The Guyana senior men’s basketball team got off to the worst possible start in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifiers, going down to Nicaragua by an 84-73 score line yesterday at the José Adolfo Pineda National Gymnasium in El Salvador.
Captain Stanton Rose led the Guyanese with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Delroy James was the next best scorer with figures of 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Terron Welch recorded 10 points. Anthony Moe registered nine points, 13 rebounds and Nikoloi Smith tallied eight points, six rebounds.
For the victors, Jared Ruiz amassed a game high 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Norchad Omier, Vansdell Thomas, Sharlan Hodgson, Kerry Clair and Franciso Garth scored 14, 13, nine, eight and six points correspondingly.
Guyana’s starting five for the match comprised of Rose, Moe, James, Deylon Bovell, and Harold Adams. Despite racing off to an initial 5-0 lead in the opening minutes, the Central American outfit weathered the early storm to end the first half in control at 16-14. James led the scoring effort for Guyana with five points, while Moe and Terron Welch chipped in with three points apiece.
The second stanza failed to separate the two nations, as both teams recorded 26 points, which allowed Nicaragua to maintain their marginal lead at 42-40. The trident of Welch, Rose and Bovell were primary scorers in the period with seven, six and five points respectively. Adding four and three points each were Nikoloi Smith and Moe respectively.
It was in the pivotal third quarter where the Central Americans started to impose their will, as they outscored Guyana 21-9 to head into the final period in control at 63-49. James recorded seven points in a dismal offensive showing for the Guyanese.
Notwithstanding a 15 blitz from Rose, all which occurred from beyond the three point arc, Guyana was unable to overcome the deficit as they marginally outscored Nicaragua 24-21. Harold Adams and Moe were the other scorers in the period with four and three points each.
Meanwhile, Jamaica squeaked past Costa Rica 69-67 in the earlier match of the group. Guyana will resume their campaign today against Jamaica at 18:00hrs.
The Guyanese will oppose then oppose El Salvador from 21:00hrs tomorrow, with their final group match occurring against Costa Rica from 21:00hrs on Sunday. The first round of qualifiers will be conducted utilising a group format, with the top three finishers progressing to the second round of qualifiers slated for July 2021.
