After Saturday one league will be able to call itself the best in New York City.
The PSAL all-stars will take on the best of the CHSAA in the inaugural “Battle for the City” game at Baruch College in Manhattan at 4 p.m. The game is being put together by Funsport.
“I thought this is a good opportunity to bring the city together,” tournament creator and Team Funsport president Ricky Rivers said. “I think what we needed was a postseason event to celebrate New York City and this is the kind of event that will make that happen.”
The teams had a practice and scrimmaged each other Wednesday at the Navy Yards Boys & Girls Club in Brooklyn as a tuneup for the game. The teams are comprised of 15 of the best basketball players in each league and though it will be an exhibition game, each league wants to be crowned the best in the city.
“When St. Rays played Holy Cross in the ‘chip,’ the commentator said the CHSAA was the best league in the country,” said Thaddeus Hall who will represent Thomas Jefferson on the PSAL team. “He didn’t name any PSAL players and I got upset by that. Now we’re gonna see whose better.”
While the PSAL is out to prove itself, the CHSAA also hopes to leave its mark.
“It’s an honor to be able to play against the top players in our city and prove that CHSAA is the top basketball league,” Daniel Dingle of St. Raymond said. “I wanna have fun but I wanna win.”
Added Holy Cross’ Marquis Moore: “We wanna come out here and beat the PSAL. We want this win.”
The PSAL will be coached by Boys & Girls’ Ruth Lovelace, fresh off of Boys High’s first New York State Federation Class AA champion victory Sunday in Albany. Even though Lovelace has accomplished a lot this season, this game means a lot to her.
“It’s a blessing to coach some of the best kids in the city,” Lovelace said. “It’s gonna be fun, but public school wants bragging rights. Hopefully we come out victorious.”
Lovelace will have plenty of representation on the team from her Boys High players, one being highly touted Leroy (Truck) Fludd. Fludd won tournament MVP honors in Albany and is hoping to continue his success as an all-star.
“I’m just gonna come out and have fun,” Fludd said. “There’s bragging rights, but I’m not too focused on that.”
The CHSAA was to be coached by St. Ray’s Oliver Antigua, but he will be at the Final Four in support of his brother Orlando, who is an assistant coach for Kentucky. In his place will be assistant coach Jorge Lopez.
“Having the opportunity to coach some of the best talent in the city is an honor for me,” Lopez said. “I can’t say either league is better, but New York City has some great talent on all sides.”
The game is under some scrutiny by the CHSAA, because it is unsanctioned. League officials were unhappy that Funsport was passing off the event as being sponsored by the CHSAA and PSAL in its advertisements, though it is not. CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens president Ray Nash told The Post that he and Archdiocesan head Rich Tricario are evaluating the event to see if it is in the best interest for CHSAA players to compete.
Nash and Rivers had a long conversation Wednesday to clear the air.
“In the end we talked about this event being about the kids,” Rivers said. “I’m confident everyone who was supposed to play is going to play. This is going to be a spectacular event for the kids.”