The Guyana national basketball team which is preparing for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifiers has commenced contact training.
So said head-coach Junior Hercules, who also added that the numbers have increased during training sessions at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue.
“We introduced contact training which is basically a glamorized way of saying that we started scrimmaging today,” said Hercules.
“We were able to divide the players into teams and commence the break down process as it relates to identifying roles of players within the general training programme,” he added.
According to Hercules, the numbers at the training sessions continue to increase with every session.
“We had an improvement in the numbers at training. It’s the same composition with all the areas represented. We are missing probably four players, surprisingly, two of the younger players, who I hoped would take full advantage of this opportunity.”
He also disclosed that several players in the diaspora have signaled their intention and willingness to participate in the local training setup.
“We have received an increased interest from the overseas players in a desire to participate at the level of the training which is encouraging.”
Hercules, who also serves as the lead tactician of Plaisance Guardians says physical conditioning continues to be the focus of the sessions.
“We still have a long way to go. All this was specific to conditioning. Ideally, one more weekend on the emphasis of conditioning which would put us the first week into February and then we start working on players’ individual strengths. Until the middle of February is when we will start working on the offence.”
The tournament is scheduled to be hosted in April in El Salvador. Veteran sport administrator Alex Graham has been confirmed as the Team Manager but the assistant coach is yet to be identified.
The GABF provisional roster, which is headed by CBC winning captain Stanton Rose, features both local and overseas based players in the form of Travis Belgrave, Travis Burnett, Akeem Crandon, Delroy James, Anthony Moe, Nikkoloi Smith, Yannick Tappin, Timothy Thompson, Ray Victor, Shaine Webster, Terron Welch, Kevon Wiggins, Harold Adams, Orlan Glasgow, Jamal Gilkes, Israel Yaw, Shelroy Thomas, Richard Semple, Dominique Vincente, Jason Ramrattan, Nathan Saul, Shamar France, Ryan Short, Emanuel Atherly, Linden Adams and Jonathan Browne.
