• Basketball referees attacked by players
  • Stabroek News, January 8, 2002
    Basketball referees Vijai Panday and Oswald Benjamin were victims of uncouth behaviour by players from Esso Pistons club which lost to Bounty Colts in the final of the Invitational tournament on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports.
    The match was awarded to Bounty Colts who led 72-71 with 23 seconds remaining after the referees were attacked by flying limbs and missiles, following a call made by Panday against Nolan Clarke of Esso Pistons.
    Panday said he was back heeled in the groin by Clarke who was immediately blown for a flagrant foul, following which the official was punched in the jaw by another Pistons player when indicating the foul to the table officials.
    He subsequently ejected both players which meant an automatic dismissal for the Linden team's coach. After six free throws were given to Bounty Colts, Benjamin was hit in face by a flying bottle thrown from the crowd just off Piston's bench, which caused the referee a cut and three stitches. The game was subsequently awarded to the Georgetown club. Panday said he has sent written reports to the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, and the ruling bodies of Georgetown and Linden.
    Panday explained that the Linden players were annoyed with the officiating but stressed that many are not aware of certain rules of the game. He added that ignorance of rules is a problem in local basketball and urged that coaches take more time to educate their players. Yesterday officials from the national body could not be reached for comment.Up to that point Kelvin Simon had topscored with 19 points for Colts while Clarence Bennett and Andrew Ifill supported with 16 and 15 points each.
    Pistons which led 40-30 at half time, were spearheaded by Alwin Bellamy with 17 points while Seon Charles contributed 15.
    Colt's Dayne Kendall was adjudged man of the Series while Bennett was subsequently named Man of the Final.
    Colts took home $30,000 a trophy and 12 gold rings for winning the three-week competition.They had defeated Pepsi Sonics in the semifinals while Pistons eliminated Sparta Global Kings. Ravens which won the previous Pepsi Sonics tournament did not show up for their final preliminary game and were eliminated as a result.

  • Kudos to Chrissy and Bobby
  • Comment by Donald Duff - Stabroek News, May 22, 2002
    Two young entrepreneurs have given lie to the belief that sport in Guyana can only progress if there is substantial government input.
    While governmental support in providing facilities is a must there are also several other factors that influence sporting progress.
    Chrissy Douglas and Bobby Cadogan, with initiative and drive have revived the game of basketball, brought back the fans and shown what is achievable if there are persons committed to working in the interest of something they love.
    It is not that Chrissy and Bobby have done something new. No it is not.
    The distinction of taking a sports event and transforming it into a budding financial enterprise lies with Aubrey `Shanghai' Major and Kashif Muhammad, two suave young entrepreneurs from the mining town of Linden. What Major and Muhammad have accomplished in ten years of promoting the annual Christmas football extravanganza is now history. Chrissy and Bobby are now beginning to write their own history in the sport of basketball. Before this year, the crowds had dwindled away, tournaments were few and far between and in general basketball seemed to be going the way of several others - stagnation. The blame for this situation could be attributed in some way to the various sub-associations that run the sport in Guyana.
    Sub Associations and national federations are there to help promote and develop their sport.
    Their roles include staging and running off of tournaments, fund raising and selection of national teams to participate at international tournaments. A properly run sub-association or national federation, whose finances are audited at least once a year in keeping with constitutional requirements, can be an asset to sports and the athletes that depend on them for guidance and support. Sadly it does seem to appear more and more that some persons elected to serve on sports bodies do so merely for their own benefit. The bitter fighting that is a characteristic of the upcoming FIFA presidential election to be contested by incumbent Sepp Blatter and Issac Hayatou can also be found here to a lesser degree.
    In fact, recently two persons have claimed to be elected president of the West Demerara Cricket Association and our local Guyana Football Federation elections for president has had its fair share of controversy since Colin Klass ascended the presidential throne more than a decade ago. It does seem at this point that there is dire need for dedicated, conscientious, hard working, sports loving persons to serve as the catalyst to jump start sports programmes in a meaningful way.
    Perhaps what sports federations, sub- associations and clubs need are dynamic entrepreneurs whose functions are to get the sports programmes off the ground.

