LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

In the same way they started the KFC National Basketball League (NBL) first round, newcomers Port Royal Bulls will be looking for a pace-setting win as they face St George's Slayers in the quarter-finals this evening at 6:00 at the National Stadium court.

This evening's game is the first of a best-of-three series with game two being played on Thursday.

Started well

Bulls, coached by Oneil Williams, a former Tivoli All-Stars player who drafted several players from his former club when the team qualified for the NBL, started their season with a win over fellow debutantes Catherine Hall All-Stars.

They went on to finish with a 17-5 record, the second best in the league behind champions Urban Knights (22-0). With a good mix of experienced players and the young squad that promoted them to the NBL, Bulls have lived up to the expectation as a legit title contender.

However, their quarter-final match-up with Slayers, champs in 2005 and 2006, will prove a dangerous one.

Tough opponent

Bulls are faced with such a tough opponent in the first round due to Slayers' poor form with 11 wins and 11 losses, one of their worst regular season records.

Slayers, though, are expected to call on that championship experience for the play-offs.

Williams says his athletic team,

STANDINGS

First Round

GP GW GL GF PTS Gms Rem Avg
Urban Knights 22 22 0 0 44 0 11 0
Port Royal Bulls 22 17 5 0 39 0 10 1
Tivoli Wizards 22 14 8 0 36 0 6 -5
Arnett Gardens Rockers 22 12 10 0 34 0 5 6
Majesty Gardens 21 12 9 0 33 1 8 3
Portmore Flames 22 11 11 0 33 0 6 5
St George's Slayers 22 11 11 0 33 0 5 6

Runnin' Rebels
22 11 11 0 33 0 4 7 Jamaica Defence Force 22 10 12 0 32 0 5 6

Blazing Panthers
22 7 15 0 29 0 5 6
Catherine Hall All-Stars 21 3 18 0 24 1 0 11
Linkup All-Stars 22 1 21 0 23 0 1 10

- demoted