Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

Port Royal Bulls' Kenardo Wright (right) shoots over JDF's Dermaine Foster as Bulls' Damion Young (24) watches during a KFC-sponsored National Basketball League match at the National Stadium courts yesterday. Port Royal Bulls won 64-57. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Port Royal Bulls moved to a perfect 10-0 record in the KFC National Basketball League yesterday, following a 64-57 victory over the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at the National Stadium courts.

"We were always confident of victory because we defeated JDF in Division One, and we knew we can beat them again. We just step up in the fourth quarter and the game was ours," Oniel Williams, coach of Port Royal Bulls, told The Gleaner.

Four Bulls players in Kenardo Wright (13), Leighton Meeks (12), Paul Brown (11) and captain Dovian Wade (11) scored in double figures. JDF, which dropped to 4-6, were led by Raymond Francis who had a game high 22 points, while Dermaine Foster added 15.

Less-than-inspiring start

Bulls were off to a less-than-inspiring start scoring 11 points to JDF's 10 in the first quarter. They improved to a 29-21 half time lead, but a mediocre third quarter, where they scored only six points to the Army Men's 20 points, saw them trailing the soldiers 35-41 entering the fourth period.

However, the Bulls, led by their veterans Damion Young, Leighton Meeks, Paul Oliphant and the hardworking Paul Brown, came roaring back, going on a 15-0 run to start the fourth quarter, and when that run ended at 62-54 with 1:48 remaining, the match was virtually in the bag.

"We had our chance to win the game, but we started taking bad shots, and they scored off our misses and came back in the game. We played good defence but we missed a lot of lay-ups especially in the fourth quarter and that cost us the game," JDF's coach Jonah Atkinson said.

The Bulls now turn their attention to a big clash with defending champs Urban Knights at the Stadium courts this Friday. The Knights are currently 9-0.