The defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants looked to come in and make a statement against their former team captain Gamaliel 'Chameleons' Rose and his new squad The Patron Regulators on Wednesday night, and they did just that.
The Giants made several clutch baskets down the stretch to hang on for the 92-87 overtime victory and their second win in two games at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.
Michael Bain finished the game with 17 points to lead the way for the Giants. Patrick Brice came off the bench to add 14, and Jeffery Henfield chipped in with 12.
Kenneth Pratt scored 24 points for the Regulators, and Rose added 19 points, eight rebounds and six steals.
Both teams came out of the gates strong and shot similar percentages from the field.
The clubs traded leads throughout most of the first half, as no one could string together consistent baskets to pull away.
The Regulators shot just 6-33 from behind the three-point line, but managed to stay in the game by creating points from turnovers, and converting on baskets in the low post.
In the third period, the Giants turned up the dial on the offensive end and torched the Regulators for 31 points in the quarter, which allowed them to take a 68-51 lead.
With the game on the verge of turning into a blowout, Pratt and Rose came up big for the Regulators on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter.
Rose made key stops on the defensive end, while Pratt's hot shooting continued. They attacked the paint consistently and managed to outscore the Giants 28-11 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
In the extra period Bain would score on a number of go-ahead baskets to give the Giants the lead, and seal the game with clutch free throws in the final seconds of overtime.
The Giants will be in action again on Saturday night when they take on the Double R. Services Ltd. Cleaners at the A.F. Adderley gym. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

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