Standings Group A 1. Belize 0-0 2. Mexico 0-0 3. Guatemala 0-0 Group B 1. Costa Rica 5-1 2. El Salvador 4-2 3. Nicaragua 3-3 4. Honduras 0-6

   Another chance for Belize to qualify for Centrobasket 2006
(Courtesy of Amandala Online)
Belize continues to struggle on the international basketball scene after losing twice to Costa Rica’s national selection over the weekend. On Saturday, Belize lost by the score of 104-94. At halftime, Belize was down by 11 after falling 20 points behind in the first quarter. Kenton Paulino (186-G-83) was the hot hand for Belize in the third quarter, sinking four 3-pointers. Unfortunately for Belize, Paulino had to leave the game after receiving an elbow below the chin from one of the Costa Rican players. The whiplash effect caused a fracture of the C3, C4 neck vertebrae. The loss of Paulino was really a momentum killer as Belize went on to lose the game. Belize outrebounded Costa Rica, 29-26, and had 5 players in double figures. Darwin Carter led the scoring for Belize with 32 points.

The second game played on Sunday night was not as competitive as the night before. Belize lost by the final score of 104-73. This was partly due to the unusual circumstances that our selection endured on their way to Costa Rica. They were basically running on fumes, having arrived in Costa Rica only three hours before the first game. Nevertheless, they gave it their best shot.

But like a cat with nine lives, Belize has yet another chance to make it to Centrobasket 2006. With the recent withdrawal of an important team from Caribe, FIBA America has decided that the two losing teams from the COCABA Semifinals, namely Belize and El Salvador, will play an additional series for the bronze medal. The winner will join Mexico and Costa Rica, who both have automatic berths in the tournament. The home and away series between Belize and El Salvador is scheduled for sometime next week. Earlier this month, Belize split a two- game friendly series with El Salvador.

But with all the problems that continue to plague our team, it is uncertain whether Belize will even play the games. General support for the team has not been forthcoming. We have learnt that the Federation is currently broke and in no position to host El Salvador, much less travel. Unless there is some influx of significant financial support, Belize may have to forfeit the bronze medal series with El Salvador and accept whatever fines or sanctions from FIBA.

At this time, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the players who represented our country, especially to Kenton Paulino (186-G-83), who left earlier today for Austin, Texas to conduct further tests to assess the extent of the injury. Paulino was scheduled to go for his NBA trials next. We certainly wish him a speedy and healthy recovery.

   Mexico wins Game 3
Scoring 21 points, Victor Avila (209-C-77, college: Oklahoma) led Mexico to the win in Game 3 of the COCABA Finals yesterday night in Torreon Coahuila. The final score has been MEX 103 - CRC 70, and Team Mexico leads now 2-1 in the series. Jorge Rochin (202-F-78, college: Portland) added 18 pts at the winning side, and Horacio Llamas (211-C-73, agency: Interperformances) 15 pts;  the best of the "Ticos" was Clifford Smith (193-G, college: Barry), with 19 pts. Tonight, the two teams will meet in Gimnasio Solidaridad de Fresnillo, Zacatecas for the fourth game of the COCABA Finals.

   Costa Rica levels COCABA Finals
Costa Rica defeated Mexico 87-74 to level the COCABA Final series.
Mexico won the first half 37-31 but the locals tied the game at the end of the third quarter at 60.
The rest was history as Mexico could not score consistently in the final quarter.
Games three and four will be played in Torren on May 29 and on Fresnillo on the 30.
Both teams already qualified for the Centrobasket Tournament.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

