VI B/ball fans excited about Miami Heat’s C/ship win
The Miami Heat, playing at home against the San Antonio Spurs, retained their title in a thrilling game 7 that ended 95-88.
No doubt the sports bars across the Territory were filled with patrons eager to see who would lift the championship even though their support would have seemingly been behind the Heat.
Reactions from around the Territory and even those VIslanders residing abroad have ebbed and flowed from the sports fields to the water cooler, to the Law Firms, and to the entrepreneurs, but one common thread is that almost everyone is glad the Miami Heat won the series for a second consecutive time.
Steve Parillon aka “Mr Basketball” said it was great to see Lebron James silence his critics. “The most exciting thing for me about the game was Lebron making clutch jump shots, which he has been criticised for not doing in the past. He silenced the critics and I’m glad Miami won.”
Football coach Lenroy "Left" Henry admitted he didn’t follow basketball and didn’t watch the game but was glad Miami won the tense final game.
Kennedy Bass commented, “I’m a James fan.” He added, “When the Heat were fortunate in game 6 to win I think spurs played their best game on Tuesday to close out Miami but failed to do so. ... So the result spoke for itself on Thursday night.”
Ashley Kelly, who is currently in Trinidad competing in the National Championship with Karene King, said “I was supporting the Heat, I felt like the spurs were tired. Both teams had a slow tempo."
Chris Binnie, the defending BVI Pro-Am Squash Champion who is here to defend his title this weekend told Virgin Islands News Online “it was a good game, I watch a lot of basketball due to my roommates in the states, where everyone hates the heat, so I was supporting them.“
President of the Virgin Islands Volleyball Association Sabinah Clement admitted she didn’t watch the championships. “I'm a Lakers fan and have no cable so the prospect of leaving the embrace of a good book to go out and watch a matchup in which I have little interest left me with little choice but to miss it!”
Clement reflected the view of many who preferred to stay away from the screens or pubs and clubs who televised the game. However, Joe Kneipp who runs the Tortola Sports Club aired a different view. “The bar was packed last night with mainly Heat fans,” he said “so I was glad for them, but have to confess to being a neutral myself.”
With the series tied at 3-3, LeBron James scored 37 points to earn Miami the third title in their history.
The 28-year-old was named the most valuable player for the second successive season.
"To be able to come onto our floor and do it, it's the ultimate," said James, who had faced questions about his performances in key matches.
"I can't worry about what everybody says about me. I am LeBron James from Akron, Ohio, from the inner city. I'm not even supposed to be here. I'm blessed."
The Spurs began strongly, taking a seven-point lead in the first quarter, though that was down to three by the latter stages of the third and they could not hold on.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich conceded the Heat were worthy champions.
"It's no fun to lose, but we lost to a better team," he said. "You can live with that as long as you've given your best. And I think we have."
Dwayne Wade and Lebron James were quick to go over to San Antonio‘s Tim Duncan following the win and when asked why by a broadcaster, Wade said Duncan is one of the best to ever play the game and he deserved the respect. Duncan originally hails from St Croix, USVI.
29 Responses to “VI B/ball fans excited about Miami Heat’s C/ship win”
We lost, but We ain't feel no way. Regroup and come back Next year, Duncan ain't retiring with out that 5th Ring.