Navy’s Male Basketball Team beat Tema Youth 51-46 in the opening game of the 2016 Greater Accra Men’s Division I Basketball League which took place at the Lebanon House in Tudu, Accra on Friday May 6.
The season originally scheduled to start on April 22 but had to be postponed due to technical reasons, finally commenced with last year’s runners up Tema taking on one of the dark horse contenders for this year’s title.
Tema got off to a bad start as Point Guard Nana Owusu Afriyie had to sit on the team’s bench for long stretches of the game after he picked his third personal foul in the opening exchanges. Navy Guards Brew Smith and John Atsu made the most of Afriyie’s absence to will Navy to a 15-7 lead.
The assault continued in the second and third quarters respectively since substitute Power Forward David Asingar barreled his way into the post to score consistently. The top rebounder gobbled up loose balls to the ire of Tema Coach Emmanuel Quaye.
With Navy leading 37-19 heading into the final quarter, Afriyie was reintroduced in the game which culminated in a remarkable scoring run for Tema. Guard Isaac Abiku seemed to benefit from Afriyie’s presence as less attention was paid to him and allowed him just enough room to make crucial shots.
Afriyie cemented his enormous value to the team by making the assist of the game. Receiving the ball from a teammate, the pint sized Guard beat two defenders before delivering a no look pass for Forward Kwame Boamah to finish.
Despite the improved play, Navy was able to hold on for the win.
Defending champions Braves of CEPS beat Holy Family 69-37 before debutants DC Dynamics lost 50-52 to Teshie Rangers in the day’s other games.
