Manchester Spurs exact revenge against Kingston Hummingbirds

The Manchester Spurs dethroned champions Kingston Hummingbirds 72-47 in the Elite League final on Sunday at the National Indoor Sports Centre, and Assistant Coach Anniece Ebanks said the win came down to discipline.

Ebanks credited sticking to the game plan, executing under pressure, and the sacrifices the players made from the first whistle of the season to the final buzzer as the key factors that carried Manchester past the defending champions.

The Hummingbirds struck first and led early, but once the Spurs found their groove it was smooth sailing. Manchester took control and led every quarter: 17-14, 37-24, 56-35, before running away with a 25-point victory to avenge last year’s 52-50 final loss.

Ebanks said the feeling was special after turning last year’s final loss into a statement victory.

“At the end of the day a win is always a wonderful feeling and we are extremely proud of the ladies. I think they did a very good job,” Ebanks told the Jamaica Observer.

She pointed to preparation for making the difference.

“The key to victory today was just sticking to the game plan, we come out, do your best, and we stuck it out to the end. The performance from the start of the competition to the end has been extremely good. The girls have made a lot of sacrifices, everybody put out their all in training,” Ebanks explained.

Ebanks also highlighted the role of the team’s training partners.

EBANKS…the key to victory today was just sticking to the game plan, come out, do your best, and we stuck it out to the end (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

“We had some male training partners that really pushed them, and I think that was what led us to the victory today. It was a team effort. The match turned in the second quarter after a tight, goal-for-goal start,” she said.

Mone Wilmot led the assault with a flawless 38 goals from 38 attempts. Shanice Beckford added 22 from 29 and Kaydeen Gordon was perfect on 12 from 12 as the Spurs shot at 82 per cent and never allowed Kingston Hummingbirds back in.

For the Hummingbirds, Tracy-Ann Francis was outstanding with 39 from 40, but Tania Thomas managed only 8 from 21 as Manchester’s defence cut off every other option.

Hummingbirds Head Coach Kerry Ann Brown said her team failed to adjust.

“Sometimes you plan, you give the team instructions to go out there and it just don’t work out how you expected it to. We started off going goal for goal and by the time it got to the second quarter, the Spurs started to stretch the lead.

“I think we weren’t taking the time out to just recognise that when we were free, recognise that we need just to slow it down and be patient and I think that didn’t work for us tonight,” Brown said.

Manchester Spurs walked away with the Championship Trophy and $350,000 in prize money, while the Hummingbirds received the second-place trophy and $200,000 in cash prize.

The St Ann Orchids defeated St Catherine Racers 74-71 for third place. They walked away with the third-place trophy and $100,000 in prize money.

BROWN… we started off going goal for goal and by the time it got to the second quarter the Spurs started to stretch the lead (Photo: Naphtali Junior)