WITH Guyana stepping up preparation for their 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) campaign, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GABF) announced their provisional male and female teams, which have already begun training at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The women team, being coached by Julian ‘Pumpkin’ Haynes, will have their tournament from June 8 – 12, while Coach Darcel Harris’ troops will feature from June 15 – 18 at the British Virgin Island (BVI) hosted event.

Last year, Guyana’s men team finished in 5th place, while the women side came in at the bottom of the cellar and failed to win a game in the tournament.

In a release from the GABF, President Nigel Hinds said that both squads will be boosted during the training sessions with the addition of overseas based players, who will be coming to Guyana to try out for selection on the respective teams.

Last year, Guyana’s male team saw the inclusion of overseas based players; former Indian Pacers and Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Rawle Marshall and Japan based Gordon Klaiber, while the women’s side went with an all local squad.

While the men’s team hosted Bermuda in a three game series and were able to play undefeated, the women’s side are yet to see any action since returning from the 2014 championship.

Practice sessions are currently underway at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 19:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs and on Sundays from 08:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs.

National men’s squad: Randy Richardson, Neil Wills, Kevin Emanuel, Denyson Fraser, Akeem Kanhai, Terron Welch, Neil Marks, Aminiki Archibald, Shane Webster, Chris Williams, Harold Adams, Keon Cameron, Stephan Tappin, Dwight McKinnon, Dominic Vincente, Travis Burnette, Ryan Stephney, Nikolai Smith, Jason Squires, Rodwell Fortune, Stefon Gillis, Tyrone Hamid, Ryan Gullen, Royston Siland, Jermaine Slater, Rudy James, Kurt Elias, Drumson McCaulley, Fabian Johnson, Dave Causway and Shelroy Thomas.

National women’s squad: Kristy Roberts, Natasha Andrews, Kean Andrews, Timike Joseph-De Rouche, Lowquantor Gibson, Aleea Caesar, Sheeneeza Atwell, Natoila Primo, Amera Alphonso, Ginelle Ifill, Shenne Subrattie, Renika Prince, Jenessa Waithe, Kemika France, Suripa Swamy, Rhonda Fraser, Althea Mingo, Sonia Rodney, Tamara Hunter, Latoya Rodney, Necosia Mitchell, Kenesha Lecock, Jenelle Belle, Shanna Chester and Nichola Jacobs.

By Rawle Toney