Bad Boys' DAlvern Blyden, left, will renew his rivalry with Young Legs' Ronnie "Gola" Simmonds when the league starts. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman": Greenaway

TORTOLA—With the sweet taste that came with knocking off Young Legs to reach their first BVI Basketball Federation final then winning their first game, the Bad Boys had a full off season to endure the bitter end of defeat which came with the East’s reverse sweep to claim the crown.

Like the Guns and Young Legs, Bad Boys have done some upgrade to their unit with hopes of getting that coveted ring.  “The Bad Boys are ready,” assured Dalvern Blyden. “We just had to do a little rebuilding and we’re coming again. If you looked at the Bad Boys’ team that showed up in the championships, in most games, we came with 7-8 players. But, this year, we are coming with a full 12 to do war—that’s all we are coming for.”

Having experienced playing in the finals and losing, isn’t a good feeling Blyden said and that has motivated his team. “It was like your hand is above the cookie jar, but, you didn’t get to taste it,” he recalls. “This year when things start, everybody will have their ring in the air and we don’t have any so we need a ring.”

Bylden believes a better bench was the missing ingredient in getting them to the top to get that ring. He said with Guns and Young Legs losing, adding and picking up players, it doesn’t faze his team. “As far as I’m concerned, Bad Boys are the best team in the league right now,” he affirmed. “I’m sure about that. I’m positive. I’m not sending a message. But, tell them Dalvern said so.”   

What would it mean for Bad Boys to finally win the title this year? “To me, it’s all about the ring and bragging rights for a whole year,” Blyden pointed out. “That’s all it is right now, bragging rights and a ring. That’s what Bad Boys want. Get rings or die trying.”