BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOUR-TIME reigning champions of the St. Kitts Amateur Basketball Association (SKABA) Junior Division, the O. D. Brisbane Sandy Point Fruta Falcons, departed the Federation today (May 7) for two exhibition matches in the British Virgin Islands.
Falcons recently finished the 2010 regular season with a record of 8-2 and anxiously await the start of the SKABA playoffs, where they hope to secure an unprecedented fifth straight championship.
Head Coach Sean ‘Bucksy’ Crossley told SKNVibes that the team plans to use their games against BVI champions Another Level and the league’s 2009 runner-up to elevate their standard ahead of the playoffs.
“I want the guys to raise their standard and come back here with the same momentum and playing style,” he said.
The Sandy Point team will play their first game on Saturday evening and then will face Another Level on Sunday night at the opening of the BVI league, marking the second time the teams have met this year.
As an exhibition match to this year’s SKABA Junior League, Another Level travelled to St. Kitts and was able to defeat Falcons 87-77. Crossley stated his confidence, however, that his team would be able to exact their vengeance.
“The first game that we played them in St. Kitts, we feel we should have won. The rebounding killed us. They were huge inside. I feel like we are going to take it back though. They took it here, so we are going to take it back. Once we are rebounding, I see us defeating them,” he stated.
Taslyn ‘Tassie’ Belboda will once again bring his high-scoring, fast paced style out against Another Level and Crossley said he expects him to lead in a big way.
“He will be our leader for the team because he has the experience [playing overseas]. Also, Lyle Browne will be coming with us. He is a past player, but he is coming with the team to give assistance and to play. We have Sheno Liddie who played for the selected junior team.
“It means a lot to them, trust me. I am excited about it. They want to see how high their skill level is and to see how they match up against other teams, not just here in St. Kitts-Nevis but to take it out there into the Caribbean and see how high they could reach,” Crossley said.
Special thanks was given to the many sponsors who helped to finance the trip, including O.D. Brisbane, Office Machines, B’s Supermarket, Dollar Stretcher and the many proud parents of the players.
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