Guyana’s basketball gem Victor announces retirement “Fringe players can now stake claim” – Mike Singh

Mar 05, 2021 Sports

Ray Victor about to execute a lay-up against Grenada during the series in December 2019 which Guyana swept 3-0.

Kaieteur News – Ray Victor, at just 33-years-old, during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport, has revealed that he plans to call it a day on his playing career for the Golden Arrowhead. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and the local basketball community has been rocked by this news because of how pivotal a player Victor has been for the national men’s side.
He was one of the more influential players during Guyana’s first Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship win in 2018 in Suriname after cashing in on a couple man-of-the-match performances.
In addition, during Guyana’s last series against Grenada in December 2019 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Victor was the MVP of the three-game series which Guyana swept. The BVI based shooting guard (SG) has described his decision as saddening especially since the GABF had contacted him to join the local training squad ahead of next month’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifiers in El Salvador.

Ray Victor

Victor shared with Kaieteur Sport that, “It came with great sadness due to family and Covid-19 restrictions. It was a personal decision and still I would like to thank Guyana for the time invested in me but I won’t be making the trip this year. I’ve spoken to GABF and expressed my thoughts and mental state and basketball is not priority at this point. I know everyone will understand.”
GABF President Mike Singh has described the announcement as one that will leave a huge void in the team in the vicinity of 20 points per game. Singh described the shooter as, “Very professional and very coachable, he will be greatly missed on the team.”
However, looking on the positive side of things, Singh explained that this has now created an opportunity for fringe players to show up and stake a claim on the national team.
“It will be an awesome opportunity for whoever gets into the team now, to just play and rub shoulders with experienced professionals such as brothers Delroy and Gordon James (who have confirmed their intent to represent Guyana) while Skipper Stanton Rose and Kevon Wiggins would’ve taken their game to another level from competing in the college circuit.”
Meanwhile, skipper of Guyana’s national men’s side, Stanton Rose, has empathised with Victor and has wished him success in his future endeavours. The U.S. based student-athlete, who is set to link up with the local training squad this weekend, further shared that, “Sometimes you just need a break or to call it a day. Victor has served Guyana’s basketball well throughout the years and I am proud of everything he has done for us.”