POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Alonzo Hinds
Group A
Trinidad and Tobago - Jamaica 88:76
Trinidad and Tobago opened their CBC Championship campaign with a confident win over Jamaica. The teams are fighting for three available spots at the 2010 Centrobasket. Trinidad and Tobago thus jumped to the top spot in preliminary Group A. Jamaica received a major setback in the opening minutes of the game as Chaz Carr was sidelined with an injury. Steven Lewis (193-F) knocked down 8 points for Trinidad and Tobago as they grabbed an 18:14 lead. Trinidad and Tobago unloaded four three-pointers in the second frame to account for 25 points worth a 17-point advantage at halftime. But the game was far from being over as Jamaica changed the complexion drastically in the third frame. They went on a 17:3 rally to jump in front 52:51. Jamaica dropped 32 points in the period to tie the score at 58 after thirty minutes. But Steven Lewis fired up Trinidad and Tobago as they unleashed 30 points in the final stanza and ran away for the victory at the end.
Steven Lewis stepped up with 27 points for Trinidad and Tobago. Reggie George (208-C-85, agency: Sports Plus International, college: Robert Morris) added 18 points for the winners. Weyinmi Efejuku (196-G-86) delivered 21 points for Jamaica. Samardo Samuels (203-F-89) topscored for Jamaica with 22 points.
Trinidad and Tobago: Steven Lewis 27, Reggie George 18, Wilfred Benjamin 14
Jamaica: Samardo Samuels 22, Weyinmi Efejuku 21
Bahamas - Barbados 75:73
Bahamas earned the initial win at the CBC Championship. They outgunned Barbados in the opening game for both teams. Alonzo Hinds (183-G, college: Midland CC) scored 15 points to lead Bahamas to the victory. Bahamas used strong three quarters to build a decisive lead. They held on to the win despite a massive rally from Barbados in the final minutes. Bahamas got the upper hand in the first half as they dictated the tempo. Alonzo Hinds helped them to grab a 27:23 advantage after ten minutes. Bahamas maintained the lead throughout the second frame and ensured a 6-point lead at halftime.
Bahamas controlled the game in the third quarter as they ballooned the margin to 13 points after thirty minutes. Barbados mounted the pressure in the fourth frame to start clawing their way back into the game. They trimmed the deficit to just 3 points midway through the stanza. Barbados stayed close and had at least several chances to save the game before narrowly losing at the end.
Brian Bain (190-G) delivered 12 points for Bahamas. Quentin Hall (174-G-77, agency: Promotex, college: Gonzaga) and Jeremy Hutchinson (-C-80) added 11 points each for the winners. Kelvin Patterson (194-F-77) replied with 15 points for Barbados. Sydney Rowe (203-C-72) finished with 13 points in defeat.
Bahamas: Alonzo Hinds 15, Brian Bain 12, Quentin Hall 11, Jeremy Hutchinson 11+10 boards
Barbados: Kelvin Patterson 15, Sydney Rowe 13
Group B
British Virgin Islands - Bermudas 85:39
British Virgin Islands celebrated a comfortable win over Bermudas on the opening day of the CBC Championship in Tortola. The event serves as the qualifying competition for the 2010 Centrobasket. Three top teams will advance.
British Virgin Islands made the first confident step towards the semifinals after crushing Bermudas in preliminary Group B. They started the game with a 15:2 rally to clear off. British Virgin Islands dominated in the first quarter building a 27:12 lead after ten minutes. The hosts maintained the margin throughout the second stanza making it a 19-point game at halftime. Bermudas managed just 6 points in the third quarter to trail by insurmountable 30 points at the final break. The home team sealed the winning outcome with style winning the fourth period by 16 points.
Kennedy Bass (196-F, college: Anderson) finished with 15 points, 6 assists and 4 boards. Kleon Penn (211-C-86, agency: KMG Sports Management) added 15 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Akil Smith replied with 12 points for Bermudas. Michael Smith had 9 points in the loss.
British Virgin Islands outrebounded their opponents 49:22 and limited those to just 22% of field goals. British Virgin Islands will face Antigue, while Bermudas will play against Cuba in the second round.
British Virgin Islands: Kennedy Bass 15, Kleon Penn 15, Chaurbin Smith (178-G-81) 11
Bermudas: Akil Smith 12, Michael Smith 9
Cuba - Antigua 91:79
Cuban National team opened CBC Championship with victory. They toppled Antigua for the first win in preliminary Group B. The teams are fighting for a top-two finish in the pool to reach the semifinal stage. Three best teams will qualify for the 2010 Centrobasket. Geoffrei Silvestre (202-F/C-79) knocked down 25 points to lift Cuba to the win. He was however ejected for the second unsportsmanlike foul in the fourth period. The teams kept it close in the opening frame just before Taylor Garcia capped with a three-pointer for 21:18 Cuban lead. A 15:4 rally elevated Cuba to a comfortable lead midway through the quarter before Antigua woke up to respond. Wayne Walker (198-F-75, college: Wisc.-Green Bay) orchestrated an 11:0 surge in the dying minutes of the half that propelled Antigua to a 43:37 lead at halftime. Antigua opened the second half with four points in a row to open a 10-point lead. But Geoffrei Silvestre and Allens Jemmott (193-G-80) sparked a comeback effort from Cuba as they ensured an 8-point lead into the final frame. Cuba maintained the cushion well enough to celebrate the initial win at the tournament.
Allens Jemmott poured in 17 points for the winning side. Wayne Walker replied with 20 points for Antigua. Xavier Meade (201-C-87) produced 18 points in the loss.
Cuba: Geoffrei Silvestre 25, Allens Jemmott 17, Alexis Labastida (187-G-77) 12
Antigua: Wayne Walker 20, Xavier Meade 18
