BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH controversy still brewing within the local basketball arena over a months-long issue, the matter has taken another twist as the Sandy Point PRIDE Organization has secured an injunction against the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Basketball Association (SKNABA).
The injunction, which SKNVibes understands was granted late this afternoon (Jan. 31), sought to prevent the Association from going ahead with its proposed replaying of the best of three semifinals in the A Division (Second Division) between the PRIDE and the Conaree Fireballs.
The Fireballs team is coached by the Game's Commissioner, Harold Wharton, who is at the center of the controversy.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the Sandy Point PRIDE Organization pushed for the injunction after the team received an email from the President of the SKNABA – Romel Tobias - on January 26, indicating that they are to replay the semifinals, with the first game scheduled for this evening.
This came as Tobias noted in his email that they were going ahead with the recommendations made at the appeals hearing.
“Keep in mind that, according to them, they are saying that an appeals hearing was held. And, I am not sure how you can have an appeals hearing without the appellants present...They didn’t invite us to the appeals,” the source said.
So as to prevent the staging of the games beginning this evening, the source explained that the PRIDE moved to the court to have the stay on the matter.
“The Judge felt that based on the information put forward, it was felt that there was sufficient evidence to show that what they were doing and what they had done were breaches of the contractual arrangements between a club and the association,” noted the source.
The substantive matter would be heard in just over two weeks SKNVibes has learnt, at which time it is expected that both parties would lay their arguments before the Court.
Back in June last year, during a Junior League match in which the Sandy Point Falcons (junior team) played, several PRIDE players encroached the playing area when a fight broke out.
According to the PRIDE players, they were assisting to quell the brawl and protect the youngsters.
However, four players were suspended by SKNABA when the match referee lodged a report to the Games Commissioner (Wharton) who it is alleged dealt with the matter unilaterally.
“On receipt of the notification, we realised that Wharton had written and submitted the report to himself, and without the involvement of other members of the Games Committee, ruled that the four players were suspended. He did not give us an opportunity to defend ourselves and we see this as a violation to SKABA’s League Rules and Regulations,” Team Manager Randy De Suza told SKNVibes last year.
The source told SKNVibes that they are unsure of why officials at the SKNABA are pushing for a replay when, in fact, the Fireballs lost the series 2-0.
Awaiting the resolution of the matter is the Wolf Pack team, which has already booked their finals spot.
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