All eyes on the BABA Premier League finals showdown

The stage is set for the top dog clash at the Barbados Community College on Wednesday, as the defending champions Burger King Clapham Bulls face the red-hot 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics in the Co-operators General Insurance Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) Premier League finals.

For sure, there will be fireworks in a repeat of last year’s finals in a showdown between a Celtics team firing on all cylinders and a battle-tested Bulls squad that knows what it takes to win when it matters most. Clapham has shown this most recently in the BABA President’s Cup, where they defeated the Celtics to take home the Derrick Garrett Trophy.

The Celtics have looked like a juggernaut all postseason. They steamrolled the Island Care Ambulance Service & BodyxB Lakers in their semifinal series, led by aggressive full-court defence and lights-out perimeter shooting. On the other hand, the Bulls had to dig deep to get past the Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers in a tight semifinal series that showcased their playoff pedigree.

Now, the two top teams in Barbados face off with contrasting styles and deep rosters, ready for battle.

Joel Hunte, the Celtics’ captain, has been the epitome of dominance. Hunte exploded for 34 points in the semifinal opener and has led by example most of the season. A mismatched nightmare with his strength and range, Hunte is the engine of the Celtic offense and the emotional tone-setter for their defense in the paint.

Teammate Kiserian Adams is deadly from beyond the arc, but also is a tough mark for any defender with his handles. Adams is the x-factor who can bury a run or blow a game wide open. With 20 points and five threes in the semis, he will command attention. If he gets going early, the Bulls’ defense will have its hands full. Also, the ‘Maestro’ Deroni Hurley will be an issue after having a sniff at a title earlier this year. The best floor general in the BABA, Hurley, will be a thorn in the side of the Bulls.

Simeon Maynard and Rasheed Maynard have played well for Clapham, with the former smoking from the outside of late. While Simeon has been consistent, Rasheed has had some poor shooting nights but found a way to facilitate others while attacking the rim.

There is also the veteran guidance of forward Akeem Marsh for Clapham, who was key in the Bulls win in the President’s Cup. A steady force in the paint, Marsh brings scoring and rebounding muscle. His 22-point, 12-rebound performance against Station Hill was a reminder that when Marsh is engaged, the Bulls are a different team. He will, however, need to impose his will in the paint against a Celtics team that prefers to stretch the floor.

Rahiim Gibbons and Andrew Ifill are two guards who defend well and also score timely baskets. Quietly effective, Ifill’s rebounding and hustle plays often go unnoticed, but they are crucial. His 14-point, 10-rebound outing in the semis was textbook Clapham basketball, physical, smart, and composed.

Off the bench, Antoine Winter will be a key player for the Bulls, giving Marsh an important rest while also outrunning the defense in the open court. Whether starting or coming off the bench, Winter is a menace on the glass. He had a massive 19-point, 11-rebound double-double in the semifinal opener and brings energy that swings momentum.

The Celtics’ bench is very deep. With a high-class ball handler like Anand Joseph Thorne, and a pesky defender in Reniko Brewster and Theo Greenidge. None of them are the main scorers, but any of them can make things happen and change the game.

Besides depth, City United also have a very experienced coach in Charles Vanderpool, who may be the biggest factor in the series.

The Celtic defense has been relentless, their ball movement sharp, and their confidence sky-high. Clapham has experience and has been in these high-stakes moments before, and with Marsh and Winter anchoring the paint, and the two Maynards on the wings, they will not go down easily. Keelan Phillips is in his first season as a Premier League coach, but has shown in the President’s Cup that his decision-making is Premier League worthy.

This is more than a battle of skill, it is truly a test of composure, strategy, and will. One team is chasing the title and the other is trying to prove the crown still belongs to them.

Tip-off is set for 7:15 p.m. at the BCC gym, with fans expecting intensity and a best-of-five series worthy of a championship.

(AS)