THE BALL will be in Jamaica home court when they host the 18th Caribbean Basketball Championships at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) from June 13-19 this year.Twelve teams, male and female, are expected to take part in this year's event. The men's team will face world ranked Cuba (50), Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and U.S. Virgin Islands, while the women's team have to contend with Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"Every Jamaican should be proud to have the opportunity to host this event. It is important to point out that there has been only one tournament, the one last year, that the home team, did not come away with a medal," noted president of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation, Usie Richards, in a press conference at the Hilton Kingston hotel, yesterday.
"That is why it is very important for the crowd to come and support their team, who have a good chance of winning a medal at this year's event," he added.
The men's team is expected to be led by top college player Mugabe Thomas and high school senasation Samardo Samuels.
However, the women's contingent is expected to have an even better chance with WNBA Seattle Storms star Simone Edwards at the helm, who will join the team despite being early in the WNBA season.
The tournament will be the first-leg of qualification for the basketball World Championships.
The top 8 men's teams will go to Panama City and from there the top seven to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia. The top five women's units will head to Mexico two weeks later and from there the top three to the CAC Games.
- K. M.
