– DC Jammers not underestimating locals
By Floyd Christie
The Washington DC Jammers arrived in Guyana yesterday morning for the international basketball series which jumps off tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and they are not underestimating their local opponents, according to their Head Coach Michael Creppy.
Creppy made the revelation at a press conference at the Zoom Inn Hotel to officially launch the Godwin McPherson Memorial Tournament to be contested between a National President’s select 12-man team and the DC Jammers.
This is the first time since 2007 the national team will be exposed to international basketball and according to President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABF), David Paterson, speaking at the press conference, “the GABF is very exuberated to be playing basketball back on the international stage.”
Manager of the DC Jammers Dennis Baird, who was also present at the head table, stated that the contingent was honoured to be visiting Guyana once again, having come over the last 20 years, with the last visit being in 2007.
“It’s always a pleasure to come back to Guyana and we are here once more to challenge the President’s 12 to put forward their best because we are coming with our best,” Baird stated.
“In my estimation we have contributed immensely towards the enhancement of basketball in Guyana,” Baird added as he referred to the early visits by the DC Jammers. They have been recruiting players of Guyanese parentage in the Washington metropolitan area, he added.
“Quite a few of our players who have come back and played with the DC Jammers have actually represented Guyana internationally,” he noted. Director of Sports Neil Kumar was also at the launching and related that he would like to see more collaboration between the GABF, the DC Jammers and the Ministry of Sports in order to take basketball in Guyana forward.
He added that this should be done more to foster young talent, since Guyana has been playing highly competitive basketball at the Inter-Guiana Games every year and at school programmes such as the recently concluded National Schools Basketball Festival.
“I am rallying behind our local basketball players, because we have some hot young guys and I’m quite sure that our guys will give you [DC Jammers] a good run,” Kumar added.
The South Carolina All-star female team, among other overseas teams, was expected for the International Basketball Series, but due to financial constraints being experienced by the GABF, those teams could not be hosted.
In light of this, the DC Jammers’ presence was further lauded by Vice President of the GABF, Floyd Levi.
The national team will be outfitted with basketball uniforms, compliments of Grace Kennedy Remittance Services (GKRS).
Present at the launching representing GKRS was Marketing Manager Natheeah King, while representing the other major sponsor, Giftland Office Max, was Marketing Manager Compton Babb.
Coach of the President’s 12, Bobby Cadogan announced the 13 players who were short-listed to represent Guyana. They are Darcel Harris (Captain), Ryan Stepheney, Rodwell Fortune, Akeem Kanhai, Andrew Ifill, Ryan Gullen, Stephon Gillis, Naylon Loncke, Royston Siland, Drumsum McCulley, Oneca Fraser, Travis Burnett and Jason Squires.
The games will begin at 7pm on each of the three-night series from tonight.