  • Hamid calls for better security at basketball matches
  • By Donald Duff - Stabroek News, May 20, 2002
    Linden's senior basketball coach Abdulla Hamid has highlighted the need for better security and for trained table officials as some of the requirements if local basketball is to go places. Hamid made the recommendations following his side's 88-90 loss in the final of the Best of the best basketball series which concluded on Friday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Hamid is a former national player who has also served as assistant coach of the national women's team to the CARICOM championships.
    Hamid's Linden team, boasting a number of new finds had earlier played unbeaten in all their preliminary matches and were 2-0 up against Georegtown after Game One of the best of Three finals. They then lost Games Two and Three and with the losses went the right to their claim of being the top basketball team in the country.
    Speaking of Friday night's game Hamid said game was "highly competitive. We outplayed them throughout. The guys stuck to the defence I designed in order to keep out Lugard (Mohan) and (Clarence) Bennett and (Andrew) Ifill off the boards and the team did that pretty well for 39 minutes," he added.
    With a six point lead and only a minute remaining Hamid admitted that the man to man press instituted by opposing coach Bobby Cadogan hurried his players and resulted in three back court turnovers which probably cost Linden the game.
    Asked about the officiating and whether he felt it was partly responsible for his team's loss Hamid said while the officiating was to a high level he was a bit surprised with the blocking foul called on star player Steve Neils with the scores tied at 88 and the seconds ticking away. Hamid said Mohan was double teamed and Neils took up a position cutting off Mohan from driving down the wing. "Neils was standing and Lugard drove into him," was his view. Hamid also criticised the performance of the table officials.
    "Table officials need to be more accessible and polite when coaches go to collect information," he reasoned. "They need to be aware of their duties which is to provide the coaches with information," he added. Hamid also pointed out to the frequent encroachments onto the playing court and the many stoppages for beverages, ice and paper cups thrown on the court by the Georgetown supporters. The many stoppages, Hamid felt probably robbed his team of their momentum and he is suggesting that there is need for improved security at future matches. To support Hamid's call president of the Guyana Amateur basketball Federation Godwin Mc Person also saw first hand the behaviour of the crowd.
    After unsuccessfully appealing for the supporters to desist from their unsavoury practices Mc Pherson remarked at the presentation ceremony afterwards... "To-night I'm very sad, I'm disturbed." McPherson said that while the players were doing something which was uplifting the crowd was doing the opposite.
    And a beaming George-town coach Bobby Cadogan said his team managed to turn certain defeat into an amazing victory simply because they were more composed in the tight situations. "We were more composed down the stretch and in the tight situations. The experience of Lugard Mohan in certain situations where he ran the play was also a contributory factor", Cadogan added.
    The wily Mohan with the scores tied 88 and a few seconds remaining on the clock dribbled the ball until he drew a foul from rival guard Neils. The resulting two free shots were the winning ones. "Going into the game Linden were ahead 2-1 in terms of wins", Cadogan observed pointing out that his team played better than in previous games and in the pressure situations showed poise.
    He said the series was good preparation for the upcoming matches against the Washington DC Jammers.

  • Georgetown lift Best of Best Trophy in 90-88 thriller
  • By Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, May 19, 2002
    GEORGETOWN captain Andrew Ifill receives winning trophy from GABF president Colonel Godwin McPherson. Ifill was also named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. GEORGETOWN took the Best of Best basketball trophy by edging Linden 90-88 in a breathtaking final of the Empire Trust Incorporated-sponsored tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday night.
    This game was a gem and it mattered not who won as it was anybody's game with less than a minute in the cliffhanging encounter - the crowd on their feet for the entire game. In the end Georgetown's Senior side won the $150 000 incentive put up by Empire Trust Incorporated along with the Demerara Distillers Limited Trophy and replicas. Georgetown's dominant forward Andrew Ifill was declared the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. It was a game no one could complain about and the officiating was up to standard as Guyana's only International Basketball Federation (FIBA) referee Howard Peters and Lloyd Ross did a fine job.
    The feature match began with Linden's best player in the tournament, Steve Neils (Jnr), showing that he was among the best guards locally, scoring to set the pace of the game and taking Linden in front 12-6 with 5:34 minutes left in the first quarter. But Andrew Ifill came into his own and Georgetown were able to grab the lead 13-12, and another Ifill jumper from 3-point territory pushed the city side ahead 15-12. Ifill then blocked his first shot from an opposing Linden player, triggering a quick break basket and Neils worked his way in to bring Linden within reach 15-15. Georgetown were able to wrestle the initiative by the end of this quarter, leading 24-21, after Neils had tied the game 21-all with less than a minute to go. Mark Amsterdam began the second quarter with a basket that brought the bauxite mining town side to trail by one point and Steve Neils (Jnr) took Lugard Mohan off the dribble to shoot Linden ahead 25-24 with 9:07 minutes left in this segment. When Seon Charles knocked one from downtown, Linden had taken a 33-27 points advantage.
    Then Ifill filled the lane for a dunk shot with 4:52 minutes to go as Georgetown were behind 35-39 and an alley-hoop pass by Mohan to Ifill brought the crowd down with the slammajama dunk and Ifill netted another to knot the game at 39-all. Mohan was beginning to regain some of the old sparkle and his shot gave Georgetown the lead, which they held onto at the end of the first half, 45-44.
    The statistics did not read well for Linden as Georgetown had dominated the offensive rebounding, taking 12 to Linden's two at that stage and raking in 15 defensive boards to Linden's nine. Yet Linden were in the game.
    Significant was the fact that the entire bench of this youthful Linden team had taken to the court and all the players were in excellent touch. On the other hand, Georgetown's better-known players, apart from Ifill, were not clicking to their optimum.
    Julius Gardener of Linden was proving a handful for his markers and Terrence James was a tower of strength in the middle, while Nolan Clarke made it difficult to handle in the off guard spot. As expected, Ifill was filling his role superbly with Mohan, Kerwin Blades and Clarence Bennett sharing the workload for the city side.
    Linden first got the lead 48-47 and, after an exchange, were able to slip away 55-50 with 4:30 minutes to go in the third period. Nolan Clarke nailed a shot from beyond the arc to make it 67-60 as Linden got the advantage 71-63, going into the last quarter.
    Nolan Johnson then nailed another 2-pointer for Linden and Lugard Mohan replied with one of his own but the mining town side held centre stage with 8:40 minutes left and ahead 74-68.
    Then the first stoppage came when Mohan was given a technical foul as he disputed a call by referee Howard Peters with 7:59 minutes remaining, as paper cups and plastic bottles were thrown onto the playing area.
    Georgetown then implemented a whole court press and a steal by Darcel Harris saw Georgetown still behind 70-75. But it was anybody's game at 77-77 with 4:30 minutes left. Neils then uncorked one from beyond the arc for a Linden lead 80-77, but Mohan converted one of two freebies for a 78-80 game. James scored twice and then another basket by him saw Linden in apparent control, leading 86-80 with 1:30 minutes to go.
    With about a minute still in the game, Linden committed some five turnovers under pressure. Ifill was there to tip in a missed attempt with Georgetown behind 80-84. With just 36.2 secs in the game, Linden turned the ball over again, and Ifill was there to net another two points to knot the game at 88-88 and 28.6 seconds on the game clock.
    The second real stoppage came through an uproar in the electric atmosphere of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. It came as victory was scented. Neils committed an unforced error when he misdirected a pass intended for Julius Gardner and it went out of bounds with a mere 24.1 secs to go. On the other end of the floor Neils then was blown for obstructing Mohan, arguably the best free throw shooter locally with Linden in the penalty.
    It was the straw that broke the camel's back. Mohan buried both shots from the stripe and with that sank all hopes Linden had of winning a game they looked set to take just a minute earlier.
    Georgetown persevered to win the war 90-88 and the series 2-1 after losing the first game of the best-of-three finals. Ifill was understandably named the tournament's MVP for his total scores of 248 points, 91 rebounds, 22 blocked shots, 16 steals and 21 assists.
    In the final game Ifill was the top scorer with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Mohan supported with 22 points and Bennett 14. For Linden, Steve Neils (Jnr) had 17 points, Terrence James and Nolan Clarke each with 15 and Julius Gardener 13.
    President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Colonel Godwin McPherson, presented the winners' trophy donated by Demerara Distillers Limited to captain Andrew Ifill while the replicas were presented to all the members of the Georgetown men's team by family members of Christopher Douglas, who is CEO of the Empire Trust Incorporated, a major sponsor of the Best of Best tournament.
    Rhythm Nation Host, Dimple Singh, presented the MVP trophy to Andrew Ifill while the East Coast team, who placed third in the men's tournament, received the Bish and Sons Store trophy.
    The Georgetown women's team who defeated Linden females 2-1 in their series took home their trophy and replicas, compliments of Empire Trust Incorporated.
    Georgetown men got $150 000 and Linden $75 000 for placing first and second in the male championship.
    In the other game, Georgetown veterans won against a semi-veterans team from Linden 70-56 after leading 33-27 at halftime.
    Dale Phillips top-scored for Georgetown with 20 points and Eon Andrews got 12. For Linden, Leslie Bastiani got 21 points, Abdulla Hamid 15 and Steve Neils (Snr) 11.

