ Stingers vs

Athletico Bahamas