Forward Aneicia Baptiste’s allround performance in the final of the Female Basketball Association (Fem BA) Under-21 Easter Basketball Tournament helped Police claim the inaugural title and earned her the “Most Valubale Player” award.
Baptiste topscored with 20 points, pulled down five rebounds and stole the ball eight times to pilot Police past Quarters United, 63-50 in the title match on April 16 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua.
She had help in the form of another forward Janeisha Casssimy, who registered a double-double adding 14 points and grabbed 10 rebs. She also shared the ball three times to aid in the victory.
Their teammate Tahirah Hollingsworth also reached double-figures, netting 12.
For Quarters, Shania Emmanuel, who was named the league MVP, scored a match-high 23 points, securing 15 boards and six steals and Breanna Charles poured in 11, had three rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
“Watching the final between Quarters and Police was so heart-warming and exciting. The game was intense like a college basketball game. Steal after steals, rebounds, blocks and assists, great shooting and eye vision of the court,” said the coordinator of the league, Alicia Cumberbatch.
“The emotions I felt was unexplainable towards this game but one thing I know we (the committee members) at Fem BA will help those get better and become great by allocating the players to development programmes in T&T.”
Emmanuel was definitely one of the bright spots in the league. She was most deserving of the league award tallying 47 points, 25 rebounds, nine steals, two assists and two blocks, guiding her team to the final after playing unbeaten in the preliminary round on April 14. She also got the trophies for having the most points and best defensive player.
The following day (April 15) during the All Star activities, Emmanuel emerged the MVP and the three-point shootout winner while her teammate Jamika Knights was the U-21 Skills Challenge winner.
At the award ceremony of the three-day tournament, Police head coach Alfonso Raphael picked up the prize after being named the “Coach of the League”, Ize-Tao Best of Malick and Brian Chase Academy’s Joreius Headley shared the “Most Improved Player” award.
“Fem BA would like to express our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Haynes Plumbing 1990 Limited, Micron Limited, Renova Limited and Plenty Sport, participants, media represenatives and supporters for helping us make yet another successful tournament,” said Cumberbatch, a national player.
“Fem BA will continue to improve the state of basketball for our female basketballers in T&T. Failure is not an option.”
North Zone B-ball meeting tonight
The North Zone Basketball Commission of the (NBFTT) will hold its fourth General Council meeting for all its members at the Woodbrook Youth Facility thsi evening from 7.30 pm sharp.
High on the agenda is the 2017 season for Men’s, Women’s and Youth Divisions. The Executive is calling on all clubs to ensure that it is represented .
East Zone Basketball meeting Thursday
The East Zone Basketball Commission of the (NBFTT) will hold its General Council at the Maloney Indoor Sports Complex on Thursday at 7 pm. The Zone’s Executive is calling on all clubs to attend to discuss the 2017 season and a way forward for the Zone.
Results
April 16
Final
Police 63 (A Baptiste 20 pts/5 rebs/8 stls, Janeisha Casssimy 14 pts/10 rebs/3 asts, Tahirah Hollingsworth 12 pts/2 rebs/4 asts/4 stls) vs Quarters 50 (Shania Emmanuel 23 pts/15 rebs/6 stls, Breanna Charles 11 pts/3 rebs/1 stl/2 blks, Mercedes Alexander 8 pts/2 rebs/1stl).
Third place
Brian Chase Academy 44 (Grace Peru 11 pts/4 rebs/2 stls, Jories Headley 10 pts/11 rebs/ 3 asts/6 steals) vs Malick 20 (Ize-Tao Best 15 pts/5 rebs/9 stls, Jacinda Best 4 pts/4 rebs/1 stl).
April 15
U-21 Skills Challenge winner: Jamika Knights (Quarters)
All Stars MVP: Shaniya Emmanuel (Quarters) - 26 points, 5 rebs, 3 asts/3 stls
Three-point shootout winner: Shaniya Emmanuel (Quarters)
Honour roll
Most points: Shania Emmanuel (Quarters)
League MVP: Shania Emmanuel (Quarters)
Best Defensive Player: Shania Emmanuel (Quarters)
Best U-21 player: Nikiyah Baptiste (Hawks)
Most Improved Player: Ize-Tao Best (Malick), Joreius Headley (Brian Chase)
Coach of the League: Alfonso Raphael (Police)
Final MVP: Aneicia Baptiste (Police)