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Guyana in must-win Clash against Grenada to keep Nations Cup hopes alive
By Rawle Toney in Suriname
(Compliments: National Sports Commission)
Kaieteur Sports- After a tough 86-54 loss to host nation Suriname on Friday evening at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sports Hall, Guyana’s basketball team finds itself in a do-or-die situation today as they prepare to face Grenada at 10:00 a.m. in the second match of the Nations Cup basketball tournament.
Captain Stanton Rose Jr. tries to to break a full court press against Suriname.
A victory against Grenada is essential to keeping Guyana’s tournament hopes alive, with the team determined to bounce back after Friday’s disappointing finish.
The Guyanese men opened their campaign on Friday with high energy and solid play on both ends of the floor.
Led by the versatile Travis Belgrave, who scored nine first-half points, Guyana held a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Their defense was sharp, and their offensive execution allowed them to stay ahead of the home team, much to the delight of their traveling supporters.
However, Suriname responded with relentless pace and precision, outscoring Guyana 16-8 in the second quarter to snatch a narrow 28-25 lead at halftime.
The home crowd, large and enthusiastic, roared their team on as they began to take control of the game, leveraging their quick transition game and superior ball movement to unsettle Guyana.
Belgrave’s first-half contributions were key to keeping Guyana within striking distance, while Nikkoloi Smith (seven points) and Domair Gladstone (five points) provided additional offensive support.
Unfortunately, the team could not maintain their momentum as Suriname ramped up their intensity after the break.
Suriname’s unmatched pace and aggressive play widened the gap significantly in the third quarter.
Guyana trailed by 18 points (57-39) heading into the final period, as turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Suriname to capitalize on the fast break.
Despite Belgrave’s continued efforts, finishing with a team-high 16 points, and Smith’s 10-point contribution, the team struggled to find consistent scoring and defensive stops.
By the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 86-54 in favor of Suriname, handing Guyana a humbling defeat in the opening game of the tournament.
With their backs against the wall, Guyana must now regroup quickly to face Grenada in a high-stakes matchup.
The Grenadians played their first game of the tournament last evening against Suriname later tonight.
At the time of this report, that game was still in progress.
Head coach Adrian Hooper will likely look to Belgrave to continue his all-around impact on both ends of the floor, but the team will need more offensive consistency from key players like Smith and Gladstone and Captain Stanton Rose Jr to put up a winning effort.
Harold Adams and Orlan Glasgow will also be called on to step up.
Defensive adjustments will also be crucial to slowing down Grenada’s attack and avoiding a repeat of Friday’s second-half collapse.
A win against Grenada will keep Guyana in contention for a spot in the next phase of the tournament.
However, another loss would mean an early exit for the team, leaving their Nations Cup ambitions unfulfilled.
(Guyana in must-win Clash against Grenada to keep Nations Cup hopes alive)
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