FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifiers…
GUYANA’S campaign in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifiers got off to a stuttering start on Wednesday evening in Georgetown
The Guyanese, playing the Turks and Caicos, lost 68-55 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The locals led out of the blocks 12-10, but Trevante Garland played some vital minutes in the second period as the tourists took the lead 31-23 after outplaying the Guyanese 21-11 in the second quarter.
Garland would finish with 13 points in the low-scoring contest.
Turks continued their trek into the third quarter, leading 24-19 in the period as they extended their advantage in the game to 54-42 going into the fourth.
Guyana made an offensive comeback in the fourth quarter, with Kevin Mickle scoring 24 points. Kevon Wiggins also had 9 points as they lost by 13 points, 68-55.
Meanwhile, the island nation of Barbados opened their campaign with a 35-point blowout win over the Cayman Islands, 89 to 54.
Barbados had several playmakers, with Kyrone Alexander leading the way with 15 points, 12 from Deroni Hurley, and 13 from Carl Thorpe.
Also in the winner’s circle on the opening day was St. Vincent, who dominated their contest with Grenada 85-66.
St. Vincent’s Shad Thomas led the offence with 20 points, with 17 from Chrisford Telesford and 13 points each from Phillips Lawerence-Ricks and Tyler Fraser.
Antigua also staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Bermuda, 82-50.
The Antiguan side had a good combined effort with 5 players in double digits.
The tournament concludes on Sunday and features 10 Caribbean nations battling for the lone qualifying spot from each group.
Guyana has been drawn in Group A alongside Dominica, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and Bermuda.
Group B comprises Haiti, Grenada, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The competition is being played in a round-robin format, with each team facing every other in the group once.
At the group stage, only the group winners will progress to the next phase of the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers.
