The National Sports Commission (NSC) made a timely financial donation yesterday in an effort to assist the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) ahead of their departure today for FIBA AmeriCup Championships in Miami, Florida, from November 12th-14th.
The sporting body presented the sum of $875,000 towards offsetting the travel costs of both teams to the prestigious tournament. Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, during brief remarks said that the entity is committed to developing the quality of the local sporting sector, adding that part of the mandate is aiding in the participation at international events.
He added, “Over the last six months, we’ve extended assistance to several sport disciplines. It is the belief of the Government of Guyana that we need to keep injecting this sort of support and that is what we will be doing, even though sometimes, coming down to this part of the year, finances are not so readily available, we thought it’s appropriate to dig deep in order to help the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation.”
GABF President Michael Singh, thanked the entity for its continued support and overall assistance, adding, “It basically shows the level of financial injection the Government is capable of doing.”
The quartet of Ryan Stephney, Nikkoloi Smith, Travis Burnett, and Timothy Thompson, are the official members of the Men’s squad for the competition. Similarly, the Women’s roster comprises Joy Adams, Mariam McKenzie, Jada Mohan, and Petal Leacock. Lugard Mohan will serve as the 3×3 coordinator, while Sileena Arjune will participate in the Adelante Programme.
FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup Open Category will feature 33 teams made up of 18 men’s and 15 women’s teams. Guyana will feature in Qualifying Draw ‘C’ in the men’s pool alongside St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
Guyana will open their campaign against Trinidad and Tobago from 11:25am, before facing St Lucia at 12:15pm on the same day. If successful, Guyana will progress to the main draw and face Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Guyana will participate in Qualifying Draw ‘A’ in the women’s section against Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, and Jamaica. Guyana will battle Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow at 10:15am. This will be followed by an encounter against Jamaica at 11:40am, before concluding the qualifiers against Guatemala at 1:05pm.
If successful, the Guyanese will compete against the duo of Brazil and Dominican Republic in Group D of the main draw.
The complete men’s division will feature the likes of Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela.
In the women’s section, the participating teams are Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela.
