A former champion in 2017, Melanie ‘B’ was the epitome of discipline as they regained the East Coast Demerara Guinness Streetball title Monday evening.
They edged Paradise A 2-1 on penalty kicks after the match went 0-0 at the Haslington Market Tarmac.
Melanie kept the shackles on Paradise’s star player Quincy Adams and it frustrated Paradise.
Adams was left pondering whether to go forward in attack or remain part of the defensive shape.
It was evident that the counter-attacks by Melanie ‘B’ was a bother to the Paradise team so much so that they failed to orchestrate any serious threat on the opposition goal.
In the end, the final whistle sounded to send the encounter into a penalty shootout.
This scenario also proved to be on a knife’s edge as both teams missed their opening kicks before sudden death was ordered and Melanie ‘B’ held their nerves to capture the title and $400,000, trophy and a spot in the national final, while Paradise took home $150,000 and a trophy.
More so, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste said he was thoroughly impressed with the level of play of the three days, noting the “teams showed they are made of more”.
The third-place playoff between Victoria Church Yard and Liliendaal Hustlers followed a similar route, finishing goalless before the former prevailed in the sudden death shootout to earn $100,000, while Hustlers were rewarded with $75,000.
In the Plate final, Belfield Warriors beat home team Haslington Hypers 1-0 to cat off the winner-take-all $60,000 prize.
The next zone will be held in Linden from Wednesday, April 24.
