Alex Bellver and AJ Williams impress as Ballincollig overwhelm St Vincent's
Alex Bellver rises to score the opening basket for Ballincollig BC in the Domino’s Men’s Superleague game against St Vincent’s at MTU Arena on Saturday. Picture: Larry Cummins
Ballincollig produced a solid display to secure maximum points in their Domino’s Men’s Super League clash against St Vincent’s at the MTU Arena on Saturday.
Many solid displays from the home side but their Spanish ace Alex Bellver gave an exhibition and is without doubt the find of the season. American AJ Williams had a season-best 31-point tally.
The Dublin side have yet to win a game in this campaign made a few changes on the professional front but it made little difference as Ballincollig were seldom troubled in this encounter.
Ballincollig went into this game without their injured American Zack Davis with Dylan Corkery also sitting it out.
The home side got off to a great start when consecutive baskets from Bellver and Adrian O’Sullivan saw the surge into a four- point lead that was followed by a stunning Ciaran O’Sullivan three-pointer.
The good news for Ballincollig was the return of their influential Bosman Josh Steel, who was introduced midway through the quarter. It was also announced after the game that Bosman Israel Momodu is leaving to play in Norway.
There was a high tempo in this quarter and when Bellver drained a long-range three, Ballincollig commanded a six-point lead.
Vincent’s, without a win in this campaign, brought in French signing Bessandra Seragba for this game but early signs suggest he will need to improve big time to keep his team in the league.
In the closing minute, both teams missed good scoring opportunities but Ballincollig looked in firm control when commanding a nine-point lead heading into the second quarter.
On the restart Bellver drained two free throws that was followed by similar shots from Adrian O’Sullivan.
The Vincent’s defence was simply awful with Ballincollig executing baskets at will but amazingly four minutes into this period they still only commanded an eight-point lead.
Vincent’s without excelling reduced it further a minute later following an Adam Mullally tip, with the home side immediately calling a time-out to steady the ship.
On the restart, Williams nailed a three and followed up with a basket as the American finally came to life after a sluggish start.
I have been looking at St Vincent’s for over 50 years and they were always known as a club known for producing quality Irish players. This present squad has very few players that have come through the club programme; it shows the changing trend in Irish basketball.
Williams, who has had a very slow start to his Ballincollig career, began showing the quality we witnessed with Limerick Celtics over the last couple of seasons.
Ballincollig player-coach Ciaran O’Sullivan is still deadly outside the arc, draining a couple of big shots in this period. Such was the Ballincollig dominance they surged into an 18-point lead with 1.34 remaining on the clock as Vincent’s looked a side lacking class and belief.
In the closing minutes Ballincollig missed a few tips to extend their lead and with Vincent’s Scott Stone finishing with a three-pointer the lead was reduced to 15 points at the break 51-36.
On the restart Keelan Cairns shot an incredible baseline shot and Williams followed up with an incredible basket following a beautiful drive to the hoop.
Six minutes into this period Ballincollig, with various rotations, dominated and with Williams and Bellver always likely to punish the Saints it was no surprise their lead has extended to 26 points in the 27th minute.
The one plus for Vincent’s in this quarter was the shooting of Scott Stone but the Dublin side had only accumulated 49 points with a minute remaining.
Just when Vincent’s got it back to 22, Ciaran O’Sullivan nailed a three-pointer but a late technical foul against the home side saw their lead reduced. They still took a 76-54 lead into the final quarter.
Coming down the stretch Ballincollig basically remained in control with Vincent’s wait for their first win in this campaign.
AJ Williams 31, A Bellver 30, A O’Sullivan 11, C O’Sullivan 11.
S Stone 26, D Jones 12, B Sarabaga 10.
A O’Sullivan, D O’Herlihy, R O’Flynn, C O’Sullivan, C Blount, A Bellver, B Dounala, D Corkery, I Momodo, K Cairns, AJ Williams, Z Davis, J Steel.
J Kijak, S Stone, J Phelan, C Gilligan, S Moran, E McCann, D Lagoeyte, D Ebose, A Mullally, L Slim, D Jones, B Saragba.
L Aherne (Limerick), C White (Dublin), A Kiernan (Dublin).
App?
