>>>>Letter to the Editor<<<< : Could the GABF please honour our past CARICOM standouts then demit office?

Jul 09, 2009 Sports

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The 2009 Caribbean Basketball Confederation championship has concluded in Tortola BVI, with Jamaica who won the inaugural event in Georgetown, Guyana 1981 capturing the gold medal.
Host BVI who Guyana trounced during the preliminaries in Puerto Rico 2007, surprisingly finished as runner up in front of regional power houses Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas automatically qualifying for their first Centro Basketball championship come 2010.
The achievement speaks volumes for the British Virgin Islands Basketball Association taking into account the team never reached the semi-finals of the CBC before.

For example the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation under the Presidency of Godwin McPherson, after finishing in the runner-up position at a truncated championship in Guyana 1994, qualified for the Centro Basketball Championship the same year in Guatemala City, but was a no show the following year 1995.
The 1994 CARICOM finalists failed to win a single preliminary game after reaching the semi-finals. The next year in Trinidad there was no Guyana at the Belize tournament in 1998 and after placing a credible third at the 2000 Championship in Barbados and just when everyone thought it was safe to go back, disaster struck
Guyana missed championships in 2002 US Virgin Islands, 2004 Cuba, 2006 Jamaica, 2009 British Virgin Islands.

Now minnows BVI will attend the biggest basketball event Centro 2010 and will emulate other CARICOM teams such as Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, Barbados, US Virgin Islands and Belize.
The Godwin McPherson led federation has outlived its usefulness, but before he lifts the white flag the GABF should honour the five most outstanding players that ever represented the this country.
Stanislaus Hadmon, Eagles position small forward. The first player in the region to aggregate 120 plus points at a C.B.0 tourney 1981 in Guyana shared the highest score by a Guyanese at the C.B.0 level, 34 points with DC Jammers Gordon Klaiber Best Average at a C.B.0 tourney 24:1 1981. Championships 1981 in Guyana and 1982 Jamaica selected to the CARICOM All Stars Team 1981
Lugard Mohan: Ravens, point guard. The most successful Guyana captain at the C.B.0 level, Lugard holds the record for the most 20 plus games at the CARICOM Championship level for Guyanese.

He is also the only Guyanese player to aggregate twice over 100 points at a C.B.0 championship and his 26 points performance against US Virgin in the 2000 semi-finals and vs Belize that kept Guyana to third place is the highest by a Guyanese captain at the C.B.0 level, and is the first time a Guyanese player scored over 25 points consecutively a C.B.0 level. Championships 1994 Guyana, 1995 Bahamas, 1996 Trinidad, 2000 Barbados. Selected to the CARICOM All Stars team 1999-1995, Auric Tappin: Mackenzie Hawks, Shooting Guard. This shooting guard was the recipient of the best offensive player and most points award at the 1988 CARICOM Championship in Guyana. He is also the first Guyanese player to be selected consecutively on CARICOM All Stars team 1988-1991.
His 28 points against Jamaica at the 1991 CARICOM Championship in Jamaica is only bettered by Stanislaus Hadmon 34 vs Barbados 1981 and Gordon Klaiber 34 vs Antigua & Barbuda 2007 Championships 1985 Barbados, 1986 Trinidad, 1988 Guyana, 1991 Jamaica, 1994 Guyana, 1995 Bahamas. CARICOM All Stars selection 1988-1991. World military games 1984 Suriname.
Leon Christian: Hi Flyers, power forward. Christian is the only Guyanese captain and player to win the best rebounder and best defender titles at a CARICOM championship level 1988 in Guyana and during the 1994 Championship in Guyana.
He eclipses James Brushe as the Guyanese captain with the highest score at the C.B.0 level, 24 points scored vs Suriname.

Christian is also the first and to date the only Guyanese captain to lead Guyana to a C.B.0 finals 1994 in Guyana. Championships 1985 Barbados, 1986 Trinidad, 1988 Guyana, 1991 Jamaica, 1994 Guyana, 1995 Bahamas. World military games 1984 Suriname. CARICOM All Stars selection 1988 and 1994.
Lorenzo Withrite: Colts United, centre. The only Guyanese centre to aggregate a 100 plus points at a Caricom championship. Lorenzo is also the record holder for the highest score by a Guyanese centre at a Caricom championship level 27 points vs Jamaica, Trinidad 1996 and during the same 1996 tourney in Trinidad Lorenzo became the Guyanese with the most point at a CARICOM championship 138 from 9 matches. Championships 1994 Guyana, 1995 Bahamas, 1996 Trinidad, 2000 Barbados, 2007 Puerto Rico.
So Mc and Etal could demit office with some pride and the dream, Brown Sugar, soft touch Neils, the towering Alonzo, muscle man Gurrick, swing man Gullen, Mr. Dunk Ifill and the enthusiast Siland and Burnett could breathe again, please Mc they suffocating.
So if the BVI could qualify for Centro and Guyana cannot participate at Caribbean confederation level it is time for G.A.B.A and L.A.B.A to get rid of Godda.
Charwayne Walker

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