Fatima, ‘Saints’ among schools into RBC Royal Slam semis

The RBC Royal Slam College tournament has reached its climactic stage, with Fatima College, Presentation College (San Fernando), Queen’s Royal College, and St Mary’s College securing their spots in the final four. The group phase concluded on October 26 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua, setting the stage for an intense semifinal showdown.

In Group A, Fatima College demonstrated their supremacy with a commanding 112-67 victory over Queen’s Royal College (QRC), clinching the top spot. The trio of Williams Francis, Zachary Julien, and Idriis Martin spearheaded the win. Francis delivered a stellar triple-double performance with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 steals, while Julien contributed 29 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Martin added 23 points and eight steals to the tally. Despite a valiant effort from QRC’s captain Talib Daniel, who scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Fatima’s dominance was undeniable.

Holy Cross College secured third place in Group A with a 71-36 win over St Francis Boys’ College, led by Zion Redwood’s 17 points, eight rebounds, and six steals. However, Holy Cross had previously suffered a heavy defeat against QRC, where Daniel’s 35 points and 13 rebounds propelled QRC to an 85-56 victory.

In Group B, St Mary’s College emerged victorious with a 96-83 win over St Anthony’s College. Nkobi Ince shone with 35 points, eight rebounds, and six steals, while Zane Peters added 31 points to secure the Saints’ semifinal berth. Despite strong performances from St Anthony’s Amir Balgobin (33 points, eight rebounds) and Jahiem McLeod (29 points), they fell short against their northern rivals.

The semifinals are set for November 8, with St Mary’s facing QRC and Fatima taking on Presentation College. The tournament’s final will be held on November 9, with all matches taking place at the Tacarigua venue.