04162026 SPORTS

SPORTS

Rookie ‘VJ’ and 76ers advance to playoffs

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Sports Reporter

Tribune

jburrows@ tribunemedia.net

VALDEZ "VJ" Edgecombe stepped into a battle for his first official birth into the playoffs and produced a statement double-double, helping secure the Philadelphia 76ers' seventh seed and a spot in the postseason.

The 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the play-in tournament to secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and advance to a first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics.

The play-in continues to add urgency to the postseason picture, forcing teams to earn their way in under elimination pressure, and Philadelphia responded with a controlled performance.

Edgecombe finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, adding one assist and one steal in 41 minutes. He shot 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. His 11 rebounds were the most in the game and he played a key role in limiting Orlando to one shot on multiple possessions.

Philadelphia was led by Tyrese Maxey, who scored a game-high 31 points and added six assists. Kelly

Oubre Jr also scored 19 points, while Paul George contributed 16 points, five rebounds and five assists as the 76ers had balanced production across their main rotation. Starting centre Joel Embiid was not available for this game.

Edgecombe’s impact came within the flow of the game. He did not force offence, took efficient shots, and stayed active defensively. His rebounding stood out, especially in the second half, where he helped control the pace and close Orlando’s possessions.

Orlando remained competitive through three quarters, but Philadelphia separated in the fourth. The 76ers outscored the Magic 30-23 in the final quarter, using a combination of Maxey’s scoring and team defence to pull away with a rare Andre Drummond three pointer to secure the game.

The atmosphere reflected the stakes of the play-in format. Every possession carried weight, and the game had a familiar postseason feel throughout. For Edgecombe, this marked his first experience in that type of environment, and he handled it without issue conducting himself on the court like a veteran.

Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson was in attendance, adding

(AP

significance to the moment. Edgecombe, who earlier this season broke Iverson’s franchise record for points in a debut, delivered a composed performance in front of one of the organisation’s most important figures.

The focus now shifts to Boston, where the second-seeded Celtics pose a higher level of difficulty on both ends of the floor, but Edgecombe has been productive against them this season.

5-4

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)

— José Caballero laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Angels, moments after Los Angeles botched an infield popup in a costly misplay last night. Aaron Judge hit his third homer of the series and Trent Grisham had a two-run single for the Yankees, who won for only the second time in eight games following an 8-2 start. Mike Trout hit his fourth homer in three games, putting the

In his four games versus Boston, he has averaged 19 points, five rebounds and 3.7 assists, showing he can contribute against a top defensive team.

Philadelphia will rely on Maxey to lead the offence,

but Edgecombe’s role remains important. The 20-year-old rookie guard’s ability to rebound, defend and provide efficient scoring gives the 76ers another option as they enter the playoffs.

win over Angels

Angels ahead 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth. That was still the score when Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr popped up to the left side with one out and nobody on in the ninth. But shortstop Zach Neto and ex-Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza miscommunicated, and the ball dropped right between them on the infield dirt for a gift single as Neto put his hands on his head. That came back to bite the Angels, who had played outstanding defence all night to that point. Austin Wells worked a full-count walk against closer Jordan Romano (0-2), and both

runners were attempting to steal when Caballero lined a 1-2 slider into left-center. Chisholm Jr easily scored the tying run and third-base coach Luis Rojas aggressively waved Wells home. The catcher barely beat Neto's relay throw to the plate with a feetfirst slide, and the safe call was confirmed after a replay review. It was the second blown save and loss in the series for Romano, who squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Monday night's 11-10 defeat. David Bednar (1-2) struck out two in a perfect inning for the win, helped by a fine defensive play at shortstop

from Caballero.Adam Frazier and

New Division One NPBA champions: Caribbean Moonshine Rockets dethrone Commonwealth Bank Giants in game 5

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Sports Reporter

THE Caribbean Moonshine Rockets dethroned the defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants with a 73-71 win in a crucial game five of the NPBA Division One best-of-five Championship Tuesday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium. In a series that never separated the two sides, the Rockets completed the job after both teams traded wins to sit tied in the series at 1-1 and again at 2-2, setting up the winner-take-all championship game. The Rockets forced the deciding

game with a dominant 103-85 victory on Monday, carrying that momentum into the championship clincher. Game five followed the same script as the series stayed tight, it was physical and evenly matched throughout. The score was either tied or within one possession for most of the night, with neither team able to build a large cushion. The Rockets edged the Giants 17-16 in the first quarter and held a slim 37-30 lead at halftime. The Giants responded in the third, trimming the margin to 55-53 and setting up a tense fourth quarter.

