The Accra Basketball League Men’s Division I regular season was almost a half away from concluding as the final game of the season between Braves of Customs and Tudu Magic was called off due to heavy rains that disrupted the match few minutes after the second half had began.
Braves who are yet to be beaten in the season had a narrow 22-20 lead over home side Magic early in the second half before heavy rains forced the game to be postponed. Prior to the disruption, Magic’s Steven Forster, Shadrack Nii Kotey and Eric Quaye combined effectively to give the side a 10-5 first quarter lead.
Braves Guard Gyiemattey went on a three point scoring run in the second quarter to put Braves ahead (20-18), with former and reigning Most Valuable Player of the Year Mutaleeb Alhassan and Suleman Abubakar making key contributions down the stretch of the second quarter respectively.
In the game that did take place, Fire Service eked out a 63-62 win over Reformers of Prisons in another exciting, grueling and physical go around between the sides. After having prior meetings called off due to rain, the tie was settled between the sides despite Reformers Elvis Pobi-Siaw’s late half court shot.
Reformers had major contribution from Guards Andrews Ayienab and Nii Ayi Mensah with the former converting shots behind the arc to give Reformers the game’s lead through three quarters. However, the final quarter and final minutes proved to be Reformers undoing as strong rebounding from Fire front court duo Ernest Laryea and Joseph Boye secured second scoring opportunities for the side.
Shooting Guard Daniel Laryea missed and converted from the free throw line to give Fire the crucial four point lead with 30 seconds left that proved way too much for Reformers to surpass. Fire’s enigmatic Forward Farahat Tamimu Aliu was left on the bench in the final stretch but made his mark earlier with two beautiful dimes for Laryea and Daniel Amartey to score.
