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Merton Fitzalbert – from goal keeper to National Basketball Star
Merton Fitzalbert
As the Caribbean Basketball Championships approaches, statistician, Charwayne Walker, shifts his attention from his previous football columns to basketball issues.
The selectors had taken a gamble and included Merton Fitzalbert on the standby list for Guyana’s 1972 basketball tour of French Guiana. After disappointing returns, Fitzalbert aspired to focus more deeply on the sport that his elder brother, Melroy, who played for the Eagles Club, dominated at the first division level. Before long, he earned some recognition after playing among other top players in the Guyana Basketball Association under the presidency of sports personality, Joseph ‘Reds’ Pereira.
He experienced rapid advancement and one year later was drafted into the Guyanese squad as an uncapped player to travel to Suriname for an International Goodwill Series in 1973 involving senior and national teams from the host country Suriname, and the Holland All Stars. The local squad played under the tutelage of captain, Mike Brusche.
Despite the misfortune of being omitted for the more important Central American Championship in Puerto Rico one year later, young Merton was determined to emulate big brother Melroy and in 1974, returned to the National team when Guyana hosted Barbados for two friendly internationals at Parade Ground. His feats earned him a second overseas international assignment to Barbados in November 1974 where he competed in three matches.
His next national assignment was in the Dominican Republic for the 1975 Central American Championship in what was then a historical achievement since Guyana fielded a team with two set of brothers; Merton and Melroy Fitzalbert and the Brusches, Michael and Clifton.
Merton later competed against the Giants of China when the local basketball association hosted its inaugural international basketball tournament in November 1975. He was also a main feature when Guyana hosted the Caribbean Championship in 1976 and later, the New York Buffalo All Stars. Merton also played an integral role, albeit in a losing cause, when the national basketball squad lost three internationals against the Cubans in May 1977 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, then the National Sports Hall.
He represented Guyana at several other international tournaments including Suriname’s Top Club Side Caribbean Little Devils; the Canada Montreal Y.M.C.A (1978), Barbados Independence Anniversary International Tournament (also in 1978).
He then contributed with a top score (17 points) in Guyana’s opening victory in 1979 against Trinidad and Tobago at the National Sports Hall. Guyana eventually lost the four match series 3-1.
Fitzalbert next travelled to Trinidad and Tobago in August 1980 for an international triangular series also involving the host and Barbados. Two months later, he turned in an outstanding performance against the Northern League of Trinidad and Tobago in a two match international series which ended one all.
He incurred injuries which were responsible for his omission from the Caricom bronze medal squad team and he subsequently missed a Goodwill tour to Trinidad and Tobago the same year.
The basketball star then returned to the national team in October 1982 and scored a career best 24 points to help Guyana destroy the touring Northern League of Trinidad and Tobago at the National Sports Hall, 2 nil. As his career dwindled Merton journeyed in to Jamaica in December 1982 with the Hewley Harry led national team to compete in the second Caricom Basketball Championships before his last outing in national colours, the World Military Basketball championship in Suriname in October 1984. He decided to switch to basketball activities but returned later to realize his goalkeeping dreams when he stood between the uprights for Pele FC in a game against Trinidad and Tobago Palseco in 1982; it proved to be his only international game and a fitting end to his life in sports.
Indeed his stats were impressive; International Debut (1973) Paramaribo Suriname; Career High 24 pts vs Northern League of Trinidad & Tobago 1982 National Sports Hall. International tours: 1973 Suriname (1974) Barbados, (1975) Dominican Republic, (1978) Barbados, (1980) Trinidad & Tobago, (1982) Jamaica, (1984) Suriname.
International matches played 60
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