  • Basketball squads named to oppose DC Jammers
  • By Donald Duff - Stabroek News, May 16, 2002
    The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation has shortlisted 33 players for possible selection on the President's senior and junior squads which will oppose the DC Jammers basketball team of the United States of America next month.
    Among the players short listed are former Caricom All Star guard Lugard Mohan, the exciting Andrew Ifill, Nkossi Gurrick and rising stars Steve Neils Jnr and Bruce Davis.
    Among the junior players are the flamboyant Trenton Woolford, stylish point guard Kester Gomes and Sariah Clarke.
    Following the series of matches against the Washington-based DC Jammers team, a squad of players will then be short listed to prepare for the CARICOM championships to be held in the US Virgin-Islands.
    According to a press release from the GABF, four coaches have been named to help the squads prepare for the series of engagements namely Bobby Cadogan and Phillip George who will be in charge of the President's senior squad and Bernard Daniels and Ron Robertson who will coach the juniors.
    The two squads will engage each other on Independence night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in what is billed the `All Stars' game.
    On All Stars night there will also be a Mr. Free Throw and a Mr. Slam Dunk competitions. An added attraction will be a volleyball encounter between Castrol Strikers and Defenders of New Amsterdam.
    After the All Stars game the players will take a break before resuming preparations for the annual visit of the hugely popular DC Jammers.
    The players short listed are - Seniors:- Nolan Clarke, Alwyn Wilson, Terrence James, Nkossi Gurrick, Bruce Davis, Steve Neils Jnr. Julius Gardner, Lugard Mohan, Andrew Ifill, Darcelle Harris, Kelvin Simon, Clarence Bennett, Carlos Crandon, Flynn Hinds, Marlon Penniston, Dax Arokium and Junior Hercules.
    Juniors:- Dwayne Roberts, Louis Alexander, Louis Webster, Marvin Hartman, Darren Gordon, Sherwin Roberts, Sariah Clarke, Jermaine Warde, Jomo Agustine, Kester Gomes, Trenton Woolford, Rudy James, Victor Sarabo, Jermaine King, Kurt Elias and Rodwell Fortune.

