Bajans To All burned Phoenix 15-7 to prevent them from returning to claim the Barbados Invitational Independence Games (BiiG) mixed netball title when the finals climaxed on Friday night at the Netball Stadium.
Last year, Phoenix, on the back of deadly three pointers from Jeremy Gill and a strong support cast, had claimed the inaugural crown. Gill seemed to be following a similar script after he had “blinded” Spooners Hill with four successive downtown shots to then retire in the first half of the semi-finals.
However, Lydia Bishop had responded well for Spooners Hill to drag her team from 3-12 to lose an eventual close race for the finals 13-14. On the other court, Bajans to All out-played Cross Fit 16-9 after leading 10-4 at the half.
In the final, Bajans employed dogged defence from Saeed Norville and the tough Shonette Bruce to thwart Gill from firing his long range missiles. The fans roared when Bruce executed a block on Gill on the edge of the three point circle.
With such a lockdown Phoenix were forced to go to the flashy Sabreena Smith, while at the other end the versatile Latonia Blackman and high jumping Jamai Puckerin took to school the Phoenix Hurley brothers, Darion and Deroni, as they attempted to mark the shooters to stop the goals’ hemorrhage.
The speed of Amanda Knight, Vanessa Bobb and Cherese Seale also proved deadly with Bajans rushing to a half-time lead of 7-2. It was more of the same medicine in the second half with Puckerin and Blackman pouring in the points while Smith struggled to compensate for Gill’s shutdown.
Bringing in 6 feet 4 inch Chris Holder at defence changed nothing for Phoenix with Marion Johnson-Hurley showing glimpses of her former greatness in midcourt but being outran by the younger legs of Knight and Bobb.
By the time that Gill was allowed a successful long range bomb it could only bring respectability to the scoreboard as the final whistle went giving Bajans the game and title 15-7. (KB)