The rich get richer as the 2025 Co-Operators General Insurance Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) season is scheduled to bounce off on Sunday with the island’s best hoopers set to represent various clubs. Burger King Clapham Bulls and 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics, the two teams who met in the finals last season, have both strengthened their lineups while former champions Pinelands have been severely weakened ahead of the opening games.
Defending champions Burger King Clapham Bulls will have high hopes of back-to-back titles with some exciting new additions to their lineup. The talented combo forward, 2024 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rasheed Maynard and shooting guard Derion Hurley are set to move on from neighbouring club Pinelands and join forces with playmaker Simeon Maynard and veteran big man Akeem Marsh over in Clapham.
The Bulls will also see changes in their management staff as Kelan Phillips takes over the head coaching duties from former national player Ryan Leacock.
Another new addition to the lineup will be the young and exciting forward, Antoine Winters, who suited up for Combined Schools Tridents for the 2024 season. Clapham will still have the stability at the guard position with seasoned players, Andrew Ifill, and Rahiim Gibbons.
“My expectations are obviously to repeat, I believe we have the personnel to accomplish that for sure,” coach Phillips said. He also added when asked about his style of play for the team “We are looking to be a very versatile team, we have the pieces to play fast paced, to slow it down in a half court set and to be really good on defense, so we can always adjust to the situation at hand.”
Key additions: Rasheed Maynard, Derion Hurley, Antoine Winters.
Key losses: Manuel Alleng.
Prediction for 2025 – 2nd seed after preliminaries and Finals appearance.
246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics
Last season’s losing finalist, City United Celtics, have also been bolstered by two former Pinelands players and current national team guards in the likes of 2023 league MVP Deroni Hurley and Kiserian Adams.
Hurley and Adams would have also been part of the championship squad at Pinelands. The dynamic duo, next to the likes of Joel Hunte, Theo Greenidge and Anand Joseph-Thorne, will create an explosive lineup which will be sure to bring excitement for spectators to see. Celtics will be headed by National team assistant coach Charles Vanderpool who was recently awarded the 2024 BABA Coach of the Year award. Coach Vanderpool wants to implement a fast-paced run and gun style of play this upcoming season but did mention the focus will be on his team’s pressure on the defensive end of the floor.
Key additions: Deroni Hurley, Kiserian Adams.
Key losses: none
Prediction for 2025 – 1st seed after preliminaries and Finals appearance.
Round 1 games Sunday at the Barbados Community College:
2 p.m. – NSC Combined Schools Tridents vs Pinelands
3:45 p.m. – C.A.M Smart Assurance Agent Inc. Heat vs Warrens All Stars
5:30 p.m. – Burger King Clapham Bulls vs Island Care Ambulance Service & BodyxB Lakers
7:15 p.m. – Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers vs 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics
(ZM)
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