  • Basketballers out of Caribbeanbean Championships
  • By Donald Duff - Stabroek News, June 29, 2002
    Guyana’s participation at this year’s Verne Callwood senior Caribbean basketball championships hung by a slim thread yesterday even as officials of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation met late last evening for a final decision on the team’s participation.
    The Guyana male and female teams named earlier, was scheduled to leave yesterday for the US Virgin Islands to participate in the 12-male and six female team tournament which runs until July 6 at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Centre and the Marin Centre at Antilles School in St Thomas.
    But according to president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Godwin McPherson, the GABF encountered difficulties in trying to get the teams from Antigua to the US Virgin Islands.
    McPherson explained that the only airline plying the route between Antigua and St Thomas was LIAT which was overbooked until Monday.
    If the Guyana teams were to travel on Monday, McPherson said then the male team would miss two matches and the female team three.
    McPherson said a decision was to be made last night at an emergency meeting to decide whether or not the teams should still attend the championships.
    Concessions
    The GABF head said his association requested assistance in the form of three concessions from the Ministry of Sports which were (a) the waiver of government duty on the tickets; (b) the waiver of departure tax and (c) help from the Ministry of Sports in getting visas from the US embassy here for the local players.
    McPherson said the Ministry of Sports wrote the Foreign Affairs Ministry and as a result six male members of the team were granted visas from the Consulate Division of the US Embassy in Kingston.
    Unfortunately, McPherson said, the process did not reach the next two stages but he said he felt confident that the other areas where assistance was requested would have been met.
    According to McPherson the estimated cost of getting the two teams to St. Thomas was US$20,000 but the GABF did not seek monetary assistance from the Ministry of Sport.
    He said apart from providing airfare, the GABF was mandated by the Caribbean Confederation regulations to contribute the sum of US$30.00 per player to help offset the cost of accommodation, meals and internal transportation throughout the duration of the championships. The Guyana teams consisted of a number of overseas-based players.

  • Local Basketballers miss golden opportunity
  • By Donald Duff - Stabroek News, June 29, 2002
    The best basketball players in the Caribbean, scouts from colleges in the United States and even Philadelphia 76ers NBA player Rajah Bell will be there but Guyana’s male and female basketball players will not get a chance to showcase their wares at the 2002 Caricom basketball championships in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
    The inability of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) to secure a flight to St Thomas from Antigua will prevent the local players from benefiting from the many opportunities that will abound at the championships.
    According to reports the Guyana players are disappointed at the turn of events.
    Four local players in the experienced Lugard Mohan, the exciting Andrew Ifill and up and coming stars Steve Neils Jr. and Bruce Davis were members of the team which comprised several overseas-based players.
    For Ifill especially a chance to impress the scouts has been lost and he will have to wait another two years since the tournament is now held bi-annually.
    The last of the three overseas-based players Stephen Nurse, Pierre Goddette and Dexter Martin departed yesterday morning at 5.30 a.m. for the US.
    The three were members of the DC Jammers basketball team that played in a series of matches against the locals prior to the selection of the men’s team for the tournament.
    The others had returned to the US and were awaiting the tickets that GABF officials planned to send to them in order for them to travel to St Thomas.
    The team was scheduled to leave this morning but up to yesterday afternoon only a few players were at the Cummings Street camp.
    And in another mix-up only male team members received visas.
    According to reports, the female players did not get a chance to visit the US Embassy here to get their visas.
    Guyana’s men’s team was grouped in Zone `A’ with St Kitts/Nevis, the Dominican Republic, defending champions Barbados, the Bahamas and Aruba. They were down to play the Bahamas tonight in their opening game.
    The other group comprised the hosts, Antigua/Barbuda, Jamaica, Cuba and the British Virgin Islands.
    The women’s competition was to be contested on a round robin basis with US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and defending champions Barbados set to do battle.
    The top three teams will qualify for the 2003 Central Basket tournament and other higher international competitions.

  • DC Jammers win three-match series
  • Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, June 25, 2002
    WASHINGTON DC Jammers swept away the three-game series against the local President's XII, winning Game Three 88-83 on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
    The game was typical of the series, which started with victory for the Jammers. The visitors were up by 11 points after the first quarter, leading 22-11 and at half time 45-34.
    At the end of the third quarter, the game was still in favour of the Jammers who led 68-54, but they were caught in the fourth and were behind before Steve Nurse netted a free throw to push them into the lead once more 78-77.
    The President's XII then made their move as Ifill went inside to score and Rudy James netted from the stripe for a two-point advantage 80-78 with 3:12 to go in the last quarter.
    For the locals Terrence James then hit one free throw to tie the scores at 83 with 1:30 to go. Then the President's XII lost their way as was seen during the match-ups. The eventual score did not reflect the real competitive nature of the teams in battle.
    At the same time it mirrored the lack of focus on the part of the home-based team and their breakdown in defence when in position to make their most vital move.
    They eventually lost 88-83 as the series were wrapped up for the Jammers.
    The top scorers for the Jammers were Derrick Boyd with 25 points, Dexter Martin 18, Sean Powell 13 and Steve Nurse 11. For the President's XII, Lugard Mohan and Andrew Ifill each got 19 points and Desmond Herod supported with 15.