   Mexico gave a lesson to Costa Rica in the COCABA Finals
Mexico defeated Costa Rica 109-79 to start the COCABA Finals.
The first half ended 46-41 but extended their lead and was far superior in the paint to get the huge win.
Oscar Castellanos (187-G-68) led the winners with 26 points.
For Costa Rica, Clifford Smith netted 16 points in the loss.
Game two will be played tonight in Costa Rica while games three and four will be played in Mexico.
Both teams already qualified for the 2006 Centrobasket Tournament, which is a first step for the 2008 Olympics.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  The COCABA finals begin today between Mexico and Costa Rica
The COCABA finals begin today in Costa Rica as they take on Mexico to win the COCABA title.
Both team already qualified for the 2006 Centrobasket Tournament. The game will be played at the Heredia Sports Palace at 20:00 local time.
This is a four game series, but in case of a fifth game, it will be played in Los Angeles, California.
Mexico has won eight straight games while Costa Rica dominated Belize in the semifinals.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

   Mexico wins seventh game in a row at COCABA Tournament
Mexico defeated El Salvador 78-54 in Mexicali to earn their seventh win in a row and also clinch a berth for the 2006 Centrobasket Tournament.
Now Mexico will take on Costa Rica in the finals on May 26-27 for first place. Costa Rica also qualified for the Centrobasket Tournament.
Before that game they will have to take on El Salvador again today in Tijuana.
Javier Gonzalez (205-C-68) netted 15 for the winners and Oscar Castellanos netted 13.
Yamil Bukele led El Salvador with 13 points.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Third game of the COCABA semifinals between Mexico and El Salvador 
Mexico will take on El Salvador in Mexicali on 20:30 Pacific Time.
After losing the first two games in their home country, El Salvador are ready to give a final battle tonight.
Yamil Bukele, Salvador Bandek, Oscar Rivera, Arturo Gonzلlez and Bob Hunter led El Salvador in the games against Mexico.
If Mexico wins they will take on Costa Rica on May 26-27 in the finals. The first two games will be played in Costa Rica at the Sports Palace and the Cartago Complex.
Victor Avila, Jorge Rochin and Oscar Castellanos are key for Mexico in this game.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Mexico on a collision course with Costa Rica for the COCABA Championship
After Costa Rica defeated Belize in the semifinals, Mexico will now have to eliminate El Salvador tonight to face them in the COCABA finals.
Mexico will take on El Salvador tonight and then tomorrow in order to pass to the finals this weekend.
On May 26-27 Mexico will travel to Costa Rica for the finals. The locals have Jeff Anderson and Henry Martinez as their best players.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Costa Rica dominates Belize and heads to the COCABA Finals 
Costa Rica dominated Belize 140-73 and will go to the COCABA Finals.
In the first game, Costa Rica won 104-94.
With this win, Costa Rica qualified for the Centrobasket Tournament in Panama and will take on Mexico for the championship later this week.
Henry Martinez (185-G/F-75) led the winners with 24 points.
Darwin Carter led Belize with 21 points.
Costa Rica will take on Mexico in the COCABA Finals on May 26 and then the next day at Cartago.
Later on Costa Rica will travel to Mexico on games three and four.
In case of a decisive fifth game, it will be played in Los Angeles, California.
The 2006 Centrobasket Tournament will give three places in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Mexico one step away from Centrobasket Tournament
The Mexican national team won their sixth straight game and defeated El Salvador 83-61.
The first half ended 40-32 and pulled away in the second half.
Jorge Rochin (202-F-78, college: Portland) and Victor Avila led Mexico with 19 points each.
Yamil Bukele netted 13 in a losing cause.
Games three and four will be played on May 23 and 24 in Mexico.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Mexico opens semis with El Salvador
Mexico have qualified for the COCABA Championship semi-finals as Group B winners after a 4-0 whitewash of runners-up Belize.
Joe Francisco Ramirez's side beat Belize 113-67 on Tuesday and 91-73 the following day to add to their two away wins a fortnight ago.
Mexico will now meet Group A runners-up El Salvador in the last four.
The two-legged tie will take place on Friday and Saturday in San Salvador, with a third match on Monday if needed.
Despite that defeat, Belize also progressed to the semi-finals, where they face Group A winners Costa Rica.
It will be a tough test for Belize, though, as Costa Rica boast a strong squad, with Randy Cayasso, Kay Martinez, Jefny Anderson (207-C, college: Lake Region CC), Gilberto McKenzie and Hernold Gardner all playing in the USA's NCAA league.
The COCABA Championship allows three nations to qualify for the Centrobasket tournament, which in turn is a qualifier for next year's FIBA Americas Championship.
(Courtesy oif PA Sport)

