Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

Defending champions St George's Slayers battle mid-season champs Urban Knights in game one of a best-of-three series, as the National Basketball League (NBL) semi-finals get under way at Bridgeport next Wednesday. Tip-off time is 6:00 p.m.

In the second game of the double-header, Blazing Panthers will square off with Tivoli All Stars at 7:45 p.m.

Game two of the series is scheduled for the National Stadium Courts on Saturday, while, game three, if necessary, is slated for the following Sunday at the same venue.

Slayers and Knights played in the mid-season finals earlier in the season and only one point (78-77) separated the teams when the horn blared to end that game. Wednesday's match-up is expected to be just as exciting.

Slayers will depend on Lance Grandison, Rohan Robinson and Leon Chung in their bid for victory, while the Knights will look to Linton Murray, Jomo Herron, former St. Catherine High School stand-out Javon Bailey and Andrew Whilby for a final berth.

ENDED DREAM

Meanwhile, Panthers ended the dream of debutants Majesty Gardens, cutting them down 2-1 in a best-of-three series in the quarter-finals. Panthers won game three on Wednesday night at the Edgewater Community Centre 84-79 with Rohan Cruise (21) and Dushane White (17) coming up trumps, while Majesty's Baldon Todd's monster game of 42 points and 11 rebounds was all in vain.

Tivoli All Stars were stretched to the limit before overcoming neighbours Denham Town Wizards 2-1 in that series, also in Portmore. Tivoli outshot the Wizards 85-80, with Lavar Henry's 26 points and Paul Oliphant's 23 points leading the way. Dwayne Harris (26) scored most points for the Wizards.

Both St. George's Slayers and Urban Knights had earlier wrapped up their series 2-0 over Runnin' Rebels and Arnett Gardens Rockers, respectively.