LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Harbour View Lakers' Kenardo Wright attempts to check the progress of Portmore Flames' shooting guard Jermaine Mascoe during a KFC/bmobile National Basketball game at the Stadium courts in March last year. Wright is one of the the Lakers' few remaining core players.

Harbour View Lakers were notably absent from the first round point standings of the KFC National Basketball League (NBL), which was released on Thursday by the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA). The 1988 champions have been kicked out of the NBL and relegated to the Southern Basketball Conference Division One League for forfeiting two games. The disqualification from the NBL is in line with JABA rules.

Late start

Harbour View Lakers coach, Donald Jackson, said the late start to the league hurt his team. The NBL, which usually starts around February, didn't tip off until June 10. Lakers could not field five players for their games against Runnin' Rebels on June 20 and Denham Town Wizards on July 19.

"Most of the players are away because the league started late and they had made previous plans for the summer," said Jackson.

Only three years ago, Lakers were contesting the NBL semi-finals, but with top players such as Christopher Walker away on a scholarship and Michael Jackson defecting to St. George's Slayers, they have struggled this season with seven losses to add to the two forfeited games.

Kenardo Wright is the only core player still with the team.

Pay a fine

JABA president Marland Nattie said he is yet to receive a formal statement from the club.

He added that they would still be required to pay a fine for missing the games and that they would have to spend a season in the Division One League before they are eligible for promotion.

In the meantime, first round leaders St. George's Slayers will face Urban Knights on August 19 in the mid-season final, tentatively set for the National Arena. Slayers beat Knights 58-54 in the season-opener.