Gladiators, Jets Get Wins in KFC League Tip Off

The KFC National Basketball League tipped off with two fixtures at the Beausejour Indoor Facility on Saturday night. The annual tournament showcases the nation’s most talented players as they compete for basketball glory.

In the first encounter, the Morne Gladiators defeated Vieux Fort Basketball 79-61. Last year’s losing finalists secured the victory, largely thanks to veteran guard Lanse Prospere, who recorded 26 points and 5 assists, earning Player of the Game honours. His performance was well supported by Sharmoir Jn Baptiste, who contributed 15 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Additionally, Clendon “Saucy” Donai provided a strong defensive presence, securing 13 rebounds and 11 points for a double-double.

For Vieux Fort Basketball, Rahim Auguste delivered an all-around effort with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists. Shawn Auguste also chipped in with 15 points and 9 rebounds, but their efforts were not enough to secure the win.

In a post-game interview with St. Lucia Times, game MVP Lanse Prospere expressed gratitude for the victory but emphasised areas for improvement.

“It was a good way to start the tournament. Hopefully, we can build on this and have better performances moving forward. We need to improve our transition defense and capitalise on open looks. Our shot-making wasn’t as good as it should have been—I missed a lot. That’s definitely something we need to work on.”

In the second game, the Courts Jets defeated Combined Forces 58-34. While the match remained competitive in the early stages, it eventually turned into a blowout. The Jets were led by game MVP Ryan Philogene, who posted 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists. He was supported by Simeon Hippolyte, who added 13 points. Interestingly, Combined Forces did not attempt a single free throw throughout the game.

Courts Jets head coach Matthew “Fudge” Raphael acknowledged that, despite the win, his team must improve moving forward.

“My team was a little sloppy due to a lack of training and our players’ work schedules, so we’ll work on that this week. Our defense needs to step up because a stronger team could punish us. When an opponent beats one of our players, a second defender needs to rotate so we can be more effective on that end of the floor.

“Our offense is coming together, but we still have room for improvement, especially when facing a solid defensive team.”

The KFC NBL will take a break this week and return on Tuesday, April 8, with two games at the Indoor Facility: Combined Forces vs. Combined Schools at 6:30 p.m., followed by Vieux Fort Basketball vs. East Coast Academy at 8:30 p.m.