Titles at stake, grand finale tomorrow

WESTERN BUREAU:

The curtains will come down on the popular 2011 J. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum-sponsored Western Jamaica Domino League tomorrow, with champion-ship games for both the Premier League and Division One at Father Bull's Restaurant and Bar at Long Bay in Trelawny.

In the games, both slated to start at 1:30 p.m., Fighter Jet of Trelawny and Tropical Riddim of Hanover will clash in the Premier League final; while in the division one final, a classy battle is anticipated between Uptown and Intouch, who both know that victory would earn them a place in the Champion of Champions showdown against the Premier League winners.

Super showdown

Looking at the contenders for the Premier League title, one can't help but envisage a super showdown based on the quality displayed by the two teams during the season, especially at the semi-final stage where Fighter Jet eliminated Tuff Gong 300-265 and Tropical Riddim knocked out defending champions Assassin 300-295.

Basking in the glory of being dubbed favourites, Fighter Jet's captain and main player, Marlon 'Hero' Hamilton, is so confident that, according to him, it is inevitable that they will win the coveted title.

"We are going to win, no question about that," said Hamilton, describing his Fighter Jet team as a well-programmed outfit which has been fine-tuned to win. "It is a given that we will win this final ... . We have absolutely no fear of our opponents."

However, having beaten the seemingly invincible defending cham-pions Assassin in their semi-final, Tropical Riddim's captain, Dermot 'Stretch' Haughton, has declared that they are ready for yet another giant-killing act, noting that it will be a case of "no retreat, no surrender".

"After beating Assassin in the semi-final, we see no other team that we believe has the ability to stop us," said Haughton. "I can promise the fans that it will be a straight domino war, and when the dust is settled Tropical Riddim will be the new champions."

In Division One showdown, it should also be a battle royal between the formidable Uptown and Intouch, who both have very good reasons to be confident after scoring good semi-final wins against Star International and Tornado by 300-280 and 300-287 margins, respectively.

In last weekend's third-place play-offs for both the Premier League and the Division One, Assassin took the Premier League third-place money with a comfortable 300-252 win against Tuff Gong, while Star International upstaged Tornado 300-266 to seal third-place ins the Division One.

In the end-of-season presentation ceremony which will follow the championship games, the breakdown of prizes read as follows: Premier League $100,000 and the J Wray & Nephew Trophy, second $70,000, third $50,000 and fourth $30,000. In the Division One, the champions will earn $65,000 and J Wray & Nephew Trophy, second $40,000, third $30,000 and fourth $15,000.