Milton Palacio’s Colorado State game to air on Channel 5
Today sports fans saw the retirement of superstar Michael Jordan, but don’t despair, Belizean basketball fans can watch the rise of another star, our own Milton Palacio who is making waves in U.S. College basketball. And you don’t have to go to Colorado in the U.S. to watch his game this week — you can see it right here on Channel Five. News Five’s James Adderley takes a closer look at Palacio’s past performance and future prospects.
For most Belizean basketball fans, the name of Milton Palacio has become larger than life after he came to town and led Belize to its first ever gold medal in international basketball play.
This is June ’98, Milton is being introduced to the Belizean public for the first time in an exhibition match against an NBA contingent led by Pooh Richardson. It was indeed to become a story of love at first sight, but then who could resist the attractiveness of Milton Palacio on the basketball court. Of course his leadership was based on the sound decisions he made at the point guard spot, getting the ball to the right people at the right time. In a very unselfish manner, Milton had lead Belize to a 107-96 big “W” over the Pooh Richardson team which also featured Tracy Murray and it was the beginning of a good thing.
Against Barbados on opening night of the 14th CARICOM Games at the City Centre Palacio was simply in total control. Now watch him read the court right to find Alex Carcamo who finishes with an exclamation dunk but when last did you see an alley hoop at the Civic? But even more important Belize had beaten Barbados 94-66 to get off on the good foot.
Against the heavily favored Bahamas, Milton Palacio exhibited true leadership coming in with the big buckets in the close win. But even in the final seconds of the ball game Milton Palacio ensures the win for Belize forcing this turnaround on Quinton Hall for the 77-75 squeaker. In the second game against the defending champion Jamaica, Milton Palacio took his game to even higher heights as Belize got into the finals against Barbados.
Milton Palacio
(June 26th, 1998) “It was kind of a battle that we had to work through, because it was 6 points, 7 points and we knew we were in for the game. I mean we jumped out with a great lead, but the Jamaicans, they are a great team, so we knew they were going to fight back and with the grace of God we just worked through the runs.”
Q: “I keep getting fired up by your humility, how did that come about with you being such a big star and all that?”
Milton Palacio
(June 26th, 1998) “I just figured that you have to keep your head; you’re never too big for anybody because with the way I have grown up and the way I have come up, I’ve never had anything and I’m just working hard enough to get to where I wanna be. And I think I will never lose touch with my roots or my culture or anything or just try to act like I am too big for anybody.”
This brings us to the gold medal game against Barbados and Milton Palacio has now become a man with a mission. When he dunks this ball in late second half play he gets a rise out of the Belizean public and indeed the gold medal from the 14th CARICOM Basketball Championships now belongs to Belize after this 75-71 final score. Of course nobody, nobody felt surprised when Milton Palacio was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Today Milton Palacio has become one of the hottest players in NCAA collegiate basketball inside America as a member of the Colorado State Rams where he leads in most statistical categories like minutes played, highest field gold percentage, he leads in assists and is second on his team in rebounding. Their current record is 10 & 4 and tomorrow, Thursday, at 11 p.m., they go up against Southern Methodist University of Dallas, Texas.
Milton Palacio
(phoner) “I think we’re having a great season right now and we had a great pre-season. We went 10 & 2 and we’re playing good basketball but in conference play right now we’re 0 & 2 so that hurt us a little bit. But we’re not going to get down and stuff; we’re a young team. We only have 2 seniors, myself and another guy on the team so we’re gonna keep playing. I think our confidence level is up. I think since the last 2 losses that we had we had great practices. We have 3 great days of practice and I think we’re ready. I really feel that this team has taken on a different attitude that it’s a must win situation. We’re gonna go out there, get our first win and it’s gonna be live on TV and everybody can see how hard we play and what kinda basketball team we are.”
J.A.
“I read on the Internet that it’s very probable that Milton Palacio will make the NBA. I also read that Milton Palacio’s experience inside the CARICOM Tournament for Belize has made him a different player, more scoring oriented as well as maintaining his usual good production in the assist department.”
Milton Palacio
“No doubt, no doubt. I think that CARICOM Games is the greatest thing that happened in my basketball career and it was a great honor and I really wanna thank the people who selected me for that and it really stepped up my game – off the court and on the court. I think it has matured me a lot on the court to go out there and just play and be confident. I think it really helped my confidence to go out there and just play hard and produce something for my team.”
Q: “Your prospects on the NBA?”
Milton Palacio
“Well, there’ve been some talks, but right now I don’t wanna concentrate on that because I have too much college basketball left to play. But there’s been some talk and right now it’s just talk and right now I just wanna concentrate on college basketball because I think we have too much basketball to play.”
Folks we want you to tune in to the NCAA program on Channel Five in support of Milton. Unlike Marion Jones, Milton Palacio seeks a return to his roots on his way to the biggest prize in basketball play: the NBA. It will be a first for Belize and we can think of no more deserving an athlete than Milton Palacio. Reporting for News Five, I am James Adderley.
Don’t forget Channel Five will air the Colorado State game tomorrow night at eleven. We hope you’ll join us.
