The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), has officially selected its four member contingent that will form the men’s 3×3 team at the upcoming FIBA AmeriCup Championships in Miami, Florida, from November 12-14.
Michael Singh, GABF president yesterday confirmed the final selection during a brief interview with Stabroek Sport. According to Singh, the local quartet of Ryan Stephney, Nikkoloi Smith, Travis Burnett and Timothy Thompson are the official members of the squad for the competition.
He explained, “The team is Ryan Stephney, Travis Burnett, Nikolai Smith and Timothy Thompson, those are the four we will be working with and Akeem Crandon for the tournament.”
Singh added that while overseas players were considered for selection, the emphasis going forward will be on the local cadre.
He added, “Stephney won the 3x3s with the Pitbulls and has high basketball IQ especially in the half-court game. He can adapt very easily. While there were two overseas players that were in consideration, we will be focusing on the locals.”
The GABF had initially shortlisted eight players in their provisional roster for the event. The other four members, two of whom are foreign based individuals, were Stanton Rose, Gordon James (overseas), Delon Bovell (overseas) and Akeem Crandon. The registration deadline for the team was also yesterday.
Probed about the possibility of a training camp for the team to aid in their preparation, Singh stated, “There will be some minor training for the team but we will mostly be focusing on the women’s team training.”
FIBA 3 x 3 AmeriCup Open Category will feature 33 teams. That equates to 18 men and 15 women’s teams.
Guyana will feature in Qualifying Draw ‘C’ in the men’s pool alongside Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia.
The men’s division will feature the likes of Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela.
In the women’s section, the teams are Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela.
Similarly, Guyana will also participate in Qualifying Draw ‘A’ in the women’s section against Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, and Jamaica.