  • DC Jammers take unbeatable lead
  • By Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, June 23, 2002
    FORWARDS Dexter Martin and Derrick Boyd quarterbacked the Washington D.C Jammers out of an ominous situation for a big turnaround and eventual victory from a fantastic third quarter performance, resulting in a 95-85 victory in Game Two of their three-game series against the President's XII, Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
    The Jammers took the initiative in the opening quarter before the local side produced a superb effort to take the lead at the end of the first half 40-36.
    With the match evenly poised, Lugard Mohan began engineering the offence of his President's XII, and with new arrival Desmond Herod from Seton Hall University in the NCAA championships beginning to settle in, the challenge of the home side looked potent indeed.
    Martin who had gotten his way in the first half, was not getting that many easy baskets as Marlon Penniston pressed him in the paint and Boyd had overworked himself in his roving game.
    The President's XII secured a ten-point advantage at 50-40 and established their biggest lead of the game 61-46 with less than five minutes to go.
    Herod was doing the tangible things that make someone a successful player at the highest level; he was getting the assists then working his way inside for the lay-up to get his game going. Mohan was his equal getting in big shots and back-to-back 3-pointers were enough to give hope that victory was insight for the locals.
    But as time passed, the President's XII were outscored 13-0 with some unforced errors and uncontested baskets that helped the visitors to sneak back into the game and take a winning position.
    Jammers first took the lead at 62-61 and when Herod knocked down one from beyond the arc it brought the President's XII within one 68-69.
    As the clock was winding down, frustration was evident as Boyd and Martin got back into the fray with some marvellous play and Pierre Goddette took opportunities to nail the final set of points to silence the partisan crowd rooting for a locals’ win.
    In the final minute, the real cracking up of the challenge by the President's XII team was seen and they lost by nine points.
    While Martin registered 28 points, Boyd was the man of business with 22 points, 16 rebounds and five steals as Goddette added 20.
    For the President's XII, Mohan finished with 29 points after scoring 15 in the first half as Herod quickly made an impact with 17 points, six assists and four steals. Andrew Ifill netted 15 points.
    Earlier in the evening, Boyd won the slam dunk competition and Bruce Davis out-shot his rivals to win the 3-point shoot-out, competitions sponsored by Empire Trust Enterprise Incorporated and organised by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, aimed at preparing the teams for the Caricom Basketball Championships.
    The GABF was expected to announce the names last night of the men and women's teams to compete in the U.S. Virgin Islands championships from June 28 to July 7, following the end of the series between the Jammers and the President's XII.

  • DC Jammers rebound to beat President’s X11 81-79: Locals in must-win situation tonight
  • By Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, June 21, 2002
    WASHINGTON DC Jammers rebounded from their loss to Georgetown and staved off a strong challenge by the President's XII to win Game One, 81-79, tilting the three-game series in their favour.
    Jammers first took a 8-1 lead but Andrew Ifill of the President's XII gave an ear1y five before the Washington side's Derrick Boyd turned on his magical display inside in reply.
    Just after, Ifill hit one from down town and the locals were down by two. Ifill then made a three-point play and drilled one on the buzzer as the first quarter scores swung in the President's favour 21-18.
    The second quarter was a ding-dong affair with both sides looking to execute on the open floor and it ended with the game all tied up at 39.
    Then a furious third quarter ensued, ending with Steve Neils (Jnr) burying back-to-back three-pointers and team-mate Darcel Harris adding another that pulled the locals out of trouble.
    But the response by the Jammers was adequate enough to ensure that the local selection did not take control and this session ended 57-all.
    In the fourth quarter, the lead changed hands on a regular basis but the efforts of forward Ifill was significant as he, time and again, shot the jumpers that always kept the President's hopes alive. However, with a final burst, the Jammers held on to an exciting two points win.
    Ifill finished on 25 points after netting 15 in the first half, with Neils hitting 13 for the President's XII. For the Jammers, Shawn Powell netted 17, Boyd 16, Reggie king 11 and Dexter Martin 10.
    Game Two is on tonight from 21:00 hrs and this will be preceded by the slam-dunk and three-point shooting contest involving the players from the President's XII and DC Jammers.
    Meanwhile, Seton Hall Division One College player, Desmond Herrod, arrived yesterday while centre Darren Ainsworth was expected in last night to beef up the two teams, while vying for final selection on Guyana's men's team for this year's Caricom Basketball championships in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Herrod, the 6ft-4in top-ranked guard will don uniform for the President's selection that will include former Caricom All Star player guard Lugard Mohan, centres Terrence James and Alwyn Wilson all who did not play in Game One.
    Jammers will throw in the 6ft-6in Ainsworth at centre to add size to the huge frontcourt with Boyd and Martin, as the visitors aim to take an unbeatable two-nil lead in the series.
    The local girls are also in training and overseas-based player, Shondelle Brown, is expected sometime today to be part of the selection process. Guyana's best performance in women's basketball has been their winning of the championship in 1996 in Trinidad and Tobago.
    In the slam-dunk championship, recently crowned top dunker Dwayne Garraway comes up against fellow local players Jermaine Warde and Rudy James, with challenges expected from the Jammers’ Boyd, Powell and Martin.
    The 3-point shoot-out will have the local line-up of Neils, Bruce Davis and Clarence Bennett who was the best shoot-out at the Hair Locker Barber Shop-sponsored Slam Dunk and 3-Point Shoot-out competitions, run recently at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
    Their rivals will be the Jammers’ trio of Willie Hodges, Steve Nurse and Reggie King - all players of repute in nailing down big shots in clutch situations.