  Mexico defeats Belize again
Mexico defeated Belize 91-73 in the COCABA Tournament which is a qualifier for the Centrobasket Tournament.
The first half ended 46-37 as they on for the second night in a row.
Victor Avila led the attack with 21 points and Oscar Castellanos, Jorge Rochin and Enrique Zuniga netted 14 each.
Kenton Paulino (186-G-83) led Belize with 19 points.
Now Mexico faces El Salvador on May 19-20.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Mexico dominates Belize in COCABA Tournament
Mexico defeated Belize 113-67 as COCABA Tournament rolled on in Quintana Roo.
Oscar Castellanos (187-G-68), Horacio Llamas and Karim Malpica helped the Mexicans get the win.
The first half ended 61-32 in favor of the hosts.
Today they will play the second game of this series.
(Courtesy of FIBA America)

  Mexico ready for a tought opponent 
The head coach of the Mexican National team, Francisco Ramirez, said that Belize will be a tough opponent for the COCABA Tournament.
"We are going to be aggresive, Belize has very strong players but we have trained hard to play at the Centrobasket Tournament".
Mexico has beaten Belize before, but they are not overconfident that they will beat their opponent.
The captain of the team, Oscar Castellanos, said that they have to play well in order to show the fans the good work that the team has done during the trials.

(Couresy of FIBA America)

  Mexico wins Game One of COCABA qualifier
(Courtesy of Belize Times)
The Mexico national basketball team won 89-72 over the Belize national team in the first game of a four game series in this years’ COCABA (Confederacion Centro Americana de Basquetbol) at the Belize City Center on Tuesday night.   The Belizean team includes six imports, Belizeans living abroad in the United States, including Leon “Sonny Watson who could stand toe to toe with the biggest of the Mexicans and in fact won the opening tipoff. The Mexicans scored the first 2 baskets of the game for a 4-zip lead. But then three of the imports, Darwin Carter (183-G-76, college: Angelo St.), Kenton Paulino (186-G-83) and LeBoise Gladden (194-G/F-84) made up for their smaller size against the physically bigger and stronger Mexicans by draining in long treys to give the home team a 23-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Belize continued to lead in the second quarter as Carter sank a trio of basket including another trey and Keith Acosta (193-G/F-76, college: Texas A&M - Commerce) added a bucket to put Belize ahead 32-21. Then the Mexican defense effectively shut down the Belize attack as the home team got no more basket for the remainder of the second quarter and the visitors’ #9 Ramses Benitez scored 3 buckets, #6 Richard Lopez (192-G-78, college: Cal.Baptist) two buckets and 2 free throws and their 7 foot tall center Horacio Llamas (211-C-73, agency: Interperformances) tossed in 3 baskets, including 2 long treys so that the visitors took a 48-32 lead at the end of the second quarter.   The Guatemalan referees should have given the game some impartial arbitration, but they still left something to be desired. The Belize defense set screens and go the offensive fouls call from the referees when the Mexicans charged into the screening player, but they somehow failed to see when Sonny Watson, the only Belizean who could match the visitors in size and strength, got fouled as he was double and triple- teamed by the Mexicans.     Watson shook off his disgust at the poor officiating by slamming in a monster dunk on the Mexican basket at the start of the third quarter. Denton Pauliino’s shooting accuracy fell off, but Gladden remained on target scoring 8 pts in the 3rd quarter with Carter adding some free throws; both Gladden and Carter would finish with 19 pts each. Stephen Williams and Ernest Broaster (193-C/F-74) added a bucket each.   The Mexicans kept pace with buckets from Karim Malpica (190-G-78, agency: World Sport Agency), Victor Avila (209-C-77, college: Oklahoma), Llamas, Jorge Rochin (202-F-78, college: Portland) and two treys from Victor Mariscal (198-F-72) and Enrique Zuniga (193-G-75, college: Grand Canyon) to lead 68-52 at the end of the third quarter.   Paulino scored two more trey in the last quarter, he would finish with 12 pts, but the Belize defense could hold back the Mexican juggernaut as Llamas added another trey and Enrique Zuniga (193-G-75, college: Grand Canyon) won the foul calls to sink free throws. Those fouls also cost the Belize defense as Richard Troyer (193-F-84) and Kirk 'Shabba' Smith (201-F-70, college: Weber St.) with 10 rebounds, fouled out of the game.   Karim Malpica (190-G-78, agency: World Sport Agency) would sink the last 3 free throws for the visitors, and a final bucket for the 89-72 win.

