POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Kyle Rowley
(By The Guardian)
T&T senior mens basketballers leaves today for the 20th edition of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Mens Basketball Championships which jumps-off on Tuesday at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
The team which comprise six locals and six foreign-based players will play the opening match of the tournament against Jamaica from 2.15 pm (TT Time).
In its final preparation the national squad defeated a make-up team 92-53 on Friday night at St Paul Street Sports Complex. The team had three full weeks of intense preparation during a live-in camp in Mayaro under the guidence of newly appointed coach American Terry Layton , the current UTT coach, and former national coach Lenny Guy .
However, coach Layton will no doubt rely on the professional experience of Power-forwards Julius Ashby (205-F/C-82, college: Colorado) and Wilfred Spoongy Benjamin, the outstanding court talents from the 2007 edition in Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, local talents forwards Stephen Lighter Lewis of Defence Force, centre Miguel Williams (206-C-78) of Petro Jazz and Kurt Koto Christian of Detour Shak Attack would seek to make amends from their disappointing showing in the last tournament.
The surprise omission from the national team is T&Ts most talented and consistent point-guard Derrick Boxill, who now plays for defence Force. The Petro Jazz player who is the strongest ball hander locally, averages 11 points and four assists in the last tournament and at home averages 21 points and seven assists and six rebounts and four steals. The coaching staff has sprong two major surprises with the selection of guard-forwards Kern George and Kenyatta Alfred (-F) of UTT.
T&T is also grouped with former regional champion teams Bahamas and newcomers Barbados, while group B comprises defending champions Cuba, the consistently improving Antigua and Barbuda, newcomers Bermuda and host British Virgin Islands. The championships ends on July 4, with the classification plays and championships matches.
In the last CBC senior mens tourney held in Puerto Rico in 2007, T&T finished bottom of the nine-team field. The winner was the host who defeated DR in a very competitive finals. The Puerto Ricans also won the womens division when they defeated T&T, however, there will be no womens competition this year.
T&T Mens Team
Guards: Kenyatta Alfred (UTT); Ian Young (191-G-81, college: Auburn) (Saudi Arabia); Kurt Christian (-F/G-83) (Detour Shak Attack)
Forwards: Kevin Garcia (203-C) (Petro Jazz); Kern George (UTT); Reggie George (208-C-85, agency: Sports Plus International, college: Robert Morris) (USA); SSteven Lewis (193-F) (Defence Force); Marlon Pompey (203-F-83, college: Texas A&M) (Ireland)
Power-Forwards: Wilfred Benjamin (201-F/C-84, college: Marist) (Saudi Arabia); Julius Ashby (Japan);
Centres: Kyle Rowley (213-C-90) (Northwestern Uni. - USA);
Centre- Forwards: Miguel Williams (Petro Jazz)
Management Team:
Terry Layton (Headcoach); Lenny Guy (Asst. coach); Brian Manning (Team manager / Delegate) Kurt Alexander (Team Ref); Albert Lee Young (Equipment Manager); Mervyn Jackson (Physio)
