Belize men set torrid pace in CARICOM basketball
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to this monster serving of Sports Monday.
For the past week or so basketball activity in the Jewel has reached dizzying heights with the fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championship taking center stage. We’ve got a lot of stats for you so let’s start with opening ceremonies Friday night which got the games started.
We start off with this group of dancers who displayed a part of our culture on a packed opening ticket. The Minorette then strutted and danced for the fans as the Prime Minister and Mrs. Esquivel take in the festivities. Finally, the group Paws giving their rendition of our National Anthem.
But it’s time for basketball and this is the tip off as Belize faces Barbados in the opening game. The first point of the ball game comes when Enid Bacas misses off the glass but Ana Thurton come through with the put back. Barbados comes right back with Astrid Best who gets the good dunk for 2. On this trip down court point guard Codd deals to Shelmadine Cacho who hits nothing but net and a long 2 to tie the ball game at 13 a piece.
So Barbados gets busy. Astrid gets the pill in her office and she delivers. Sherrie Holder feels the momentum and feels everybody down court for the easy lay up. Carolyn Lord looks for Shelmadine Cacho on this press and she hits the “j”. Meanwhile Nellie Tench has determined not give up this ball to Melinda McCleen so the ref blows a jump but at the half Barbados has made a twenty to two run and leads 33-15.
In second half Codd tries to find Castillo only to throw the ball away and frustration begins to set in. The ball throw in down court Sherrie Holder, she gets the 2 to fall. In the very next play Cacho turns the ball over and again it leads to an easy 2 for Holder. Barbados goes on to win 69-35 in a laugh off.
Now let’s check in on the male basketball team and at the tip off it’s Kirk “Shabba” Smith against Sidney Rowe of Barbados and off the possession Alex Carcamo hits the first points of ballgame to give Belize a 2-zip lead. It’s Milton Palacio, Olin Simpliss and Keith Acosta combining their talents on this 2 to cap a 10-1 run. The Mighty Milton then deals to Olin Simpliss who legs it for the easy 2. And then Palacio finds Alex Carcamo all alone down court and he smashes it home. In fact the superguard is getting into his stride as he sets the alley hoop for Carcamo and its another bashment. This time Palacio wants 3, Palacio gets 3. Folks you’ve simply got to love this team. The alley hoop from Bart Sanchez to Carcamo is broken up but Carcamo taps it to Simpliss for 2 and at the half Belize leads Barbados by 26.
In second half it’s more Belize. Even when Simpliss misfires, here is Claude “Too Tall” Jones to slam the ball home. At the other end Sidney Rowe picks the rebound off the missed shot and gets two for Barbados, but tonight belongs to Belize. From the corner Milton Palacio hits – he would end up with 27 points, 7 assists, 10 goals.
And in an example of the Belize defense, Barbados simply can’t get the shot they want off. Belize wins 94-66.
Q: “Today was the real test for the Belize Team, did we pass?”
Alex Carcamo, Forward, Belize
“Yeah, I think we passed. I think we laxed up a little in the second half because we had such a big lead. I wish we could have opened it up because we could have won at least by fourteen. I’m glad our team did a great job.
The court is so slippery; it’s hurting our players. Every time, so I had to step up our game even higher; that’s what I usually do. Like I said I’m gonna give it a hundred and ten every game.”
Q: “So what do you think of the Barbados team tonight?”
Alex Carcamo
“I think they played a great game; I think they were just lacking a little height. I mean we have a lot of height and we have a lot of athletic ability. I didn’t see what last year’s team had to offer but bringing in these Belizean Americans, so you guys call it, I think it’s a great team. I just hope we get the credit we deserve now.”
Q: “What’s your feeling on the performance of the team today?”
David Greenwood, Head Coach, Belize Male Team
“Well we still have a long way to go but the kids played well. They were kinda tired because of the late time but hopefully tomorrow we will play better.”
Q: “I get the impression, our bench is not as deep as we think?”
David Greenwood
“That’s what I was trying to tell people; but they didn’t understand that. Now I hope you people can see the different in the level of play with the kids from the States as opposed to local talents in fact makes a major difference. But I have to give the local kids credit, they are always giving me a hundred and ten percent.”
Day two of the Games finds Belize in action against Bahamas and immediately Carcamo goes for the slam but this is a different bunch. For the Bahamas the idea is to pass the pill down low to their big men, Dexter Cambridge formerly of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, he gets 2 and the foul. On the very next play Michael Wilson jams one home to give Bahamas a 3-point lead. The feed from Kenroy Smith to Fred Garcia and the baseline baby jumper drops for Fred. Here Olin Simpliss comes up with the steal goes to the top of the key and switches to jumper through the net. On the next press Carcamo finds Fred Garcia and he saves the 3 pointer but at the half it’s Bahamas up by 7.
In the second half Palacio steals and travels down court for the easy 2. Bahamas responds with a leg up from Dexter Cambridge. Kirk Smith goes on the offensive on this play and gives Belize 2 needed points. With four minutes to whistle Quintin Hall gives his team the lead with this 3 pointer. Then Dexter Cambridge breaks the tie at 72 a piece with this baseline move. It’s Carcamo who brings Belize back with this penetration. However, it’s defense that wins ballgame and this turnover by Kemado King gives Palacio a visit to try to strike, since he was fouled.
With seconds to go Quintin Hall slips, Keith Acosta runs out the clock and Belize wins 77-75. Like we said, that’s what defense will do for you.
On last night’s ticket, the Jamaicans took the court against Bahamas after arriving a few hours earlier. In the female game Jamaica really out dressed Antigua and Barbuda 61-33 and showed no signs of their travel ordeal.
However, the defining male champion, Jamaica obviously suffered from jet-lag falling in an 88-56 blowout to the Bahamas team last night at the City Centre and the key people in that win for Bahamas were Dexter Cambridge and Quintin Hall.
In football news, we wanna tell you that Real Verdes got past Juventud Benqueña with a 1-zip loss with a goal from Denmark Casey to win that series. Verdes now moves into the finals.
The CARICOM Basketball Championship is definitely the biggest thing in town and the finals in set for Friday night, you don’t wanna miss it. We certainly wanna welcome all the visitors to Belize.
Jah over all; I’m James Adderley.
