WITH just nine days before the start of the CBC Championships in Tortola, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), yesterday, named 17 players following two weeks of training at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The announcement which was made by Coach Mark Agard after the team’s practice session yesterday came after the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) had shortlisted just over 30 players upon the completion of their National Inter-Association Championship.“I think this is the best possible players we could’ve selected from the crop of over 30 that we had training,” Agard said.

The final 12 will be named on Friday, according to Agard, since the former National point guard pointed out that overseas based Keron McKenzie and Kevan Creppy will arrive today and Gordon Klaiber by the end of the week.

Former Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers shooting guard Rawle Marshall was named as captain of the team, which some pundits are calling one of the best composed side to represent Guyana in recent years.

The ‘Bane’ of Guyana’s basketball Dwayne Roberts, Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai, Victory Royals ace Chris Williams, Bounty Colts duo Dave Causeway and Shellroy Thomas along with Shane Webster, Royston Siland, Ryan Gullen and Ryan Stephney, are the locally based players selected.

Tyler Persaud, Andrew Ifill, Richard Hall, Ray Victor, Andre DeFlorimonte joins Marshall, McKenzie, Creppy and Klaiber as the overseas based players named.

In an invited comment, Agard pointed out that based on the work and improvement all the players had shown over the past couple of weeks, selecting 18 players was one of the hardest decisions he has ever made in basketball.

One of the most experienced players of his time, Agard, and his assistants Kevin Joseph and Darcel Harris had a thorough look at the players before making the all important cut; something he conceded that should’ve been done a long time ago.

“It was hard, but we took our time, had a proper look at all the players and I think we’ve made the best decision with the squad selection,” Agard told Chronicle Sports.

Asked what criterion was used to come up with the 18 names, Agard said “we wanted a mixture of height and speed along with size and I think we have that in this team. We have guys that can play big and small and are able to run the floor, hit the open shots and guys that are easy to coach”.

Looking ahead, Agard noted that with the squad now down to 18, along with his coaching staff, he will begin focusing on the more tactical side of the game.

“What we will do now is get to work on the more tactical side of the game and let these guys work on their team chemistry. I’m not saying its not there but now the group is smaller, it would be better for them. It’s now down the crunch time and more specific training and preparation to do well in the BVI,” Agard said.

The team will not be encamped, and GABF President Nigel Hinds stated that the Federation is still cash strap and are calling on corporate Guyana to aid in their quest to win the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) tournament.

Guyana will depart on June 29 and expected to play the host, British Virgin Island (BVI) on opening day (July 1). The tournament concludes on July 5.

National team list: Rawle Marshall (Captain), Andrew Ifill, Dwayne Roberts, Gordon Klaiber, Keron McKenzie, Tyler Persaud, Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney, Dave Causeway, Shellroy Thomas, Ray Victor, Richard Hall, Andre DeFlorimonte, Kevan Creppy, Akeem Kanhai, Shane Webster, Chris Williams and Royston Siland.
Written By Rawle Toney