  Mexico wins again
Mexico defeated Belize even in the second game of the COCABA Series "Group A". This time, the final score has been Mexico 91-Belize 72 and the best scorers were Victor Mariscal (198-F-72) with 17 pts and Enrique Zuniga (193-G-75, college: Grand Canyon) with 15. This results confirms that Mexico should end the Group "A" at the first place, and will meet in Semifinal El Salvador.

  Mexico triumphs in Game 1
Team Belize started very well, ending the 1st quarter ahead 23-14, but Mexico completed and impressive comeback in the second quarter, and was yet ahed 48-32 at the halftime. The final score was Mexico 88-Belize 72, and the best performers in Team Mexico were Enrique Zuniga (193-G-75, college: Grand Canyon) with 17 pts, Horacio Llamas (211-C-73, agency: Interperformances) with 16 pts and 7 reb and Karim Malpica (190-G-78, agency: World Sport Agency) with 13 pts. The second game of the COCABA Series "Group A" will be played tonight, again at Belize City, Game 3 and 4 will be played in Mexico, on May 15 at Chetumal and May 16 at Playa del Carmen.

  Belize is ready for COCABA Tournament!

Acosta

Augustine

Smith

Carter

Troyer

Belize has announced its national team that will play in the COCABA Tournament.

Belize National Team Roster:
Keith Acosta (193-G/F-76) of San Pedro Tiger Sharks (BIZ),
Stephen Williams (-G-83),
Bart Sanchez (-G),
Ian Augustine (191-F-73) of BTL Nets (BIZ),
Kurt Burgess of BTL Nets (BIZ),
Kirk 'Shabba' Smith (201-F-70) of University of Belize (BIZ),
Darwin Carter (183-G-76) of Los Angeles Aftershock (USA),
Richard Troyer (193-F-84) of Utah Valley State (USA),
LeBoise Gladden (194-G/F-84) (194-G/F-84),
Kenton Paulino (186-G-83),
Englebert Cherrington (201-F) of Houston Baptist University (USA),
Leon Watson (203-F/C-77) of Orange County Buzz (USA), 
Ernest Broaster (193-C/F-74) of Corozal Uprising (BIZ).

The coaches are Kevin Siroki and Frank Lord .

  National Team selected for qualifiers
Head Coach Jose Francisco Ramirez along with Assistant Coaches Jorge Leon and Angel Gonzalez selected the following players for the qualification games against Belize:
Enrique Gonzalez (205-C-68)
Jorge Rochin (202-F-78, college: Portland)
Victor Avila (209-C-77, college: Oklahoma)
Horacio Llamas (211-C-73, agency: Interperformances)
Miguel Ayala (198-F/G-82, college: Fullerton JC)
Javier Gonzalez Rex (186-G-72)
Enrique Zuniga (193-G-75, college: Grand Canyon)
Jesus Ramses Benitez (209-C-79)
Karim Malpica (190-G-78, agency: World Sport Agency)
Arim Abdul Solares (202-F-83)
Alonso Izaguirre (200-G/F-76)
Richard Lopez (192-G-78, college: Cal.Baptist)

alternate players for the COCABA Series will be Victor Mariscal (198-F-72), Oscar Castellanos (187-G-68) and Florentino Chavez (190-G/F-71).
Mexico plays today it's first games in Belize and should be favourites to win this series.

