For many decades, Saints dominated basketball and provided the strongest and longest rivalry to any other team in Gambian basketball, producing all-round stars.
There was no shortage of thrills and drama in Saturdays final when they played Armed Forces, GAF, clearly their biggest rivals. The soldiers shot to confidence after Saints were denied a three pointer by a strong GAF blocking, momentarily handing the lead to GAF but the City Girls fought back to dominate through to the final quarter. Final score was Saints 38, GAF 35.
Both Saints and GAF however missed the party in the male category. That was between legendary defending champions YMCA, whose boys marched to another title after a refereeing decision against opponents, Serekunda West, broke the tie of 57 all with just 4 seconds left on the clock.
Speaking to The Standard after the final, Papa Njie, president of Gambia Basketball Association, GBA, thanked all teams in the league and said the successful tournament was a harbinger of a better and brighter future for basketball.
He lamented that it was very challenging to organise such a league without a sponsor but expressed satisfaction that the league has been the most successful ever staged by his association.
The Saints Girls were presented with giant trophy and a cash prize of D10,000 while the runners-up received D5,000. The YMCA boys got D15,000 while Serekunda West got D10,000.
By Sise Sawaneh
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