THE Guyana Senior Men’s Basketball Team arrived in Colombia but will be without the highly-anticipated services of AEK Athens power forward Delroy James, as the country open their campaign at the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 pre-qualifiers today against Paraguay.
James, according to a release from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), was unable to have his Guyana passport renewed.
The release stated that James was unable to present his expired passport in person because he was in Brazil with his club AEK where he propelled them to victory in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup last weekend.
Guyana Team manager Alex Graham, upon arriving in Bogotá said: “We tried everything to get Delroy’s passport, everyone in the Federation called everyone they know, I called everyone I know, and other called people who know people. We were told different things at different times but in the end we don’t have Delroy on the floor fighting for Guyana and that is a major loss for the country.”
Graham further stated, “I wouldn’t call names, but I expected that those with the power to help would at least meet with us to discuss how, within the law, regulations and practices, we could have worked together to find a way for James to represent Guyana. But we couldn’t make it happen.”
Guyana head coach, Andrew Hercules, said, “It is a huge disappointment to lose Delroy James, as Guyana is at this level for the first time and James’s experience in the USA, Europe, and South America would have been useful along with his incredible skill set. However, my job is to win with the team I have and that is my focus now.”
After their clash against Paraguay today, Guyana will play Colombia tomorrow and will close off their ‘Group B’ campaign against Bolivia on Sunday.
The team will be represented by 19-year-old Yonnick Tappin of Victory Valley Royals, who will be making his international debut, his Royals teammates Orlan Glasgow and Harold Adams, Gordon James (USA), CBC MVP Stanton Rose, as well as Anthony Moe (USA), Travis Belgrave (Eagles), Travis Burnett (Cobras), Timothy Thompson (Colts), Kevon Wiggins (USA) and Shaine Webster (Colts).