  • GT out-hustle Jammers - locals win 83-72
  • Stabroek News, June 19, 2002
    National captain Lugard Mohan and forward Andrew `Mr. Dunk' Ifill played pivotal roles as Georgetown rapped DC Jammers on the knuckles with an eleven point defeat when the two met at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Monday night. Ifill and Mohan scored 20 and 18 points respectively as Georgetown played the unusual role of revenge seeker for Linden, who were toppled by Jammers in their opening game, to win 83-72. Both Georgetown and Jammers remained close until midway into the third quarter when Georgetown pulled away. Coach of the winners Bobby Cadogan praised his charges for a positive team effort. "We out-hustled Jammers. I told the guys to take the game to them and that is what we did from the opening. We played 40 minutes of intense basketball and played as a team," Cadogan said after the victory. Ifill finished with eight rebounds while Mohan had a similar amount of rebounds and four assists. At half time the locals trailed by one point (36-35) but found a rhythm in the third quarter where they scored unanswered baskets. Marlon Peniston, who bucketed 12 points was the other high scorer for Georgetown. Dereck Boyd, Seon Baird and Pierre Goddett with 16, 14 and 12 points respectively were the to scorers for DC Jammers. Cadogan claimed that although both Ifill and Mohan played a great game his vote for MVP would have to go to the latter. "Lugard did an excellent job on the court," the coach added. Jammers of the USA started their five-match tour of Guyana on a victorious note on Sunday when they brushed aside Linden 91-79 in the feature game of a double-header card. In the supporting game Linden Veterans edged out Georgetown Veterans 70-69 after leading 35-24 at half time. Temperamental guard Mark `Wisic' Pilgrim secured a game-high 26 points but it was not enoSugh to help his team to victory. Steve Neils Sr. and Abdul Hamid led the winners with 22 and 16 points apiece. This evening DC Jammers are expected to face much more formidable opposition when the come up against a President's XII expected to include players from around Guyana. Jump ball time is 7 pm.

  • D.C. Jammers open visit with match against Linden
  • By Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, June 16, 2002
    THE battle for the right to be on Guyana's male and female basketball teams to attend the CARICOM Basketball championships in the U.S. Virgin Islands begins tonight when Linden oppose the Washington D.C Jammers.
    The bauxite mining town lads will be in a position to create first impression against the visitors, who are fielding players who are also eligible for spots in Guyana’s team at this year's championships to be staged from June 28 to July 8.
    This game will be the second of a double-header card with the Linden and Georgetown women squaring off as they also try to impress, with hopes of being selected. The first game starts at 19:00 hrs and the second at 21:00 hrs.
    An exciting encounter should be evident since all the players would be looking to draw first blood in anticipation of selection for the biennial championships.
    Linden coach Abdulla Hamid is anticipating a good display by his boys who have been quite impressive in recent competitions against local rivals Georgetown and the other districts.
    Coach Hamid has called up 14 players from which his final twelve will be chosen with the big-name players like centre/forward Nkossi Gurrick, small forward Alwyn Wilson, guards Bruce Davis and Steve Neils Jnr.).
    Centre Terrence James's name rings a bell for his sterling performance for the mining town lads, with Mark Amsterdam in the forward slot with Neil Marks, who can shoot, making the billing one to look forward to.
    Apart from the shooting abilities of Neils and Davis, there is the outside range of Nolan Clarke and Nolan Johnson that could shock the visitors.
    The fact that D.C. Jammers were unbeaten the last time they were here two years ago means that some amount of pressure will be on the Lindeners to come up with a formula to win in this opening game.
    The Jammers, at the same time, have a tradition to uphold as they have always been impressive whenever they play in Guyana.
    One-time Caricom All-Star player Stephen Nurse returns to play the big guard position with Pierre Goddette, Willie Hodges and Wayne Bristol who have represented this country taking on back court duties.
    In the front court will be players who have represented this country in the past and they include Dereck Boyd along with the big guys like Dexter Martin and Darren Ainsworth.
    The women's match will bring together the likes of top players like Linden's Nichola Jacobs, Nyota Peters, Shauna Chester and Althea Byass against the girls from Georgetown, including Peggy Blair, Sharon Jerome, Philomena George and Jerri-Lee Johnson.
    The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, in collaboration with Empire Trust Enterprise, will use this series to raise funds to assist in sending the male and female teams to this prestigious championship, which will be held for the first time in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Who's who on Georgetown basketball team
  • Stabroek News, June 15, 2002
    Georgetown has selected a team of basketball players to compete against the Washington DC Jammers team which arrived here yesterday. The players will also be vying for a place on the Guyana national side to compete in the CARICOM Championships. Today we carry pen portraits of members.
    Darcel Kester Harris: DOB: 10/22/79. Height: 5’ 6”
    A former junior national Harris is the shortest member of the team. The point guard is a good penetrator and passer of the ball and an excellent three-point shooter. Many view him as good back up for Lugard Mohan. Harris plays for Ravens.

    Rudy James: DOB: 04/15/82. Height: 6’ 6”
    James is a rookie to international competition. He is a forward and plays for Park Rangers. James, who hails from Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara, had a good run in the national club championships and the Best of Best tournament. One of Guyana’s rising stars he is very versatile around the basket.

    Lugard Mohan: DOB: 10/29/72. Height: 5’ 9”
    A two-time CARICOM All Star player, Mohan is the most experienced player of the team. He made his international debut against Barbados in 1992 and has been a regular member of the national team since. A guard, Mohan plays for Ravens.

    Jermaine Warde: DOB: 09/12/82. Height: 6’ 4”
    Warde is another rookie to international competition and can play at three positions. This member of Courts Pacesetters is a very skillful ball handler and will turn a few heads during this tournament.

