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Phase II wins $1m pan prize
T&T Express, by Keino Swamber South Bureau, Monday,
February 4th 2008
ONE point was all it took for Petrotrin Phase II Pan
Groove to prevent 2007 Panorama champions Neal and Massy
Trinidad All Stars from scoring a double win and walking
away with the $1 million prize at Skinner Park, San
Fernando, yesterday morning.
It was a case of sweet revenge for the Woodbrook-based
band, whose hopes of pulling off a hat-trick last year
were stymied by All Stars who had clinched the title
then by two points.
Playing "Musical Vengeance" composed by Gregory "GB"
Ballantyne and arranged by Len "Boogsie" Sharpe,
Petrotrin Phase II had emerged as one of the favourites
having tied with All Stars for first place in the
preliminary round.
Trinidad All Stars pulled ahead in the semi-final round
and went into Saturday's final at the head of the pack
with "Thunder Coming", composed and sung by Winston
Scarborough, better known as 'D Original De Fosto', and
arranged by Leon "Smooth" Edwards.
In the end, All Stars, playing in position number two,
had to settle for second place with a total of 480
points and a purse of $700,000.
It was the second time in three years that Phase II, who
played in position six in the final, had held Trinidad
All Stars at bay with such a small margin. In 2006,
Phase II won the title with 470.5 points while All Stars
garnered 469 points.
Placing third in the Large Band category and earning
$650,000 with 474 points, was Sagicor Exodus from
Eastern Main Road, Tunapuna, playing "Puncernelly",
composed and sung by D Original De Fosto and arranged by
Pelham Goddard.
Speaking with the Express following the win, senior
Phase II band member Franklin Ollivera attributed the
band's success to long hours of hard work.
"When I told Boogsie we were eight points behind in the
semis, he said we were in that position already,"
Ollivera said.
"We worked hard while all the other bands were sleeping,
we worked until two and three in the morning. Boogsie is
never satisfied. He made changes up to Friday night for
Saturday and it paid off."
Boogsie was nowhere to be found when the results were
announced. The Express was told that he was "not feeling
too well" and had left before the judges had reached
their decision.
In the Medium Band category, Courts Sound Specialists of
Laventille held the trophy high for a second consecutive
year after amassing 465.5 points playing "Hooked", which
was composed by Mark Loquan, Destra Garcia and Ken
"Professor" Philmore, who also arranged for the band.
They received $600,000 for their efforts.
Taking the $550,000 for second was Steel Xplosion of
Tobago, with their rendition of "Get Down" composed by
Alvin Daniell and Brian "Bean" Griffith.
Curepe-based band Clico Sforzata came in third for the
second year running with 444.5 points and took away
650,000.
They played the Edwin Pouchet and Alvin Daniel
composition "Thunder Coming", which was sung by Roderick
"Chucky" Gordon and arranged by Yohan Popwell. |
