AS the Inter-Guiana Games kick off today, Nathan Yannick Saul, captain of the Inter-Guiana Games male basketball side, is confident in his side’s ability to get off to a winning start. Having already played in the games in 2013 and 2014, the 18-year-old shooting guard is looking to take that experience into this year’s fixtures. In a chat with the Guyana Chronicle, Saul opened up on his basketball experience to this point.

“I already got over the nervousness of playing (in IGG), right now it’s about getting back at Suriname for the loss we had in 2014,” Saul said. He added that the loss in 2014 was very hurtful, since Guyana were leading with minutes to go, but managed to have the game slip through the cracks.
As one of the returning players on the side, Saul is easily one of the most experienced players. However, in addition to his experience, Saul is a prolific scorer and he is able to put up high numbers at any given time. He touched on finding the balance between turning that scoring on and playing within the team system.
“On my school team I’ve had to be the primary scorer but since I’m playing now with one of the best guards in Stanton Rose, I’m able to play my position as shooting guard. “Also playing with one of the most athletic three guards in the country in Travis Belgrave with Neil Wills at centre makes my job easier.”
He believes that this team is finally able to match Suriname with rebounding, having more players who can now jump and rebound.
“Half of our team are highflyers, and that was always our downfall against Suriname, but now we have the height, the jumping ability and the speed to match them. This year we’re ready for them and I want us to sweep them. No game they should win and that’s what we are going to go out and do.”
Today’s campaign to the sweep begins at 13:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as Guyana come up against Suriname in a best-of-three series.