    Marlon Peniston: DOB: 06/23/79. Height: 6’ 4”
    This power forward plays for Herstelling Magics. He is a very good rebounder and is one of several rookies on the team.

    Clarence Bennett: DOB: 12/30/73. Height: Bennett has secured one senior cap and is a former national junior player. A shooting guard, Bennett is a three-point specialist and plays for Bounty Colts.

    Daryn Gordon: DOB: 08/20/82. Height: 6’
    Another player who has graduated from the junior national level.
    Like Kester Harris this point guard is seen as an excellent back up for Lugar Mohan. He is exciting to watch and easily penetrates. He plays for Delta Knights.

    Damian Liverpool: DOB: 06/24/78. Height: 6’ 4”
    Liverpool is referred to as the local Dennis Rodman and plays the forward and centre positions.
    He is a good rebounder at both ends of the court. A former national junior Liverpool plays for the Ravens Club.


  • Players vying for National selection
  • Isaiah Chappelle - Guyana Chronicle, June 14, 2002
    OVERSEAS players could make up the greater part of the National basketball team that will represent Guyana at the CARICOM Championships billed for the US Virgin Islands, shortly.
    That position underlines the importance of the biennial visit of the Washington DC Jammers, comprising Guyanese who migrated to the USA or whose parents have Guyanese roots.
    During a media conference at the Empire Trust New Market Street office, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, Col Godwin McPherson, disclosed that the selectors ideally try to reach a balance of 50-50.
    “But, we’re not going to be bound by ratios. If we just don’t have the talent at home, we just don’t have the talent at home. And the talent at home will have to see the better talent coming in from outside and see to what level they will have to rise. And this is why we’re always excited when DC Jammers come,” McPherson declared.
    The GABF and Empire Trust are staging a five-game fixture for Jammers, starting on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
    In the first encounter, Jammers will clash with a Linden line-up, then on Monday, they meet a Georgetown side.
    Then Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, the visitors will take on a local President’s XII selected on the performance of local players in the first two games.
    After the three-game series with the overseas players coming up against the local players, the National team will be selected.
    DC Jammers will field some seasoned players like Dennis Boyd, Willie Hodges, Wayne Bristol, Pierre Godette, Stephen Nurse and Jason Bassarie.
    A panel will be looking at the performances during the series. The panelists have not been finalised, but they will comprise coaches of the local team and those of DC Jammers, and other knowledgeable persons.
    “At the end of the day, we cannot say that John Jones was picked and John Jones was no good because a panel of persons will sit and watch and say in their respective positions, these are the better people,” McPherson said.
    Asked about the possible appearance of college players, Mc Pherson disclosed that arrangements were in train to have Lorenzo Withrite and Lancelot Loncke travel home or might join the team in the USVI, while the GABF was also talking with Orin Mohan and Remmington Ram.
    McPherson also said that Sean Semple and Edgar Thomas have been disappointments for local basketball, although they went to college through scholarships arranged by the GABF.
    “Semple represented Guyana once and after that it has always been a difficulty to get him to represent Guyana,” Mc Pherson disclosed. He added: “Semple had the special ability and he was one we had expected much of and much from.”
    However, Thomas was an issue of selection because there were his equals here in his position, or even better. He was playing centre, which already had Withrite and Loncke.
    DC Jammers arrive tonight at 23:00 hours and will be staying at the Woodbine Hotel.
    The local players will be going into camp from Monday, compliments of the sponsors Empire Trust. The company has also provided a physiotherapist.

  • Sports is not sport
  • By Steve Ninvalle - Stabroek News, July 2, 2002
    Hamilton Green, during his tenure as Prime Minister of this country had once declared that "Sports is not sport." In his own way Green was simply stating that sports is serious business and should not be taken lightly.
    Last week something occurred which showed that to date some local sporting organisations have not taken heed to Green’s words. On Saturday our men’s basketball team was supposed to commence participation at the CARICOM Championship in the US Virgin Islands.
    Two days before departure it was leaked out that the team may not be making the trip. The president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation Godwin McPherson explained that his organisation encountered difficulties in trying to get the teams from Antigua to the US Virgin Islands.
    McPherson stated that the only airline plying the route between Antigua and St Thomas was LIAT which was overbooked until yesterday.
    So the whole episode could be written of and it would go down that difficulty in securing flights out of Antigua was to blame for Guyana not being at the championships. No it shouldn’t.
    Not when something just short of a national disgrace has happened.
    Isn’t it queer that only when players are supposed to travel that all these problems occur.
    It never happens that flight arrangements get mixed up when these administrators are to travel to meetings and congresses. They have their schedule long in advance and make arrangements.
    Then we must be a nation of numbskulls to accept the flimsy excuse handed down by the GABF. How could the GABF be so insensitive?
    The public should be told when exactly flight arrangements were made for the players. Wasn’t there a back up plan? Guyana’s non-participation at this year’s CARICOM Basketball Championship is a slap in the face of the entire country.
    McPherson and company should bend their head in shame after bungling something as simple as traveling arrangements. The Championships would have been a golden opportunity for our lads. The chance to impress scouts and possibly secure scholarships. There is no excuse for us not being there and those responsible should be taken to task. Because of an apparent ad hoc approach a grave injustice has been done to Guyana. Shame on those responsible.
    After all sports is not sport.

