GABF names squad for Suriname encounter … It’s not going to be easy, but we’re preparing for a war, says Harris
Akeem Kanhai
Akeem Kanhai

THE Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) yesterday named its 20-man squad to face rivals Suriname this weekend, in heightening the National Basketball team’s preparation for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, set for the BVI from June 9- 20. The Guyanese will clash with their Dutch counterparts in the May 1-3 event which will be used by both countries to fine-tune their respective teams ahead of the regional showpiece, where they are drawn in Group ‘B’ of the 10-team tournament, along with Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas for the British Virgin Islands-hosted tournament.
According to GABF, the 20-man contingent will travel to Suriname on Friday, May 1 and will get into action later that evening.
Head coach Darcel Harris, speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport yesterday, noted that the players will be rotated “based on how the games are played” in his attempt to come up with the right combination in an effort to come out of the series victorious.
The players named for game one are: Akeem Kanhai (Ravens), Dominic Vincente (Ravens), Dave Causway (Colts), Shelroy Thomas (Colts), Jason Squires (Pepsi Sonics), Ryan Gullen (Ravens), Royston Siland (Pacesetters), Jermaine Slater (Ravens), Nikolai Fraser (Guardians), Harold Adams (Royals) and Rudy James (Ravens).
“Those are the twelve players who will play on Friday, but we will see how the games go and make the adjustments as we go along,” Harris said.
Victory Valley Royals shooting guard Chris Williams, Pacesetters’ Randy Richardson and Stephan Gillis, along with Amelia’s Ward Jets’ Aminiki Archibald, Nets’ Fabian Johnson, Niko Fraser of the Colts and Kurt Elias are the reserve players.
With the team having to endure the almost seven-hour journey and playing the same night, Harris is of the view that it will provide them with the right pressure since it would not only test their mental toughness, but their ability to adapt to conditions not accustomed to.
Only last month Guyana played hosts to Bermuda in a three-game series; making a clean sweep of their opponents who are highly ranked among teams in the CBC.
Asked about the composition of the team for Suriname, compared to the one against the Bermudans, Harris pointed out “there are a few new faces and we’ve added a few versatile players”.
Adams, Johnson, Fraser, Elias and Williams are the only new players coming into the squad, while missing are point guard Ryan Stephney who played against Bermuda.
“It’s going to be easy, but we’re preparing for a war,” Harris noted, while the National coach added, “I heard that they have brought in some of their overseas players as well, but we’ll just see how they play and after the first game, we’ll make the adjustment, if needed. Both of us are in the same group for the CBC and this will be a great chance to see how we match up against them. But we’re looking forward to a good series.”
Meanwhile, president of the GABF, Nigel Hinds, in a release said that “the challenge series is being initiated by the GABF to ensure that the Guyana National basketball team benefits from international exposure and also from playing in an understandably hostile environment abroad”.
The GABF head said, “The federation has expended personal funds and invested significantly in preparatory costs as they await sought-after funding from the Guyana Government, the Guyana Corporate Community and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to ensure Guyana’s teams are well prepared for the 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships, this Championship being the ultimate basketball event for CARICOM territories.”
Hinds, assistant coach Marlon Rodrigues, statistician Dennis Clarke, manager Troy Green and referees Dexter Douglas and Rawle Toney are also part of the touring delegation.

By Rawle Toney

 

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