  New Coach for Costa Rica.
SAN JOSE - Alejandro Fernandez was named the new Costa Rica men's national team coach after Rodolfo Fonseca resigned.
Fonseca reached an agreement to leave his place after his sports marketing business opened offices in Guatemala.
Fernandez is the coach of three time champion Liceo.
Alexis Monge and Humberto Lynch will be his assistants..
Costa Rica waits for the second place team in Group A to begin the next round.
FECOBA announced that some players who are currently in College are going to join the team soon. Those players are Jake McKenzie (188-G), Kay Martinez (197-F-84, college: Lake Region CC), Randy Cayasso (190-F) (Brescia University), Jefny Anderson (206-C) (Southern University) and Hernol Gardener (205-C-82) (Lonmorris College). Courtesy of Fibaamericas.

  Costa Rica in the semifinals!
SAN JOSE - Costa Rica defeated Honduras 89-45and passed to the semifinals in the COCABA Tournament.
The first half ended 50-20 as Costa Rica won with ease.
Jeffrey Spencer (189-F) led Costa Rica with 16 points, Javier Planes (200-C) had 14 and Henry Martinez (185-G/F-75) netted 11.
This is the fifth win by Costa Rica who only lost to El Salvador.
Now Costa Rica waits for the second place team between Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. The semifinal game will be played on May 23.
The first three qualified teams will go to the 2006 Centrobasket Tournament that will be played in Panama.
The best three teams in the Centrobasket Tournament go to the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. Courtesy of Fibaamericas.com

  EL SALVADOR almost qualified!
EL SALVADOR - Arturo Gonzalez Mata (181-F-78) scored 2 points with 6 seconds left to give El Salvador an important win over Nicaragua 72-70.
With this win El Salvador almost secures a berth for the 2006 Centrobasket Tournament.
The first half ended 33-29 in favor of Nicaraguan National Team.
El Salvador National Team opened the lead in the final quarter but Nicaraguan National Team closed the gap and tied the game at 68 with 1:23 left.
With the game tied at 70 Mata scored 2 points to give them the important win. Courtesy of Fiba.

  Nicaragua still got games!
Nicaraguan Team lost on the home court to visiting Costa Rica , 79 - 72 in the COCABA Tournament.
It was a close game and hard to predict the winner: Costa Rica won the first quarter 20-19, but lost the first half 38-30. In the third quarter they came back and beat the locals with a 31-16 points scored, taking the lead again and finishing the quarter 61-54.

To Costa Rica’s victory contributed: Franklyn Ferguson (198-C/F-77, college: St.Joseph's (ME)) with 25, followed by Henry Martinez (185-G/F-75) with 18, Javier Planes (200-C) 15, Luis Castillo 11, and Jeffrey Spencer 10.
Nicaragua was led in points by: Johnny Lampson (198-F-79) 17, Troy Watson (195-F-81) 13, Carlos “Pollo” Gonzalez 11, Serbio Abea 10, and Anthony Gayle 8.

Nicaragua will play next on the road El Salvador on the 5th, Honduras on the 7th, and Costa Rica on the 9th. The tournament ends on April 14.

  El Salvodor still in the race!
El Salvador defeated Honduras 59 to 57 at the COCABA Tournament played in Costa Rica.
With this win El Salvador maintains their hopes alive to qualify for the 2006 Centrobasket Tournament that will be played in Panama.
El Salvador fell to Costa Rica 80-66 and to Nicaragua 83-82 but are still alive.
On Friday El Salvador takes on Costa Rica as part of the second round.
Then on April 5 they will face Nicaragua.
They will finish against Honduras on April 12. Courtesy of Fibaamericas.

