Belize knocks off Puerto Rico in regional basketball upset
There is major progress to report tonight on the solving of one of the nation’s most important murder cases… but that story will have to wait on a piece of news that can only fit in the journalistic category reserved for miracles. From Maracaibo, Venezuela comes news that in the first match-up of the final round in the Caribbean and Central American Games, Belize’s men’s national basketball team has defeated the top ranked squad from Puerto Rico. The score was 83 to 80 and News Five’s Stewart Krohn is just off the phone with three of the players fresh off the court.
Milton Palacio
“It was a wild game; it was up and down. We were down at halftime but the guys never put their hands down and we made a nice run at the first five minutes of the game. I think that was the turning point of the game.”
Q: “Was it a case of the Puerto Ricans just having an off night, or did you guys just play out of your mind?”
Milton Palacio
“No, it wasn’t Puerto Rico having an off night. They came with all they had and we just stepped up to the challenge and we came through. As you can see Keith Acosta had a great game with 21 points and overall everybody had a great game and everybody was ready to play.”
Q: “The Puerto Rican team is, as I understand it, some what bigger than you guys. How did you handle that?”
Milton Palacio
“They are a little bigger than us but we went to a zone that really got them confused and I think that was the best thing that happened when we went to our zone.”
Q: “When you came out to play, did you feel a little bit intimidated because of their exalted status?”
Milton Palacio
“We never got intimidated. I think this team was very excited to play Puerto Rico. They were looking a little pass us, looking for the next round and we were looking at this one right here so I think this motivated a lot of players. And guys just went out there and got the job done.”
Q: “Was the crowd a factor in the game? I understand that by half time three quarters of the crowd was chanting, Belice, Belice?”
Milton Palacio
“I think the crowd was a big factor. When we went up for the round the crowd was behind us, but I think it was the tour guides and the coach and staff and the people we came down here with. The main thing that kept us in the game because even when we were down the guys still believed in one another and the whole team knew that we were gonna pull this victory out.”
Q: “Tomorrow evening you go up against a team that beat you pretty badly last week. What kind of change in strategy are you gonna be looking forward to knock them off?”
Milton Palacio
“We gonna change our strategy in going up against Panama but I think the main thing is that we can’t have our little spills of three minutes or four minutes of not knowing what’s going on on the court. And I think the last game, guys came in and in the second half with just blank face. Panama kept alive, which a good team will always do but you know, I think we have a good game plan. I think guys are geared up knowing what’s on line for them. I think we will be ready.”
Q: “Dwight you are quite new to the Belizean public, since you did not play in the CARICOM Games, how have you been integrating with the rest of the team and tell us how your personal experience is.”
Dwight Myvette
“Like you said I did not play in CARICOM Games so I kinda got accustomed to the team through practice and we just started together as a team now. So we’re getting to play better and better as a team. So we still are finding a little chemistry now and I’m fitting in pretty good.”
Q: “Has coach Greenwood gone with a lot of substitutions or has he been sticking pretty much with the starting five or six?”
Dwight Myvette
“He makes his substitutions when he feels it necessary. He does a good job on that, you know, rotating guys in and at the right time. The players believe in him and he’s doing a great job as you can see the results.”
Q: “How do you think it will go tomorrow against Panama?”
Dwight Myvette
“Oh, we’re ready. We have a good game plan for us tomorrow. Guys are all geared up. We’re ready to roll; we’re ready to roll.”
Olin Simpliss
“We’re out here trying to represent our country to the best we possibly can and we’re gonna continue winning. We spend most of the time together so we’re like a tight unit off the court. That helps us on the court so you know, we enjoy each other’s company. That’s pretty much what we’re doing. We haven’t seen much of Venezuela as yet and hopefully after we win the tournament.
Well it’s going great; we’ve put Belize on the map. I believe a lot has changed, has given us respect from what we have done so far. I think we were the only team that didn’t have a flag up in the gym. After the first night even though we lost to Venezuela by a few points, everybody respected us. The fans out here respect us and I think when Venezuela is not playing we have the biggest fan support so we are definitely out here representing the country to the fullest and we trying to bring home that gold.”
Q: “Would you call the level of competition on a par with any similar competition in the world? In other words are you guys ready for real world class competition?”
Olin Simpliss
“Are we ready? Oh definitely. I guess the team to beat, U.S. last month and then Cuba; they’re always in the Olympics. They’re one of the top teams in the world and a lot of people told us that they were scared to put us in. Between Cuba and Puerto Rico they were playing for first place in their bracket and whoever won that played the first round in the playoffs. A lot of coaches and a lot of people told us that Cuba they threw the game purposely so that they would face us and play the first round. So we’re definitely ready; we’re definitely ready.”
In today’s game Palacio scored 24, Acosta had 21 and Myvette hit for 19. Wednesday’s game with Panama will begin at four p.m. Belize time. The winner is guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
