Venezuela’s national basketball team vs. Belize in friendly match

mark usher

In ten days the National Basketball team is expected to play its first game in the Centro Basket Tournament in the Dominican Republic. The games can land the Belize team at the Tournament of the Americas to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2012.  Most players have been practicing at the Belize City Center while a few others are still to arrive in the Jewel.  The games are expected to be tougher than the COCABA games in Cancun last August and Belize will go against top teams such as Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Mexico. But before the team leaves the country bound for Santo Domingo, two exhibition games will be held against one of the world’s top teams. According to the Belize Basketball Federation, next week fans can see the first performance of the national team against Venezuela’s best in two exhibition matches.

Mark Usher, Interim Public Relations Officer, BBF

“What the federation decided to do is to do two friendly matches that will be like sort of a litmus test for the basketball team that is preparing to go to the Centro Basket Championships. So we’re gonna bring in team Venezuela. Now Venezuela national team is ranked twenty-third in the world based on FIBA rankings so it’s a very good team. They’re gonna come in next week Wednesday and they will play two games against team Belize. It’s going to be Thursday and Friday so we will get a chance to see our boys perform before they go to the D.R.”

Jose Sanchez

“Okay, well that particular team, how strong is that team worldwide?”

Mark Usher

“Well, once you are ranked twenty-third in the world, you have an idea of what you’re looking at there because in the world you are talking USA, Brazil all the big names in basketball and all the big European nations and they are at twenty-third. So if it is they bring their top rated team because you know a country the size of Venezuela may have an A team, a B team and that sort of stuff. So if they bring their top notch A team then we’re looking at some really, really good ball that is going to be played because we are right up there too noh get me wrong. Our players are really, really—as was shown in Cancun last year.”

Jose Sanchez

“Okay, it seems that we are following the footsteps that we’ve gone through before. I think the last successful team, we brought in some NBA players top play them. I think the Coach Marques Johnson was there too.”

Mark Usher

“Right back in 98.”

Jose Sanchez

“So we should see something as exciting as that matchup.”

Mark Usher

“Oh it’s gonna be marvelous basketball. You’re talking international basketball at the highest level. Our team will be probably nine and three; nine internationally based Belizean basketball players who are playing at the highest level out there. Milt Palacio was an eight year NBA veteran. He is now playing—he has just recently won a tournament in Spain. Alex Carcamo just also won a tournament in the Israeli league and you have Charlie Burgess who is playing big ball in Finland and all those guys. We can hold our own as far as talent. Then we have our home grown talent, Keith Acosta ‘Superman’ is always there; Darwin ‘Puppy’ Leslie will be playing on the team. I think Kirk ‘Shabba’ Smith might have a little injury or something. I’m not sure but it’s going to be a good blend.”

Keenan Jourdan arrived on Thursday while Milton Palacio is expected to arrive on Saturday.  The National Basketball Team is leaving on the third of July and will play its first game on the fifth against Trinidad.