LED by finals MVP Omar Barnes and an impressive defensive display from Andrew Whilby, Tivoli Wizards routed Majesty Legends 75-59 in game three of the FLOW/National Basketball League (NBL) best-of-three finals for a 2-1 series win at the National Arena on Sunday.

Barnes had a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds, while Whilby pulled 17 rebounds along with 10 points for the defending champions, whose impressive display was not limited to two, as Anthony Farquharson and Delano Mallett added valuable contributions with 15 points apiece.

But on a night when Majesty needed their top players to be at the best, Hovando Dunn was their top-scorer with 13 points, followed by Kemar McLeish with 12 points and eight rebounds and Damion Young with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Tivoli Gardens’ coach Edward Marshall said the gap between the teams’ defensive strengths proved to be the difference.

“Anytime you play this Majesty team they always give you a run for your money, but defensively we are better than them and that was proven tonight (Sunday),” he said.

Tivoli’s intentions were evident from the start as they scored from the opening play of the game and never looked back.

Majesty stayed close to the West-Kingston outfit until midway the quarter when Tivoli opened up a three-point lead, 14-11. The orange-and-black-clad Tivoli then stepped up a gear to take a 24-13 led at the first break.

But Majesty’s response in the second quarter was what most of the large turnout had anticipated, as they rallied under the leadership of Boldon Todd, who incidentally scored all his six points in this period to lead the fight back.

The Three Miles-based team gradually clawed their way back into the match and eventually drew level with the final shot of the first half.

But the close and intriguing finish that everyone was expecting soon dissipated, after Tivoli came out just as they did in the first quarter and pushed Majesty on the defensive.

Barnes was most ruthless in this period as he netted three consecutive baskets early in the period to send the champions on their run, and they went on to take the quarter 24-12 to hold a 61-49 advantage going into the final period.

With the writing on the wall Majesty came out an uninspired bunch in the final quarter, allowing Tivoli to even pull all their starters and playing more than half of the final quarter with their substitutes.

Tivoli went on to take the final period 14-10 for a convincing and deserved victory.

“I am really proud of the team, because this was a team effort and I hope we can stick together and come back next year,” added Marshall.

Meanwhile, his counterpart Ludlow Barker admitted that his team was outplayed on the night.

“We were hoping to come out with the type of defence that we finished the half with… but we couldn’t take care of the ball and they got the fast breaks… and took care of the game,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Nasha Monique Douglas, the brand marketing manager for Flow, which is in its first year as title sponsor, said her company is pleased with its first staging of the tournament and will be looking to make improvements for next season.

“I think our contribution to the league has given the sport more visibility, and hopefully more development comes out of the sport from all levels,” she said.