Basketball: Curtain-raiser competition-Contenders stay alive |26 March 2013

PLS Hawks, who made a clean sweep of all the titles last year, started the year on a good note with a 91-69 victory against Angels to set up yesterday’s quarterfinal showdown with Drifters – also from Anse Boileau.

If the Hawks were to beat Drifters they will play either Premium Cobras or Beau Vallon in the semifinal on April 1.
The Hawks dethroned 2011 winners Premium Cobras with an 83-60 victory for the men’s title in last year’s final.

The Cobras earned a 70-48 first-round win against Anse Etoile, while 2012 second division winners Beau Vallon Heat, who have reinforced their team with a number of new recruits like centre Robert Léon and sharp shooter Jean-Paul Camille, powered past Cadets on a 142-38 score.

Premium Cobras and Beau Vallon Heat play tomorrow for a place in the semifinal.

In the bottom half of the draw, Baya and Mont Fleuri Dawgz clash today to decide who will progress to the last-four stage of the competition.

Coached by Michel Malbrook, Baya reached the century mark against Cascade Bullets in a 100-46 win, while the Dawgz posted a 71-38 victory over RC Dynamics in the quarterfinal stage.
The winners of the Baya/Mont Fleuri Dawgz encounter will have to wait until Thursday to know their semifinal opponents. This is when Razors take on MBU Rockers.

Like Baya, the Rockers scored in triple digits in a 125-29 win against Juniors. As for Razors, they edged AAP Brothers 53-30.

Meanwhile, Mont Fleuri, who snatched a last-second 66-65 win against HotShots in last year’s final to replace Anse Etoile Stars as the women’s Curtain-raiser champions, should have no problem beating Juniors to make another trip to the final.

With only four women’s teams, the competition starts at the semifinal stage and the other last-four match is between Anse Etoile Stars and HotShots on April 2.
The two finals have been scheduled for Saturday April 6 at 3pm and 5pm at Victoria Gymnasium.

G. G.