Maloney Pacers defeated New Chapter Basketball Academy 2-0 to win the premier division finals of the DIAL Basketball at the Princess Royal Basketball Court, Arima, on March 28.
Following a dominant performance by Pacers in game one, the Maloney boys did not let their foot off the gas, eager to wrap up the series in consecutive games.
The opening quarter set the stage for a gritty battle, as New Chapter unveiled defensive adjustments to contain Pacers' standout player, Ahkeel "Smally" Boyd. Despite their efforts, Pacers managed to pull ahead late in the quarter, securing a slim 20-16 lead.
In the second quarter, Pacers maintained their superiority, with Ahkeel Boyd's twin brother, Ahkeem, stepping up to contribute to the team's offensive prowess. Although New Chapter made valiant efforts to narrow the gap, Pacers maintained their composure, heading into halftime with a commanding 40-27 advantage.
Pacers shut the door firmly in the third quarter, delivering a stellar performance on both ends of the court. New Chapter struggled to keep pace, managing only ten points while Pacers extended their lead with a 24-point surge.
Despite New Chapter's spirited comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, where they outscored Pacers by 15 points (30-15), the hole they were in was too deep to climb out of.
Maloney Pacers emerged victorious with a final score of 79-67, completing the sweep of both divisions after being crowned winners of the championship division the previous Saturday.
Although New Chapter showed improvement, holding Pacers to their lowest points of the tournament, the formidable Pacers still finished the tournament with a flawless 9-0 record.
[caption id="attachment_1074678" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dial Basketball league MVP Ahkeel Boyd, left, collects his award. -[/caption]
The presence of Minister of Planning and Development and Arima MP Pennelope Beckles added prestige to the final as she assisted in presenting the premier division champions with their cash prize of $20,000 and the coveted DIAL Champions trophy.
Ahkeel Boyd's stellar performances throughout the tournament earned him both the League MVP title and the Finals MVP trophy, capping off a remarkable campaign for Pacers.
In the earlier showdown, Caracas City and Black Mamba delivered an epic battle for third place in the premier division. Memories of their double-overtime clash in the group stage fuelled anticipation as both teams left it all on the court.
From the first dribble, both teams traded baskets in a display of sheer determination. Black Mamba managed to carve out a slight lead at the end of the first quarter, holding a narrow 16-13 advantage.
The second quarter saw Black Mamba attempting to extend their lead, pushing ahead by as much as 11 points at one stage. However, Caracas City refused to back down, battling to narrow the deficit to just two points by halftime, with the score standing at 31-29.
As the game progressed, the intensity only increased, with each team refusing to relinquish control. The third
