Bequia All-Stars Grenadines Hoops Champions

2008 Grenadines Basketball Champions Bequia All-Stars

Damian Harry of Canouan Tournament MVP

Victory is sweet for The Bequia All-Stars who defeated the Union Island All-Stars by 12 points to claim the 2008 title of the Annual Grenadines Basketball Championship, a prize that has eluded them for three years!  Coming into the final round undefeated, the Bequia team were the favorite to win this year’s Tournament and did not disappoint all expectations.

Coach Junior Sutton, with 8 years experience behind the bench for the structured, well -organized Bequia team, defeated the 4th place Mustique Icon 62 to 57 in the semi-final qualifying match on Saturday. Defending Champions and also three-time winners since the tournament’s conception, the Union Island All-stars defeated the Canouan Islanders 78 to 69 in their semi final qualifier, setting the stage for the final match-up.

Veteran power forward Otice Lewis of the Bequia All-Stars led the scoring for both weekend games, netting 13 in Saturday’s game and 19 in Sunday’s final with several impressive dunks. Union’s Shooting guard Philmon Taylor contributed 21 points, clocking 5 three- pointers, his specialty, in the final match, but it was still not enough to defeat the Bequia team who led by as much as 15 points and clearly dominated the game! The half time score was 40 to 26 in favour of Bequia, with Union Island playing catch up in all four quarters. With only three minutes left in the last quarter coupled with a light drizzling rain and the Bequia team up by 12 points, veteran referees Kenlyn Clouden and Anthony Primus of St. Vincent called the game when the Union Island team refused to take the court, displaying poor sportsmanship as time ran out.

 Earlier in the evening in the Third Place consolation finals, the Mustique Icon defeated Canouan Islanders 84 to 76 for the 3rd place position with Kendall Cumberbatch netting the most points for the Icon with 22.

MVP Damian Harry of Canouan and tournament coordinator Sabrina Mitchell

Damian Harry of Canouan was awarded The Adonal Foyle Award as Tournament MVP with the best overall statistics, and an impressive average of 36.4 points per game, 8.6 rebounds. 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He also took the prize for Canouan Team MVP, and the most points trophy for the fifth consecutive year.  The trophies, courtesy of Adonal Foyle were presented following the games by Parliamentary representatives of the Northern and Southern Grenadines, Hon. Dr. Loraine Friday and Hon.Terrance Ollivierre, as well as tournament coordinator and sponsor Sabrina Mitchell. Union Island received the most awards with 7.  Tim Adams was awarded Union’s Team MVP, while team mate Philmon Taylor took the most steals award. Veteran Leroy Scrubb and rookie Kenny Alexander, also both of Union were awarded two special trophies as oldest and youngest players respectively, which were donated by former SVG Basketball Federation President Atiba Williams.

Other recognition of individual excellence was awarded to Owen Isaacs of the Mayreau Kings, who was adjudged his team’s most valuable player, as well as achieving the most rebounds (74) and most blocks (13), while Keylon Edwards of the Bequia All-Stars had the most assists with 12 in 5 games. Bequia’s most valuable player was adjudged to be big man center Jonas King; while Lindon Garrick of Mustique Icon was his team’s MVP.  Carricou’s Kareem Plentie, whose team finished in the cellar position of 6th, was adjudged the MVP for his squad.  Other awards included those presented to the three hosting venues of the games, and the leadership of those respective basketball administrative bodies: to the President of the Southern Grenadines Association Mr. Junior Campbell, Rohan Henry, President of the Canouan Basketball Association and Sabrina Mitchell, President of the host Association in Bequia. The Bequia Basketball Association, Sabrina Mitchell, Grenadines Airways, Frangipani Hotel, Tamarind Beach Hotel and the Mustique Company finance the annual Grenadines Tournament.