2 months ago
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HAVING ALREADY won game one of the semifinals in the National Basketball League, Urban Knights’ head coach Oniel Brown said it will be business as usual when they take to the court in game two today against St George’s Slayers at the National Stadium court at 5 p.m.
Defending champions Urban Knights will be looking to secure their spot in the final when they take on mid-season champions St George’s Slayers in the curtain raiser of a doubleheader.
In the second game of the afternoon, last season’s beaten finalists Upper Room Eagles will also look to take their series when they face off against UWI Runnin’ Rebels at 6:45 p.m.
Urban Knights took the first game in comfortable fashion on Thursday as they turned back St George’s Slayers 78-59 on the night.
Omar Barnes led the scoring efforts for the defending champions with a game high 19 points, which was supported by his teammates Romone Spence, 18, Alex Levy, 17, and Tierce Spence, 11.
Knowing a win today would see his team entering the final once again, Brown said his players will take to the court in their usual dominant fashion.
“The mood in the team is fine. We’re approaching this like business as usual. Our main goal is to reach the finals, so we’re not going to put down our guards,” he said.
“We’re going to go [today] and we’ve made some adjustments around the team for what we want to do. Although we’ve won game one, we want to still look at our strengths and our weaknesses and we’re prepared and we’re ready for game two.”
Brown said while St George’s Slayers boast a strong coaching staff and talented players, he believes they hold the advantage against their opponents.
The defending champions will enter the fixture ready to put their game plan to the test, but Brown has admitted he also gives his players the freedom to make tactical decisions on the court based of the flow of the game.
“Coming into this game, their coach is a good coach like myself, so I know he will be making some adjustments as well. But man for man, when I look at it, I think we have the edge,” he said.
“It’s just like how the Americans always say, ‘We’re learning on the fly’ because you can go with a plan and then based on what’s happening in the game, you can make up something on the spot.
“Once my guys are receptive, then I’m sure we can go back to the final to defend our title.”
TODAY’S GAMES
St George’s Slayers vs Urban Knights (5 p.m.)
UWI Runnin’ Rebels vs Upper Room Eagles (6:45 p.m.)
All games to be played at the National Stadium courts.
English (US) ·