PIETRA Gay of Courts Horizon and Defence Force’s Kievan Bacquain were voted the Most Valuable Players’ (MVPs) of the 2008 National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago’s (NBFTT) National Club Championships at the awards function held at the Ken Galt Hall, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence in Macoya last Saturday evening.
Gay, who was also named the Best Forward in the last campaign, was very instrumental in Horizon retaining their women’s title for a second year against old rivals Defence Force, while centre Bacquain, who now plays for the University of the Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), also played an integral role in the ‘Army’ stopping Detour Shak Attack to win the men’s title.
Keith Clement was named the Best Coach in the women’s division, while Mervyn Jackson received the nod as the top coach in the men’s category.
This was Jackson’s first stint as head coach of the Army after taking over from Wesley ”Pepe” Gomes at the beginning of the 2008 season.
Before the presentations, the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Gary Hunt, delivered the feature address to a decent turn out. The minister praised the Federation for their work over the years and their foresight in honouring the five surviving members of the first national basketball team to represent T&T abroad.
"As a society, it is important that we recognise and honour those persons who have laid the foundation for today’s successes," the minister said.
"It is sometimes easy for us to forget the difficulties and tribulations that our sporting pioneers endured through the years and for the scarifices they have made over the years.
So we must congratulate the Basketball Federation for recognising the contributions of these trailblazers. And I want to thank these pioneers themselves for the sterling contributions they have made to basketball in Trinidad and Tobago”, he stated.
President of the Federation, Earl John also spoke at Saturday night’s function. In his presentation, John highlighted the organisation’s achievements over the years. He also gave an overview of the NBFTT’s plans for the new season.
The president also praised his board, the basketball fraternity and the zones for the support they have given to the Federation in the good and bad times over the past two years.
Honour Roll
National Championships winners
Men
1st Defence Force
2nd Place Detour Shak Attack
3rd place Petro Jazz
Women
1st Place Courts Horizon
2nd Place- Defence Force
3rd place Brian Chase Academy
Indidiviual Awardees
Men
Best Guard- Kurt Christian -Detour Shak Attack
Best Forward -Steven Lewis Defence Force
Best Centre-Dex Manswell-Courts Hillbouncers of Tobago
MVP-Kievan Bacquain-Defence Force
Best Coach-Mervyn Jackson-Defence Force
Women
Best Guard Rhonda John Davis-Defence Force
Best Forward- Pietra Gay -Courts Horizon
Best Centre Charmion Selman -UTC Maloney Pacers.
MVP Pietra Gay-Courts Horizon
Best Coach Keith Clement-Courts Horizon
