No room for Slayers error – Robinson
St George’s Slayers’ coach, Rohan Robinson, said he is well aware of the threat UWI Runnin’ Rebels present when the teams face off in the decisive game three of the National Basketball League (NBL) final tomorrow at the National Arena at 6 p.m.
The Rebels scored a close 65-62 victory over Slayers in game two of the finals at the same venue on Thursday to level the series at 1-1. Robinson says that although they know Rebels can be dangerous, they are mentally ready for anything their opponent can throw at them.
“The team that is coming from behind is always more dangerous and I know that. So when a team gets that momentum, you believe you can do what you have to do. But when you are on top, you believe you don’t have to do much and that you are better than them.
“And that’s what happened in game two. I was telling them that they cannot take the game (two) lightly and that’s is what I was worried about. But we felt like we owned them (Rebels), and knew how to beat them,” he said.
BELOW PAR
However, he thought his captain, Michael Rogers, was responsible for the team’s below par display in game two because of his over-confident approach. But he warned that there will be no slacking up when we meet again tomorrow.
“We lost and their (players) eyes were open wide. But the captain and leader of the team is to be blamed, because the things he normally does to get the players involved, he didn’t do, and wasn’t playing the game right. But he acknowledged his fault and we are coming out hard for it (game three) and we are not going to ease up this time,” he said.
In game two on Thursday, Kimani Ffriend (18 points and 10 rebounds), and Omari Green, led the scoring for Rebels, while Michael Rogers (23 points) was Slayers’ top scorer.
Marlon Millis, Anthoi White, Audre Rose will support Rogers to pull off the win for Slayers. While Kimani Ffriend, Jonothan Mitchell, Omari Green and Andre McLean will spearhead Rebels’ effort.