LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Garth McKenzie (left) of Jamaica Public Service (JPS), sponsor, hands over the champion's trophy to Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) coach Jonah Atkinson (right) and his team after winning the JPS All-island Basketball League on Sunday night at the Edgewater Sports Complex. JDF beat Team AAAH of Mandeville 54-52 in game two of the home-and-away series. JDF also won the first game 58-50. - Photo by LeVaughn Flynn

Aaah, that's what it means - Amazing Athletes At Heart. The basketball club from Mandeville with the unusual name, Team AAAH, does tend to draw more attention to its name than its game - especially during the team huddle when a shout of 'aaah' emits from the group.

On Sunday night, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) took the liberty to sarcastically chorus 'aaahs' after winning the JPS all-island basketball league title at the Edgewater Sports Complex.

The JDF won the home-and-away series 58-50 and 54-52 in both games and took home $80,000.

For Mike Stephenson, a Canadian-Jamaican who formed the club 10 years ago, ridicule in any form is nothing new, particularly from Kingston-based teams.

He said Team AAAH is keeping focused on gaining promotion to the National Basketball League on the back of the talent in Manchester.

"People better start paying attention to what's happening in central (Jamaica)," he said after the game. "To see these guys get to this level is a good sign and a good example of the talent in central (Jamaica)."

Team recognised

Stephenson's goal of getting basketball players and teams from Mandeville recognised bore fruit last year when he coached Belair High, a private institution with fewer than 500 students, to the all-island title, beating Kingston College in the final.

Belair's leading player, Neveij Walters, was also the main man on Sunday, leading Team AAAH with 13 points. He was supported by Mark Cole with nine points.

Had they gotten over their jitters earlier, Team AAAH could have had a better result in the first game played at Belair High on February 16. The JDF, led by as many as 17 points, and Team AAAH left it until the fourth quarter before putting up a fight.

Sunday's game was more competitive, but the JDF's inside presence and overall experience was too much. Raymond Francis top scored with 16 points for the winners and speedy point guard Denroy Barnaby contributed 10.

The army men led 17-9 after the first quarter, but Team AAAH reduced their lead to two (27-25) at half-time. Both teams traded baskets throughout the third and as the fourth quarter wound down, a win seemed unlikely for the Mandeville-based team, as they needed to win by nine points, to overcome the eight-point loss in the first game and claim the title.

The JDF's coach, Jonah Atkin-son, described his team's play as a fairly good performance and said his opponents posed a formidable challenge.

"They played with more heart this time and responded well to being down, but we also responded well and got the lead and held on for the win," said Atkinson.

Improve scope

This is the second year the Jamaica Public Service All-Island League Basketball is being staged with the sponsors making an initial three-year, $3 million commitment.

The Jamaica Basketball Asso-ciation and the sponsor have plans to improve the scope of the tournament next year.

"We are looking at ways at getting the competition to more teams across the island as this works out better for the sport," said Garth McKenzie, JPS's director of metro region.

He added: "The organisation of the league has been impeccable by the association and this certainly is impetus for us to continue."