GABF looking to make a bang in 2020 after quiet 2019

Dec 29, 2019 Sports

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By Calvin Chapman

It would have been difficult for the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) to emulate what was achieved in 2018; the greatest year in the history of the sport in Guyana where they clinched their first ever Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) senior men’s title, while defying the odds with a relatively young and inexperienced team.

And, 2019, was always going to be quieter in comparison, although the Federation could’ve done much better with the hosting of the anticipated National club championship (Road to Mecca) that was dearly missed by the basketball fraternity.
This year also saw the body keeping its elections for the executive committee where Michael Singh on January 26thwas elected to serve as the new head of the GABF for the next five years after the tenacious Nigel Hinds decided not to contest for another term. Singh’s slate included Vice-president (Operations and Development) – Kenrick Thomas; Vice-president (Compliance and Discipline)- Lawrence Simon; Vice-president (Marketing and Public Relations) – Alex Graham; General Secretary – Patrick Haynes; Treasurer – Gavin Singh; Technical Coordinator – Junior Hercules and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer – Joe Chapman.
Shortly after the elections, preparation mode was activated for the senior men’s team that qualified for the FIBA AmeriCup pre-qualifiers for the first time, after winning the CBC Championship in 2018.

The pre-qualifier tournament was held in Tunja, Colombia, and despite finishing strongly with a 73-65 win over Bolivia, two massive group losses against Paraguay 93-53 and Colombia 114-68, didn’t allow for the Guyanese to reach to the final round of qualification for the 2021 tournament.
In the win over Bolivia that was the lowest ranked team in the competition, Anthony Moe (16), Kevon Wiggins (15) and Stanton Rose (11) were the top scorers as the Guyanese hit 40% of their attempted field goals.
Cristhian Carmargo tried to single-handedly pull off a win for the Bolivians with a 22-point game-leading performance but it wasn’t enough as his side fell by 18 points. Luis Choque (15 points) and Ronald Arze (11) were the other major contributors for Bolivia.
In the loss to Colombia, Braian Angola led the charge for the hosts with 26 points, while Luis Almanza contributed 22 points during the 46-drubbing.
Anthony Moe, who was the top scorer for Guyana in each of the games, finished the Colombia game with 17 points, while Kevon Wiggins and Stanton Rose scored 16 points each.

Guyana majorly missed power forward, Delroy James, who had recently led his club side AEK Athens to victory in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup the previous week in Brazil. James had chosen to represent Guyana instead of his adopted country, USA, but there were difficulties in him getting to renew his Guyanese passport which was needed for him to represent the Golden Arrowhead, according to FIBA rules.
Head coach of the Guyana senior men’s team, Andrew Hercules, was very vocal in expressing his disappointment with the relative authorities in not being able to grant James a passport and, recently, Hercules has noted that James is available to represent the Guyana as the team looks to retain their CBC Championship in 2020.
Although the conversation about the lack of local basketball tournaments has always been on the agenda, 2019 saw a further decline in local competitions.
However, when Hercules rallied his troops in no more than two weeks before the Guyana versus Grenada three-match Goodwill series at the Cliff

Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), at the beginning of this month, lack of competition had no effect on the local based squad that swept the visitors scoring in excess of 90 points in each match.It was positive in the eyes of the coach who shared with Kaieteur Sport that he wasn’t going to leave any stone unturned as preparations for the 2020 CBC tourney commenced earlier as opposed to previous editions and he was pleased that the local elite players were staying sharp and fit despite the lack of competitive game time.
Hercules also expressed delight with the quality of the local personnel when mixed with the likes of overseas based co-captains Stanton Rose and Anthony Moe, and, the dangerous James who now outfits for South Korean pro team; Seoul Samsung Thunders, should be able to successfully defend their CBC title and prove to the region that their 2018 campaign wasn’t a fluke.
Before the Goodwill series, the GABF held the 2019 boys’ under-18 3×3 one-day tournament at the Burnham hard court on November 24th to select the team that will represent Guyana at the regional tournament in February 2020 in Guadeloupe.

Sixteen teams were drafted into four groups with the winner of each group advancing to the semifinals. The final two teams in the tournament were Blazers that lost to Victory Valley Royals of Linden 15-10.
Kobe Tappin, Captain of the Royals, led from the front with a starring role for his side from the beginning of the tournament. The full Royals team consisted of Tappin, Immanuel LaRrose, Shemroy Green and Delroy Belle.

 

 

 

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