CARICOM basketball begins tonight
With only minutes to go until tonight’s opening tip-off all eyes are now turned to center court. This morning News Five’s James Adderley took a run over to Belize City Centre for a peek at last minute preparations. We’ll join him inside for tonight’s Shell CARICOM Report.
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to the Shell CARICOM Report.
It’s the morning before opening night of the fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championship at the City Centre and the sights and sounds tell the story of final preparations. In the background there’s the buzz of an electrical hand tool as the Civic gets ready for its transformation tonight. For coach David Greenwood it’s that final drill before show time, before his philosophy of the game gets tested by the best in the Caribbean.
They’re all here this morning the 12 that takes the Belizean flag into battle – Olin Simpliss, Kirk Smith, Claude “Too Tall,” Kenroy Smith and Quinton Lamb run this play under the watchful gaze of coach Greenwood.
At this end it’s Fred Garcia, Keith Acosta, Kent Bennett, Alex Carcamo fine tuning for tonight’s outing against Barbados. We caught the guys at a bad time, still working out, but we’re sure they’re focussed on the goal.
However, we were able to catch up with the female team of Belize. Here they are walking to the bench after their practice session. They’re obviously in a good mood and feeling loose before game time tonight. Carolyn Lord is the captain of the female team.
Q: “Carolyn it’s game time tonight, how do you feel going in?”
Carolyn Lord, Guard, Belize
“A lotta hype; we’re very excited about tonight. We’ve been working out for a long time and show time now, we’re excited about it.”
Q: “You’re the captain of this team, could you tell us the one thing that the Belizean public could definitely look for from this team?”
Carolyn Lord
“Heart and soul. A lot of hard work; we’re gonna give it our all.”
Q: “The Honduran experience, how much of a factor has it been in your preparation?”
Carolyn Lord
“We had a lot of things that we needed to fine tune since Honduras and that was what we were working on. Mostly the man to man; that was one of the major problems in Honduras so we were working a lot on that.”
Q: “You’re a starter, you’re the first on the point, will you be able to pace the team to its first international win?”
Carolyn Lord
“Well, definitely.”
Q: “How do you feel going into this particular tournament against the best in the Caribbean?”
Shelmadine Cacho, Center, Belize
“I am excited; I think we’ve worked really hard and I’m just ready to show Belize what I have learnt over the years.”
Q: “What have you been doing at the college level inside the United States?”
Shelmadine Cacho
“Well actually I’m learning a lot and the enthusiasm I’m playing ranks about 7, but I have improved a lot in my game. I’m shooting better, passing, yeah.”
Q: “Did you go to Honduras for the last games?”
Shelmadine Cacho
“No sir, I didn’t.”
Q: “So this is the first time you’re representing your country at this level. Tell us how Shelmadine Cacho feels about that.”
Shelmadine Cacho
“Well actually I feel great. I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for me and I’m just ready to play.”
Q: “It’s been a long and hard road coming to this place, coming to this time, this moment in history when the National Female Basketball Team of Belize actually competes as the host team in the fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championship, tell us what to expect.”
Hugh Staine, Head Coach, Belize Female Team
“Like I said to my girls, once we take care of our own backyard we don’t have to study what the other team is doing. We don’t know what the competition will be like; we haven’t seen any of the other countries play; we haven’t participated in no other CARICOM tournament so this will be the first time for our girls.”
Q: “The Honduran experience, how has it factored into your training process?”
Hugh Staine
“Well the Honduran, from what I have heard from the Honduras experience… One of the reasons why I have brought in Fred Garcia to assist me in this is because he was there with the girls in Honduras and I spoke with him and found out what were some of the problems over there. And I think we have it worked out and our girls have pride and they don’t want to look like and experience what happened in Honduras.”
Q: “Well looking for leadership on the court you have Carolyn Lord, you have Shelmadine Cacho, would you as the coach feel comfortable with their taking the team to the next level? Will they be able to get the job done?”
Hugh Staine
“Yes I think with those two names you called along with others that have the experience like Enid Vargas, Ana Trench, Ana Thurton, I would like to consider this team a stronger team than went to Honduras and they will compete and give the country their best.”
Q: “As head coach how do you feel as the hours counting down to tonight’s first game?”
Hugh Staine
“Well I am trying to just relax myself and do the same for the girls but I know by the time the whistle blows it will be a bit of gitters out there but it will not be from us alone because I know the team that will be playing Barbados on this new court and rim; I think we are already adjusted to the rims, I wouldn’t know if they are adjusted so it might be to our advantage in the beginning.”
J.A.
“Obviously you can’t guarantee us a win but you can guarantee us a good show.”
Hugh Staine
“Yes, our girls will play their heart out and we could say that we have pride and will not be run over.”
Well Belize we’re all set for the big showdown tonight at the City Centre as the fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championship takes off. Naturally, win, lose or draw I’m a Belizean and I know you are too.
That’s it for today’s Shell CARICOM Report. I’m James Adderley.
