Georgetown names 15-man squad

WITH the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Inter-Association Championship just four days away, one of the pre-tournament favourites, Georgetown, have released the names the their 15-man squad who will represent the Capital against Berbice and their closest rivals Linden.

Georgetown and Linden, the game’s oldest rivals will come up against each other on Saturday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court – the perfect start to the tournament.
President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Michael Singh yesterday named his squad which will be coached by Ravens’ Darcel Harris with Plaisance Guardians’ Junior Hercules as his assistant.
Probably one of the most famous players of his time, Akeem ‘the Dream’ Kanhai heads the list that also features his Raven teammates Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney, Rudy James, Jermaine Slater and Dominic Vincente.
Shelroy Thomas, Dave Causway, Niko Fraser, Nikkolai Smith (Bounty Colts), Jason Squires (Pepsi Sonics) , Stephan Gillis, Travis Burnett, Joslyn Crawford (Pacesetters) and Haslyn Hooper (Panthers) are the other players on the city side.
However, Georgetown will have to do without their versatile centre/forward Royston Siland at least for now, who, according to Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), is nursing a fractured finger. If he returns to full fitness he could be included in the squad.
Asked to comment on the list put forward by his association, Singh said, “I think we have the hottest and most exciting players in the country, we will be victorious. These guys were training for three weeks now and the coaches are just looking at combinations and other fine-tuning.
“GABA will beat LABA and BABA. I’m behind this group of guys. They play a great level of ball and the best thing about them, (is that) they are very disciplined and willing to compete at the highest level.”
But the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) has been tight-lipped about its squad of players while Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) is still to name its final list of players after announcing a 26-shortlisted squad.
The tournament starts on Saturday in Linden, and continues the following night in Georgetown at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Georgetown list: Akeem Kanhai, Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney, Rudy James, Jermaine Slater, Dominic Vincente, Shelroy Thomas, Dave Causway, Niko Fraser, Nikkolai Smith, Jason Squires, Stephan Gillis, Travis Burnett, Joslyn Crawford and Haslyn Hooper.

Coaches: Dacel Harris and Junior Hercules.

(By Rawle Toney)