The Rockets entered the final minute of the fourth quater ahead 73-71 but

Local Sports Calendar

ROAD RACE

UBFIT

THE University of the Bahamas is scheduled to hold its 9th annual UBFit Race Weekend from April 17-19.

Sponsored by Doctor’s Hospital, the in-person race will be held on Saturday, April 18 starting at 6am from the Oakes Field Campus and will consist of a 5-kilometre, 10K and 15K fun run, walk, bike, skate and roll race. For more information, persons can email UBFIT@ ub.edu.bs or call 424-8887.

SOFTBALL

BBSC SOFTBALL

CLASSIC

THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation Softball Classic, which was

scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed until the weekend of July 17-18 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The BBSF, instead, will not host its next event until the Volleyball Classic is staged at the CI Gibson Gymnasium over the weekend of June 19-20. BASKETBALL BBF

NATIONALS THE Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Nationals Championships is scheduled for April 16-18 in Freeport, Grand Bahama, at the St. Georges High School Gymnasium. This premier national championship will bring together teams, families and communities from across

nearly let it slip. A late turnover gave the Giants possession with 19 seconds remaining and a chance to either tie or win. Giants' guard Jackson Jacob rose for a three-pointer at the buzzer, but the shot missed, sealing the Rockets’ championship victory.

Big man Kadeem Coleby led the Rockets with a game-high 23 points along with his monster double double with 15 rebounds, delivering an efficient performance as he anchored the offence. Team captain Abel Joseph contributed 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Livingston Munnings added 14 points.

The Rockets shot 34 per cent from the field (17/50) but made up for it at the

The Bahamas, celebrating youth development, athletic excellence, and community unity. Hosting the event in Grand Bahama underscores the BBF’s commitment to Family Island impact, economic stimulation and national pride.

Participating

Teams

Division 1 - Grand Bahama, New Providence, Bimini and Abaco.

Division 2 - Grand Bahama, New Providence, Abaco and Eleuthera.

Teams from multiple island associations will compete across two divisions, showcasing the depth, talent, and continued growth of basketball throughout the country.

Game Schedule

free throw line, converting 21 of 31 attempts (67.7 per cent). They also held a slight rebounding edge and capitalised on key second-chance opportunities.

For the Giants, Ivan Hutchinson Jr led the way with 19 points, including strong work inside where he shot 50 per cent on two-point attempts. Dylan Musgrove added 15 points, while Jackson Jacob finished with 15 points despite the missed game-winning attempt.

The Giants shot 36.2 per cent from the field (29/80) and struggled from threepoint range, hitting just one of 22 attempts (4.5 per cent), which proved costly in a two-point game. The game featured 12 lead

(Preliminary)

Day 1 – April 16

Division II - Abaco D2 vs Eleuthera D2; New Providence D2 vs Grand Bahama (D2).

Division I - Abaco vs New Providence; Grand Bahama vs Bimini.

Day 2 – April 17

Division II - Eleuthera D2 vs New Providence D2; Grand Bahama D2 vs Abaco D2.

Division I - Bimini vs Abaco; New Providence vs Grand Bahama.

Day 3-April 18

Division II - Grand Bahama D2 vs Eleuthera D2; New Providence D2 vs Abaco D2.

Division I - New Providence vs Bimini; Abaco vs Grand Bahama.

changes and six ties, reflecting how evenly contested the matchup was from start to finish.

“Man, I feel great. God is good, we came here with a gameplan, we executed it and came here and did what we were supposed to do,” said Rockets head coach Lavardo Bowleg.

“The Giants had a kryptonite playing against the zone, they had a problem scoring the zone, so we played a zone throughout the whole series and then we controlled our turnovers because turnovers was our kryptonite, but like I said we played Rockets basketball and give Jesus Christ and God all the glory,” said Bowleg. “Recus (Lerecus Armbrister) and Abel

Championship Round (April 18)

Division II – 3rd Place

Game

Division I – 3rd Place

Game

Division II – Championship Game

Division I – Championship Game

The BBF Nationals serve as a vital platform for athlete development, talent identification, and strengthening the national basketball programme. Fans can expect exciting matchups, emerging stars and a high level of competition throughout the tournament.

Beyond the on-court action, the event reflects the BBF’s ongoing mission to expand the sport across the Family Islands, foster youth

Joseph did an awesome job, their defence and they controlled the game and did what they were supposed to do,” said Bowleg. “Kadeem also came to play ball. He blocks shots and that's his game, he's not one dimensional and I’m not a one dimensional coach, if you could shoot or post up I let you grow an all-around game.”

“We have to worry about nationals now but next season we'll see what we can do from there,” said Bowleg.

In the end, the Rockets executed just enough down the stretch to close out the series and claim the Division One title, ending the Giants’ reign in a hardfought five-game battle.

engagement and build stronger basketball communities nationwide.

Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to come out and support their island teams while enjoying a vibrant sporting atmosphere in Freeport. The three-day event is expected to generate positive energy and meaningful economic activity for Grand Bahama.

Game schedules and results can be found on the BBF website at bbfbasketball.com and on our social media pages.

Come out and support Bahamian basketball as the nation’s best compete for championship honours in Freeport.

CONSTITUENCY

SOFTBALL TOURNEY

THE New Providence Sports Council, in conjunction with the Bahamas Softball Federation, is slated to hold the Constituency Games Softball Tournament from Tuesday, April 28 to Sunday, May 3, in the Bankers’ Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

The men will play modified pitch during the tournament, while the women will play slowpitch. For more information, persons can contact BSF president Marvin ‘Togie’ Wood at 808-7281.

TRACK RED-LINE YOUTH

CLASSIC

THE Red-Line

Back-to-back NPBA champions

Michael Major Jr looking ahead to the MEAC Championships

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MICHAEL Major Jr and the Bison men’s tennis team didn't close out their regular season for Howard University the way they expected. Playing their final four games over the last week, Major Jr and the Bison went 1-3 to complete the season with a 1-13 win-loss record and 1-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

With their regular season over and done with, Major Jr and the Bison will now prepare for the MEAC Championships, scheduled for Thursday to Saturday, April 23-25 in Cary, North Carolina.

Major Jr, who is studying sports medicine as a major and biology as a minor, said he's looking forward to having a great time in the conference championships.

"It was really solid. I played five different matches and won three of the four of them and one match was unfinished and the one I lost was a tough 7-6, 7-6 loss to Navy," Major Jr said.  "So that match could’ve gone either way. I feel very confident going into MEACS and I feel like it’s going to be great."

The 6-foot, 2-inch junior, who came out of Windsor High School, said he's looking forward to the competition and going out there

and competing with the team he loves. As they pulled off a 7-0 win over Coppin State in a MEAC match-up at the Coppin State Tennis Courts in Baltimore, Maryland, last Wednesday, Major Jr and his regular doubles partner Kamran McIntosh-Ross won 6-0, while Major Jr won his number two singles 6-1, 6-1. In their 4-0 loss to Richmond on Friday at the Westhampton Tennis Complex in Richmond, Virginia, Major Jr only played doubles with McIntosh-Ross as they fell 5-3. On Sunday in a 4-2 loss to Navy (23-17) at the USNA Tennis Courts in Annapolis, Major Jr suffered a hard fought 7-6, 7-6 loss to George Cutone, but he teamed up with Nathan Bermeo for a 6-4 win over Lachlan Buckingham and Ethan Garcia. Against Morgan State (7-11) on Monday in a 4-3 loss at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in Washington, DC, Major Jr won his singles 7-6 (6), 6-2 over Rankins Rhajzon, but he and McIntosh-Ross lost 6-3 in doubles to Isa Abdulraheem and Maltsev Ilya.

"I enjoyed the match against Morgan State the most. My match was the toughest mentally simply because it was a conference matchup and they’re our rivals so I wanted to perform my best for my team," Major Jr summed up.

Your Essential Store Giants beat AFS Insurance Heatwaves 89-88 in game five to win Division Two title

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE YES Giants booked their stay in title town for the second year in a row, edging the AFS Insurance Heatwaves 89-88 in a decisive game five of the NPBA division two Night League Championship at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday night.

The Giants closed out a tightly contested series 3-2 after initially taking a 2-0 lead, only to see the Heatwaves respond with back-to-back wins to force the winner-take-all final.

Game five delivered throughout, with 11 lead changes and three ties, but YES held firm down the stretch, leading for 38:01 compared to just 23 seconds for AFS.

Jamerstol Vil delivered a standout performance in defeat for the Heatwaves, pouring in a game-high 33 points in 40 minutes. He shot 10-of-23 from the field, including 6-of-11

from three-point range, and added 7-of-10 from the free throw line. His allaround effort included nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, keeping AFS within striking distance throughout.

Team captain Tahj Burrows provided an additional scoring punch with 16 points.

He went 7-of-17 from the field and 1-of-8 from beyond the arc while contributing six rebounds and two assists.

Leo Johnson added 14 points on an efficient 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line, while Charles Joseph chipped in eight points and five rebounds.

Despite shooting 43.6 per cent from two-point range and 31.6 per cent from three, AFS struggled with turnovers, committing 21, which YES converted into 29 points.

For the Giants, Matthew Saunders led the way with 16 points in 39:10 minutes. He shot 5-of-22

from the field and knocked down 4-of-4 from the free throw line while adding six rebounds and four assists.

Brian Rolle followed with 14 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line, along with six rebounds.