  The race for 2008 Olympic games has started!
Costa Rica started a good road to the 2006 Olympics, winning over El Salvador 80-86, in the start of the COCABA Tournament, on Thursday, at San Jose.
It was a close game from the beginning till the end, with El Salvador  winning the first quarter 20-19, and showing a better game in this quarter, but Costa Rica  eliminated the gap in the second quarter and took the lead at 37-34 at the end of the first half, and from there on Costa Rica was in charge, finishing the third quarter 61-42, and winning the first game of the tournament 86-80.

It is been bad luck for El Salvador, who had the same fate to Nicaragual on Saturday, loosing the second game of the tournament, by 1 point in over time, 82-83.
But it has been a spectacular game, with Troy Watson (195-F-81) putting in 30 points for the Nicaragua, while Pollo Gonzalez started the overtime with a 3 pointer.

Honduras will take on El Salvador today, in group B, while Mexico will play Guatemala in group A.

  Panama began winning Women and Men NT's won over Nicaragua.
The Women NT won over Nicaragua 82-69 in a very disputed game Anayansi Ortiz 27 Pts., Marisol Plato 12 Pts., and Josselin Ortiz with 12 Pts were the best by the winners and Ileana Guerrero 17 Pts., Esperanza Orozco 15 Pts. and Ana Lopez 13 Pts. by Nicaragua. the Men NT won over Nicaragua too, 91-75 Panama, they started with 11 points lead in the 1st quarter and increased it in the 2nd and 3rd quuarte, winning easily they played comfortable but Nicaragua close the score in the 4th quarter. The best men by the winners were Joel Munoz with 21 Pts. 4 Assists. and 4 Steals. Eduardo Isaac 11 Pts. 4 Assits. and Maximiliano Gomez 10 Pts. and 5 Assists. by Nicaragua Troy Watson 13 Pts. Johnny Lampson 12 Pts. were the best. Tonight the Men NT will play against Guatemala.

  The Men NT obtained the 2nd win in the Central American Games.
The men NT won last night over Guatemala 82-72 in a very physical and disputed game. Guatemala disputed every second of each quarter and every foot of the court, but Panama get out their courage and high level over the Chapines. Again leaded by Joel Munoz with 25 Pts., 5 Assists and 6 steals, Eduardo Isaac 14 Pts., 3 steals and Mauricio Watson 13 Pts. were the best by the winners and by Guatemala Ricardo Amaya 23 Pts, and Thomas Gillespi 14 Pts. Tonight Panama must play with Belize.

  Panama for the Gold Medal in Men and Women
Tonight the 2 panamanian teams dispute the Gold Medal of the Central American Games, yesterday the women defeated Nicaragua 98-88 Josselin Ortiz and Silvia Rios were the best by the winners and Ana Lopez by Nicaragua. The men won over Guatemala 68-65 the best by Panama were Maximiliano Gomez 19 Pts. ande Mauricio Watson 17 Pts. by Guatemala Thomas Gillespi 16 Pts. The women dispute with Guatemala and the Men dispute with Belize the Gold Medal.

  Women and Men NT were defined last night for Central American Games.
Last night both NT were completed with 12 players for each team. The Women NT include Dayra Hughes, Marisol Plato, Yessica Ellis, Anayansi Ortiz, Joselyn Ortiz, Samira Merritt, Silvia Rios, Luzmila Moreno, Yanina Rodriguez, Magda Ayala, Carolina Peralta y Samanta Peralta. Coach Arquimedes Bedoya. In the Men NT are Maximiliano Gomez,Eduardo Isaac, Fabio Gomez, Alfonso Stoute, Yeager Allen, Mauricio Watson, Alejandro Cajar, Akbar Lawson, Luis Arciniegas, Alex De Leon and Daniel King and Joel Munoz (179-G-80) Arturo Maloney and Josimar Ayarza were included as  availables. Coaches Enrique Grenald and Raul Pineda.  Good luck for everybody.