THE GOLD STANDARD of basketball is now suffering from an absence of riches.
From champs to chumps, Lumber Company Lakers have had an all too swift fall from grace, with the perennial powerhouses being forced to miss this week’s Co-operators General Insurance Knockouts following a mass exodus of players this season.
The Barbados Amateur Basketball Association’s (BABA) secretariat confirmed the club’s decision to opt out of the season-opening knockout tournament in an email informing teams of the scheduling changes yesterday.
“We have some injuries and previous travel commitments so we decided we’re not going to play as it wouldn’t make any sense if we can’t field a full complement for a competition like this,” explained assistant coach and player Derek Browne.
“We’re not in danger of missing the league though. We will definitely be fielding a team but we’re just going through a transition period right now.”
Overseas-based pro Andre Lockhart was the first to openly express his displeasure, publicly announcing his decision to leave Lakers at the end of last season when he surprisingly didn’t appear in the league finals.
All reports indicate that the star point guard has moved to crosstown rivals Pan American Life Insurance Warrens along with fellow national player Mark Bridgeman and guards Adrian Allman and Jamar King.
Their sudden departure robs Lakers of the nucleus of a four-time champion side which has made the last ten postseasons and another eight finals appearances over the last nine years.
And there is a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the eventual landing spots of both Ian Alexander and Matthew Moore.
National shooting guard and MVP candidate Keefe Birkett is also expected to miss the early part of the season after being limited by a troublesome hamstring while centre Andre Boadu has been ruled out this year due to knee injuries.
The departures and injuries appear to have forced the club into promoting youngsters Jimal Singh and Jae Harris up from their lower division team as Lakers await the return of collegiate point guard Chiamaka Browne later this season.
Lakers were originally slated to open the knockouts with Hilton Barbados Resorts Warriors, who will now advance to the semi-finals to face the winner of the Cavs-Warrens first-round matchup.
The knockouts open tonight at the Wildey Gym with Burger King Clapham Bulls playing Combined Schools Tridents in the opener while Cougars face Urban Vybz St John’s Sonics.
