More $$ for Courts Pro Bowl.
By: Gregory Trujillo (Guardian).[/size]
When Vibe CT 105 W Connection begins it defence of the Courts Pro Bowl on Friday, the Stuart Charles-Fevrier squad will be in a tussle for increase prize money. An increase of $75,000 on the $150,000 from last year was announced yesterday when the competition was launched yesterday at Kapok Hotel in Maraval.
W Connection will open its title defence against the winner of North East Stars and debutants Ma Pau in one of the four quarter final matches. Chief rivals, Clico San Juan Jabloteh will face Defence Force, while league leaders United Petrotrin will come up against bMobile Joe Public.
Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA will meet the survivor of the St Ann’s Rangers and Tobago United clash to round off the quarter final matches. In announcing the new format of the competition, it was noted that the last four teams in the current league competition will meet to decide the last two teams for the last eight.
Ron La Forest-coached Ma Pau will oppose North East Stars and St Ann’s Rangers will meet Tobago United in play-offs, which start today at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar. It will be the second time in four days that Ma Pau and North East Stars, as well as Rangers and Tobago United, will be facing each other. In league matches on Saturday, Mau Pau and Rangers scored 3-0 and 5-1 victories over North East Stars and Tobago United respectively to record its first win for the season.
Fixtures
Play-off
Today:[/b] - St Ann’s Rangers v Tobago United, 5 pm; North East Stars v Ma Pau, 7 pm, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
Quarterfinals
Friday: - North East Stars/Ma Pau v Vibe CT 105 W Connection (A); bMobile Joe Public v United Petrotrin (B); Tobago Utd/St Ann’s Rangers v Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA (C); Defence Force v Clico San Juan Jabloteh (D).
Semifinals
May 16: - A v B; D v C, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
Final
May 23: - Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
Courts Pro Bowl kicks off today.
By: Mark Pouchet (Express).[/size]
Defending champions Vibe CT 105 W Connection begin their defence of the Courts Pro Bowl knockout title with a quarter-final meeting against the winners of the North East Stars/Ma Pau SC play-off, the first of today's double-header, at the Larry Gomes Stadium, in Arima. Tobago United face St Ann's Rangers at 5 p.m., and two hours later, Stars and Ma Pau do battle.
Yesterday's draw and launch took place at the Kapok Hotel, Maraval, where T&T Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene revealed that sponsors Courts Trinidad Limited had increased the winner's prize by $25,000, and that the total sponsorship stood at $225,000. Some $20,000 in Courts vouchers will be on offer for the MVP at each stage of the tournament and the leading scorer.
The winners of the 2008 competition are now guaranteed at least $100,000. Door prizes and a kick for cash half-time competition for patrons are additional features of the Courts Pro Bowl.
At the launch, Courts marketing manager Melanie Foster said her company is "a firm believer that sport institutions such as the TT Pro League bring life and excitement to communities and are a vital component of their quality of life". W Connection coach Stuart Fevrier looked ahead to the tournament.
"It's always tough. In this kind of competition, on any given day any team can win. So you can't take your opposition for granted. But we like big trophies and this year they're offering a big one so we want to put that on our shelf."
Fixtures
Play-off round (Larry Gomes Stadium)
Today:[/b] - Tobago United vs St Ann's Rangers, 5 p.m.
North East Stars vs Ma Pau SC, 7 p.m.
Quarter-finals
Friday: (Manny Ramjohn Stadium)
North East Stars/Ma Pau SC vs W Connection, 6 p.m.
Joe Public vs United Petrotrin, 8 p.m.
May 13 (Larry Gomes Stadium)
Caledonia AIA vs Tobago United/St Ann's Rangers, 6 p.m.
Defence Force vs San Juan Jabloteh, 8 p.m.
