Belize is ready, say coaches and organizers
While the players are eager to start the action, the coaches and administrators are also looking forward to hosting Belize’s first major regional sporting event. Patrick Jones, checked to see if they’re ready.
When the tournament tips off on Friday night, organizers say the team carrying the blue, red and white will represent the best that Belize can throw at the rest of CARICOM.
David Greenwood, Coach, National Team
“I was waiting for the last possible second to give each and every player an opportunity to make the team. I don’t see the big deal in knowing which twelve guys were on the team last week or this week; it really doesn’t matter.”
What does matter, says the president of the Belize National Basketball Association John Saldivar, is that all the players, both the locals and those who were brought in from the United States, perform as a cohesive unit for the two week duration of the tournament.
John Saldivar, President, B.N.B.A.
“We are comfortable that the selection that they have made and the players that we have brought in represent the best. And while we are unveiling it today we believe that the structure has been in place for quite a while now.”
Saldivar says there are no special arrangements being made for any one individual and that come Friday, they will all be regarded as a team.
John Saldivar
“In terms of the imports who do not have a place to stay in Belize, they are being hosted at a hotel. If that is being better than staying at your own home, then I guess they are being treated better. But in terms of the game starting on Friday they will all be hosted at the Biltmore and everybody is going to be there.”
Q: “Are any of the players, either from outside or from within Belize, are they being paid a stipend during the two weeks of the tournament?”
John Saldivar
“No, none of them are being paid. Players, however, they have to eat and they have to have their pocket money and so they are being given enough money for them to survive and while they are outside of the game village. Once they are in the game village then we’ll be taking care of all food and other expenses.”
As to the late announcement of the team, coach Greenwood says it was his decision – the reason, to give all twenty nominees an opportunity to make the squad.
Q: “You just give them three days to familiarize themselves with this team?”
David Greenwood
“No there’re basically rooting for Belize, they are not rooting for an individual out on the court; they are rooting for the team so the team is going to be there. So they should come to root for their team, not for any individual player.”
Greenwood says Belize can rest assured that the players who step onto the court on Friday night will be running high on discipline and an intense desire to win, despite the question mark hanging over the head of late entry Claude Jones.
David Greenwood
“I told him personally if he does anything to embarrass me out on the court, I will personally grab him out and kick him out of the gym. You don’t have to worry about your guys doing it because I do not allow my players to act in a negative manner. I do not allow players going crazy, so if he goes out there and gets out of hand, I will go out there and get him, take him out of here and tell him you’re off the team.”
We’ll see you at tip off. Patrick Jones, for News Five.
The Belize National Basketball team will undergo its first real test on Wednesday night when they take on a selection of former NBA stars. Tickets for that game as well as the CARICOM tournament went on sale today. For the exhibition game, reserved seats are selling for fifteen dollars, general admission ten dollars and children pay five dollars. For the CARICOM competition, reserved tickets are fifteen dollars during the week and twenty-five dollars on the weekends. General admission is fifteen dollars weekends and ten dollars during the week, students and children will pay five dollars.
