The GUSA Finals are over; the draft has come and gone. Let the chase for the Greater Accra basketball league title continue unabated on Friday and Saturday.
Now the arms race for basketball’s biggest soap star has transformed into the most fascinating free-for-all this sport’s ever witnessed. Tampering is out of control, side deals promised everywhere, and coach Braimah Lawah of Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and his inner circle have the GABL where they’ve always wanted it: on its knees.
The 9-time champions go into the series on Friday afternoon with a crunch tie against Nima based Warriors at the Lebanon House, Tudu.
CEPS are yet to lose grounds after nine rounds of matches and their ten week fixture pairs them against one of the rising teams in the championship. Warriors coach Abeiku Solomon has guided his side to only two defeats and seven wins and so will be a difficult nut to crack.
CEPS have in their fold one of the country’s finest and experienced coach, Braimah Lawah who has been at the helm of affairs for many years. The National team coach is credited with transforming the side into an unconquerable one and their nine-year reign at the top of the Greater Accra basketball league bears ample testimony.
Warriors still have a lot of work to do. Their sense of urgency should be high for Game 10 (because the prospect of Game 11 on the road is not ideal).
The final game on Friday will see Fire slugging it out with Police.
The action will swing to the Prison’s court on Saturday where Mathias Ocloo’s CYO battle Reformers in a must win encounter. The Adabraka based side has been far from convincing this term having lost 6 of their last 9 matches in the ongoing campaign. They come up against a side which boasts of an impressive record of six wins and 3 defeats.
Elsewhere, Hoops take on 6th placed Magic in another end to end action in the second game on Saturday. The only blot of an incredible run in the league for the Cape Coast based side was their only defeat to champions CEPS and they will be eager to bounce back to winning ways.
The final game on the day will see whipping boys Turbo Jets play Lions in another hard-nosed fixture. Both teams are battling with relegation. While Turbo Jets are yet to record a single win in the league, Lions can boast of only one win and eight defeats in the top flight.
By: Patrick Akoto
