By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Blazing Panthers' Dushane Whyte - LeVaughn Flynn photos

At the start of the season few persons reckoned Blazing Panthers would be challenging Urban Knights for the KFC National Basketball League (NBL) trophy.

But here they are five months later daring to beat an Urban Knights side which has made the finals three of the last four years.

Panthers, who won seven games and lost eight before going in to the play-offs to beat Majesty Gardens and Tivoli Gardens, were the seventh seed entering the play-offs and have defied the numerical odds to get this far.

Both teams will contest Game One of the best-of-three final series tonight at 7:45 at the National Stadium courts with Game Two scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m.

Now seen as underdogs going against Knights, which had a 10-5 record and ousted defending champs St. George's Slayers in the semi-final, Panthers are hoping their timely peaking continues.

"We always knew we had the personnel to do well, it was just getting the right chemistry," said Panthers coach Donald Bimmer. The 12-year-old club won its last and only title in 1995 - the Division Two Knockout Championships. In the last two seasons they haven't passed the quarter-finals and in a quest to upset the hugely favoured Knights, Bimmer is stressing the importance of defence.

"If we can play hard defence we will be able to match them. We have the offensive prowess to match them but we have to play with a lot of intensity. On any given night Urban Knights play with a lot of intensity so we have to do the same," he said.

Lynford 'Shootie' Brown, who averaged 20 points a game for Panthers, before walking out on the team during Game One of the semi-finals against Tivoli Gardens All Stars, is not expected to rejoin the team for the finals. When asked about the issue Bimmer declined to answer any questions regarding Brown. Despite his scoring contribution, though, Panthers eliminated Tivoli without him and will continue to rely heavily on the likes of Kirk Ferguson, Desmond Harriot, Rohan Cruise and Dushane Whyte to get by Knights.

Hot off their elimination of St.George's Slayers, Urban Knights are beaming with confidence. After a light shoot-around last night at the Mico University College, assistant coach Kevin Alexander said the team is unified in its goal.

Ready to go

Morais Reddie (right) outjumps Urban Knights teammate Linton Murray.

"Everyone is on the same page and ready to go," said Alexander. Both teams split their first round meetings 1-1 and Alexander added that they have identified their main threat.

"Our main challenge will be Rohan Cruise," said Alexander of the opposing point guard. "He is a very intelligent player so we have to make sure he has a long night and works very hard because he is not fit."

Urban Knights is also led by a savvy point guard in Javon Bailey. Bailey leads his team in assists and his performance will be key if Urban Knights are to prevail.

"If Javon turns up it's going to be a long night for Panthers," commented Alexander. While Bailey and leading scorer Linton Murray (17 points per game) will be attacking from outside, big men Oneil Mundle and Andrew Whilby will look to respond to the threat of Harriot and Adrian Forbes inside.