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Inventors forward accepts major role

By Marc Raimondi

But with the PSAL Queens Borough playoffs starting this Tuesday, the Inventors' best all-around player in 2007-08 has been somewhat of an anonymous one: senior forward Arthur Abbensett.The lanky, 6-foot-4 Long Island City native rarely leads the team in scoring, but almost always does in floor burns. He's Edison's defensive stopper and second on the team behind fellow senior Presano Bell in rebounding (13.5 per game). Abbensett has no problem doing the dirty work.”Artie likes it that way, he doesn't care,” said Edison coach John Ulmer, who led the Inventors to the Queens Borough championship and a run to the PSAL Class A city title game last season. “Some of the other guys, I gotta try to break them away from worrying about scoring.”Ulmer has given Abbensett a rare privilege. If Abbensett sees one of his teammates dogging it in practice, he's free to throw them out of the gym.He hasn't needed to yet and that's just fine with everyone. The Inventors, who lost to Cardozo Tuesday night, should be the No. 3 seed in the borough playoffs in their first season in the 'AA' division. Abbensett's role in the playoffs will be the same as it has been – whether or not he gets the recognition he deserves.”I accept it,” he said. “My defense is definitely stronger than my offense.”Reach Associate Sports Editor Marc Raimondi by e-mail at mraimondi@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.