Guyana edge Bermuda to keep AmeriCup qualification hopes alive

Jul 12, 2026 Sports

…tournament wraps up tonight

By Rawle Toney

Kaieteur Sports – Guyana kept its FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers dream alive on Saturday night, grinding out a hard-fought 59-56 victory over Bermuda before an energetic home crowd at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Guyana edge Bermuda to keep AmeriCup qualification hopes alive

Umar Rashid had a game-high 20 points in Guyana’s important win over Bermuda

The victory marked Guyana’s third consecutive win, following earlier victories over Antigua and Barbuda (75-73) and Dominica (68-53), and kept the hosts in contention for a place in the next phase of the competition.

However, Guyana’s fate is no longer entirely in its own hands.

The home side must now rely on Antigua and Barbuda to upset the unbeaten Turks and Caicos Islands in Sunday’s final Group A fixture to keep alive their mathematical hopes of advancing to the next stage, where qualifying teams will return to action in November.

Umar Rashid once again rose to the occasion, producing a game-high 20 points in another standout performance.

Kevin Mickle provided valuable support with 15 points, as the pair were the only Guyanese players to finish in double figures.

For Bermuda, which was eliminated with the defeat, Malachi Scott led the scoring with 16 points.

Kevin Mickle had 15 points in Guyana’s win over Bermuda

Knowing only a victory would suffice, Guyana endured a nervy opening quarter and trailed 12-11 after the first 10 minutes.

The hosts settled into the contest during the second period, improving their defensive intensity and finding greater rhythm on offence to outscore Bermuda 21-16 and carry a 32-28 advantage into halftime.

Rashid was instrumental in the first-half turnaround, scoring 11 points before the interval, while Mickle added nine points through his physical play in the paint.

Guyana appeared poised to take firm control after the restart when Rashid opened the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers.

Mickle continued to dominate inside, but Bermuda refused to go away, responding with a strong finish to the period to outscore the hosts 16-13 and cut the deficit to just one point, 45-44, heading into the final quarter.

The visitors maintained relentless pressure throughout the closing minutes, with the lead changing hands before Guyana found its composure when it mattered most.

Nikolai Smith, who struggled with his shooting for much of the contest, delivered the game’s biggest basket with just over a minute remaining, knocking down a crucial shot to give Guyana a 57-53 cushion.

The hosts then held their nerve from the free-throw line and on the defensive end to secure the vital three-point victory.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Barbados maintained its unbeaten record with an emphatic 99-77 victory over Grenada. Kyrone Alexander starred with a game-high 32 points and seven steals, while Grenada finished the tournament winless.

Haiti also kept its qualification hopes alive with a commanding 100-66 victory over St. Vincent and the Grenadines behind 24 points from Ronaldo Segu. Antigua and Barbuda completed the day’s action with a convincing 90-51 win over Dominica, powered by Preston Merrick’s game-high 26 points.

The tournament concludes on Sunday with Barbados facing St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti taking on the Cayman Islands, Dominica meeting Bermuda, and the decisive showdown between Turks and Caicos Islands and Antigua and Barbuda; a result that will determine whether Guyana’s qualification hopes remain alive.

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