Jackson Davis added seven points and five rebounds, while Jariel Francoeur contributed seven points and 10 rebounds to anchor the interior.

Tourquee Cartwright filled the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds and four assists.

YES shot 37.5 per cent from the field overall (33of-88), but made up for it with balanced contributions and dominance in key areas. The Giants outscored AFS 32-8 in bench points and converted turnovers efficiently.

AFS held a narrow edge in total rebounds (58-51), including 20 offensive boards, but YES countered with better ball control, committing just 11 turnovers.

The game remained tight from start to finish.

AFS led 27-15 at the end of the first quarter, but YES responded to take a 45-43 lead at halftime. The Heatwaves regained control briefly in the third, leading 75-65, before the Giants rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring AFS 24-14 to seal the one-point victory.

“We fought hard against this team, taking nothing away from this team. The Heatwaves, that's a really great team, they play us hard. We really, really, really wanted to win this game tonight and we look forward to seeing them again next year,” said Giants assistant coach Jeremy Hutchinson.

“Winning back-to-back titles feels amazing, there really is no other feeling like it,” said Hutchinson.  In the end, execution in the closing minutes and depth off the bench proved decisive, as YES secured consecutive D2 Night League titles in dramatic fashion.

MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day

Every player wears No. 42 on anniversary of his historic debut

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Major League Baseball

honoured Jackie Robinson yesterday with every player, coach and umpire wearing his No. 42 to mark the 79th anniversary of the infielder breaking the sport's colour barrier.

Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He went on to win Rookie of the Year honours, become a six-time AllStar and the 1949 National League MVP. He played in six World Series, and won his only championship in 1955 with the Dodgers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets held a joint reflection ceremony yesterday at the centrefield statue of Robinson at Dodger Stadium.

“A special day, especially for me as a Latino. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't because of him,” Mets

manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Talk about dealing with pressure at this level, imagine what he dealt with back in the day."

Two of Robinson's granddaughters joined the teams at Dodger Stadium, not far from Robinson's adopted hometown of Pasadena. He was a four-sport star at Pasadena Junior College before going on to UCLA, where the Georgia native was better known for football than baseball. Also on hand in Los Angeles were recipients of scholarships from the Jackie Robinson Foundation. For the first time in at least two decades, the percentage of Black players on opening day rosters increased this season. Major League Baseball says 6.8% of players on opening day rosters, injured lists and the restricted list were Black, up from 6.2% at the start of the 2025 season and 6.0% at the start of 2024.

Arsenal outlasts Sporting Lisbon to set up Champs League semifinal against Atletico

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

IT’s back-to-back Champions League semifinals for Arsenal.

A 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium yesterday saw Arsenal advance 1-0 on aggregate to set up a clash with Atletico Madrid in the last four of European club soccer’s top competition.

“To go back-to-back is an amazing achievement for this group,” Declan Rice told TNT Sports. “We want to now go one step further than last year and get to the final.”

A Premier League and Champions League double remains possible for Mikel Arteta’s team, despite a slump in form in recent weeks.

Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 4-3 in yesterday's other second-leg quarterfinal to advance 6-4 on aggregate. The Germans face defending champion

Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals.

Arsenal has never won the European Cup and only once reached the final. But it is now just two games away from this year’s showpiece in Budapest, Hungary. Kai Havertz's late winner in the first leg of the quarterfinals in Portugal last week proved to be decisive as Sporting failed to find a breakthrough in London.

It is the fourth time Arsenal has advanced to the semifinals and the first time it has gone back-toback having lost to eventual winner Paris Saint-Germain at that stage last season.

“To be part of those (final) four teams, it’s something very special,” Arteta said. “It comes down to making the last step. We are making the steps that haven’t been done in this club for 140 years, so players deserve credit for what they’re doing.”

The result was the perfect way for Arsenal to start

a crucial week in which it also plays Premier League title rival Manchester City on Sunday. There have been signs of the tension

getting to Arteta's players as the season enters the closing stages, having lost the English League Cup final against City and then

crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of second-division Southampton. Defeat at home in the league against

Bournemouth last weekend only added to the sense that it was faltering at a critical time.

“Who cares what people think? All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks and we’re in another semifinal,” Rice said.

“Bring on the last few weeks. It’s a roller coaster, no one’s going to hand you anything in this game, so just keep going and, what will be will be.”

It was another tight encounter between Arsenal and Sporting with chances rare.

Substitute Leandro Trossard came closest to winning it for Arsenal on the night by heading against the post late on. Geny Catamo had hit the woodwork for Sporting in the first half.

Arsenal and Atletico have already faced each other in the Champions League this season, with the English club winning 4-0 in the league phase.