Belize Team looks good in win over NBA stars
Belize may be in the final stretch of a crucial election campaign, the National Assembly is poised to pass a radical new tax bill and at least one — and perhaps two — gangs of heavily armed killers are roaming the countryside. But all those events, normally the bread and butter of broadcast news, have been temporarily set aside as the nation turns its attention toward more pleasant diversions — in this case the CARICOM Basketball Championships ready to begin in Belize City. For the next week and a half Channel Five and sports reporter James Adderley will keep you abreast of the latest developments on and off the court. Our special coverage begins tonight and comes to you courtesy of Shell Belize Limited.
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to the Shell CARICOM Report.
The fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championship opens at the City Centre Friday night featuring six Caribbean countries including Belize. Last night the brand new basketball court, imported for the event, was inaugurated and we go in for the ceremonies and these beautiful young Belize voices give new meaning to our National Anthem. Among the dignitaries invited to address the occasion are Patricia Bennett of Softball Fame, Salvador Fernandez, Minister of Sports and John Saldivar, President of the B.N.B.A. Now meet the Belizean cheerleaders who will work the CARICOM Games and yes, we’ve come a long way everybody.
The opposition for tonight is a team of NBA and ex-NBA players and their cheerleading section features a total of 1, but as you can see TV superstar Darrel “Chill” Mitchell certainly can work the crowd effectively. Attending the ball game is the Bahamas team in town for the basketball championships and don’t worry guys you will get your turn to run.
At the tip off it’s Kirk “Shabba” Smith getting the ball to Milton Palacio and we’re underway. It’s the NBA team controlling early as Tracy Morey saves this ball for an easy dunk. Kenny Smith then gets a flashback from his glory days with the Houston Rockets as he drills and the NBA goes up by 9. Will somebody please do something about Kenny; his 3 point shooting is still sizzling and the NBA goes up by 13.
But Belize comes back. Alex Carcamo with the loose finds Milton Palacio who streaks in for 2. Olin Simpliss then teams up with Fred Garcia and he gets rewarded with 2 points. Of course head coach David Greenwood runs a tight ship and he lets his players know that he wants to win. Fred Garcia responds by launching the 3 that drops through the bottom of the net. On the very next press Palacio deals to Garcia on the right side this time and again he strikes for 3. The Belize Team feasts off tonight so Bart Sanchez joins the party. And at the half it’s Belize with a 7-point lead.
By the way Chill Mitchell as far as punta goes you do get an “A” okay, but that’s for effort.
After intermission the Belize Team comes out with more energy. Keith Acosta pokes the ball away from Lascelle Thompson, Garcia deals to Palacio who fires it down court to Alex Carcamo and the 2 is automatic. About a minute later Carcamo returns the favor to Palacio who streaks down court for the 2 land jam.
Now watch Mr. Palacio with the sweet dish to Kent Bennett who gets 2. At the other end Kenny Smith drills this 3 point over “Too Tall” Jones but will it be enough? Belize answers with this 3 from Carcamo. But the move of the night would have to be Olin Simpliss moving Tracy Morey out of his path and then laying the pill off the glass.
Belize goes on to win 107-96 and the Belizean fans now have every reason to love their team.
Q: “Do you feel that this team has what it takes to go all the way in the CARICOM Basketball Championships?”
Olin Simpliss, Guard, Belize
“Oh I definitely think this team has what it takes to go to the CARICOM Championships. We just gotta keep working, keep working – come in tomorrow and shoot around with really intense focus and get ready for Friday. We played the NBA Team but it’s not as though they’ve been practicing with one another, so I’m not gonna get a big head about this; this was just an exhibition game, nothing was on the line. So we’re just getting ready for Friday and put it all together and go to work.”
Milton Palacio, Guard, Belize
“We came out nervous and I think I was definitely the most nervous of them all, you know, expecting the fans… I didn’t know how they were gonna come or how they were gonna treat us but I think they did a fabulous job. I love the fans and I think that this team is coming along fast in the two weeks that we’ve been together. And I think it was an all-around great effort.”
Q: “You’ve got your baptism, can you Milton Palacio control this team going down the stretch?”
Milton Palacio
“I feel I can; I feel my teammates have a lot of confidence in me. You know, they’ve really accepted me with open arms and I think I really can and I just wanna lead my team to victory night-in and night-out. That’s what I wanna concentrate on; it’s not the points; it’s not anything else but just helping this team and helping this country receive what they deserve.”
Alex Carcamo, Forward, Belize
“I’m just grateful that I got picked for this game. You know I’m gonna do my best to bring home this goal. I will give it a hundred and ten percent each day and that’s what I will keep on doing from here on out and I just wanna thank everybody for letting me come to this game.”
Q: “Did you all do the things that coach Greenwood wanted you to do tonight?”
Alex Carcamo
“Yeah, I think he was pretty happy with what we were doing. We didn’t run anything because, you know, we have team scouts and we don’t want to show them everything we got right now. So from what we did, I think we did a great job.”
Q: “Tell us what you think of the play of the Belize team against you tonight?”
Tracy Morey, NBA
“Well they’re very talented; they’re very talented athletically and I hope they do well in the games. I think the referees need to let them play a little bit more so that they can show their true talents. They’re calling little fouls and they’re not really being able to show their true talent. I know a couple of the guys on the team from back home when they played in Los Angeles and they can play. So what the referees gotta do, let them play.”
Q: “Did you have to come down to play at this level tonight from the vantage that you usually enjoy?”
Tracy Morey
“Well I really enjoyed it; this is the first time I played since the season’s been over so and it showed. I didn’t really play too well but I was out here having fun. It’s for a good cause and to help the Belize Team out and to put on a show for the fans.”
Hey, that’s our Shell CARICOM Report for tonight. I’m James Adderley.
