Latest update July 24th, 2026 12:30 AM
Latest News
- MV Barima Disaster… 72 confirmed dead
- Parliament must determine COI’s composition for MV Barima probe – Dr. Campbell
- Nine victims of MV Barima tragedy laid to rest
- Transparency Int’l Guyana demands IMO probe of MV Barima tragedy
- Police detain, then apologise to, peaceful protesters at national vigil for MV Barima victims
Guyana finish second after 86–73 loss to Suriname in Nations Cup finale
Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s senior men’s national basketball team closed their Nations Cup campaign with a hard-fought but disappointing 86–73 loss to hosts Suriname on Sunday evening, settling for second place in the weekend tournament.
The defeat mirrored last year’s outcome, with Guyana again finishing behind Suriname in the regional competition.
The team returned home yesterday with the runners-up trophy, encouraged by their overall performance but aware of the work still needed to close the gap on their rivals.
Guyana had opened the tournament in strong fashion on Saturday, defeating French Guiana 65–51 in a confident display that highlighted their defensive discipline and improved offensive rhythm.
Nikkoli Smith in action for Guyana during the Nations Cup tournament in Suriname.
That victory set up a highly anticipated rematch with Suriname for the title, after the hosts had also secured a win over French Guiana earlier in the competition.
However, when it mattered most on Sunday night, Coach Adrian Hooper’s men fell short once again.
Despite moments of promise and spirited stretches of play, Suriname maintained control for much of the contest, using their depth and home-court energy to keep Guyana at bay.
Travis Belgrave led the scoring for Guyana with 14 points, working tirelessly on both ends of the floor. Akil Hughes added 13, while Shelroy Thomas contributed 12 in a balanced offensive effort.
Kimmol Grimmond chipped in with nine points to round out the main scoring for the visitors.
While the result was not the one they hoped for, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) views the tournament as an important step in the team’s development.
GBF Officials see the Nations Cup as the beginning of preparations for this year’s men’s Caribbean Championship, where Guyana aims to be more competitive on the regional stage.
The GBF has indicated that an announcement will soon be made regarding the team’s next regional engagement as preparations continue.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Similar Articles
Blunt of the day
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
