Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 21, 2018 Sports
By Calvin Chapman
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has released the team that will be representing the Golden Arrowhead at the 2018 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Men’s Championship which will be held at the Anthony Nesty Sportshal in Paramaribo, Suriname from Friday to June 30th.
This year’s tournament will also serve as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Americup Caribbean pre-qualifiers with the top three teams of the tournament advancing to the next round of qualification.
Guyana will be led by 18-year-old Stanton Rose, who was described by head Coach Junior Hercules as an incredible talent. During an interview with Kaieteur Sport, Hercules stated that, “We believe he (Rose) is a special talent and he has been progressively improving as a young player. He has great potential and he has proven at the highest level that he can handle pressure.”
The coach noted that during the National team’s three-game warm up series in Barbados, where Guyana came from being a game down to clinch the series, Stanton during his first stint as Captain of the senior men’s side, was outstanding and single handedly took the offensive fight to the opposition at times.
He noted that the Rose, who became Guyana’s youngest senior team captain, “Is getting better every day and he is pouring out all that he has, and as a coach I’m in awe with his development.”
“It’s primarily a guard dominated team with a heavy focus on perimeter defending and shooting. We have 1-3 combo guards which also brings a lot of versatility. We have very high IQ players”, Hercules commented on the strengths of the team which he believes will go all the way to glory in the Dutch speaking nation.
He further noted that, “What has been overlooked is our (the team’s) ability to adapt. After being blown out by Barbados in our first warm up game of the three match series, we bounced back. This team believes it can win; something that has been missing over the years. Our mentality is to not just compete, it’s to win and I’m very happy with the squad that I have.”
“Our defence is what kept us in the Barbados series, it’s very good and it is important that the players know and follow their roles. Travis Burnett is in the squad and he is known as a great attacking player but his defensive work is better so his role in the team is to defend and I’m hoping that everyone follows the game plan”, the coach stressed on the importance of roles in the team.
The final 12 has four teenagers, in the Skipper Rose, 17-year-old overseas based Berbician Kevon Wiggins, 19-year-old Timothy Thompson and 19-year-old Travis Belgrave. Hercules related that Belgrave inclusion in the squad was due to his ability: “To do more with less, “Travis is the type of player that if you give him three minutes to run, he will be ready to make an impact since he doesn’t need any time to get warm or get into gear.”
Akeem Crandon, a 17-year-old center player, was among the 17 players training for a chance in the final squad but his competitor for a place in the squad was Timothy Thompson, who was given the nod ahead of him. Hercules, who also coaches Crandon at the club level with Plaisance Guardians, noted that the Crandon is talented but the President’s College student needs to challenge himself more. “Thompson has a better low post jump shot and although both players are very good defensively, Thompson has the slight edge over Crandon”, Hercules revealed.
The team includes five overseas based players, comprising: two Professional players – Anthony Moe based in the USA and Felix Hamilton based in Antigua, two former USA College players: Ray Victor and Denzel Devonish; along with Kevon Wiggins, the youngest player in team.
In the regional tournament, the Guyanese men are in Group A with Suriname, Saint Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while Group B comprises of Barbados, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti and Montserrat.
The full team reads:
1. Stanton Rose (Captain)
2. Harold Adams
3. Orland Glasgow
4. Shaine Webster
5. Ray Victor
6. Anthony Moe
7. Travis Burnett
8. Felix Hamilton
9. Travis Belgrave
10. Denzel Devonish
11. Timothy Thompson
12. Kevon Wiggins
Head Coach is Junior Hercules; Dennis Clarke, Assistant Coach and the Manager is Nigel Hinds.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
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