  • Did GABF explore all opportunities to get teams to Virgin Islands?
  • Asks Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, July 1, 2002
    GUYANA’S hardworking and eager basketballers got the shock of their lives when they were unable to attend this year's history-making Senior Caribbean Basketball Championships which are being staged in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Flight problems and late procurement of U.S. visas for some players affected their arrival in time for their opening matches of the tournament.
    The men were down to play The Bahamas in the opening game on Saturday while the women were to oppose the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday, prior to the official opening that took place the same night.
    Three of four home-based male players, along with coach Bobby Cadogan and manager Perry Woolford, were unable to explain the real reasons for nine players from overseas and themselves not being able to reach St. Thomas to contest this year's tournament.
    Men's players Bruce Davis, Andrew Ifill and Lugard Mohan, along with coach Bobby Cadogan and manager Perry Woolford, were given non-immigrant visas by the Embassy officials on Friday afternoon while Steve Neils (Jnr) encountered problems with his, due to a torn page in his passport which had to be reissued; and the female players Nyota Peters, Nichola Jacobs, Jerri-Lee Johnson, Philomena George and coaches Bernard Daniels and Abdulla Hamid were all still without visas up to Saturday and are unlikely to get them before tomorrow.
    President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation, Colonel Godwin McPherson, however explained that the only airline which plied the route from Antigua to the U.S. Virgin Islands, LIAT, would only have been able to get the male players, who were here and ready to travel early Friday morning.
    This would have meant the Guyana men's team missing their opening match against the Bahamas Saturday and the women forfeiting their games against the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    But the question is whether some kind of arrangement could have been made for a postponement for Guyana for their late arrival today with the rescheduling of their matches.
    It seems that the onus of putting these things in place were placed squarely at the feet of McPherson who was working overtime to ensure Guyana's participation.
    Manager Woolford, who is a certified travel agent, is of the opinion that had Guyana's men team arrived in Antigua on Friday, he was could have gotten them on a flight out of the island to the U.S. Virgin Islands and that he was willing to take the chance of reaching Antigua and dealing with that situation then.
    While one ponders on the feelings of these players and coaches here, the impact is greater overseas, where this newspaper understands that the nine female players were willing to get to the prestigious championships by all means necessary.

  • US Embassy cancels Basketballers visas
  • By Donald Duff - Stabroek News, July 11, 2002
    The United States Embassy here in Guyana has “cancelled without prejudice” non-immigrant visas issued to local basketballers and officials that were part of the Guyana team to the just-concluded 16th CARICOM basketball championships in the US Virgin Islands.
    Manager of the Guyana team Perry Woolford told Stabroek Sport that based on the interview requirements he was told to return to the US Embassy in Kingston on return from the championships.
    However due to flight problems the Guyana team never left and Woolford duly returned the passports of the players and officials to the Embassy who duly cancelled the visas.
    Meanwhile Woolford said yesterday given conflicting instructions given by president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Godwin Mc Pherson prior to the team’s departure could be blamed as the reasons for the team’s failure to travel.
    He said in his capacity as manager of the team he was first informed that the team would travel with Caribbean Star Airlines Tortola. From Tortola they would then take a boat costing US$40,00 to St Thomas.
    However, Woolford said he was later told by McPherson that Pan American World Travel was arranging for the tickets and that they would depart Guyana on June 28th for Antigua on BWIA 462 check-in time being 5.30a.m.
    Woolford said he was told that the players and officials were to uplift their tickets at the airport.
    They would arrive in Barbados at around 6.45a.m, join LIAT 362 at 8.15am for Antigua and arrive at Antigua around 9.35a.m.
    They would then depart Antigua at 11.25a.m and arrive in St Thomas at 1.10p.m.
    He said he was told that tickets would be at the airport for the following players and officials himself-manager, Bobby Cadogan -coach, Lugard Mohan, Andrew Ifill, Bruce Davis and Howard Peters a FIBA qualified referee who was scheduled to officiate at the championships.
    Three overseas-based players Stephen Nurse, Pierre Goddette and Dexter Martin were to join the team on the same flight using their return tickets they travelled from the USA with and on arrival in Barbados they were to upgrade the tickets with the payment of US$100 each.
    After making the necessary arrangements Woolford said he received a call from McPherson at around 10 minutes to one informing him not to proceed as there might be some flight problems and to wait on further instructions.
    Woolford said he subsequently learnt that some of the overseas-based players also turned up at John F. Kennedy airport in the US only to find out there were no tickets for them.
    Woolford said he has opened discussions with the Antigua Basketball Association seeking the possible participation of a team at the annual Leeward Islands Basketball tournament. Once the Leeward Islands is willing to accommodate the locals Woolford said he would be seeking permission from the GABF.

  • Guyana’s basketball woes continue: Top referee in danger of missing clinic
  • By Joe Chapman - Guyana Chronicle, October 26, 2002
    GUYANA may once again find itself in the cold by not attending another important basketball activity within the Caribbean region. This time it is likely that Guyana's only internationally recognised basketball referee, Howard Peters, may miss the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) referees' certification clinic, organised by the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC), early next month.
    The first of two clinics will be in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from November 8-10 and the other in Nassau, Bahamas, from November 14-16.
    According to a source, the CBC vice-president Technical Operations, Barbadian Glyne Clarke, has issued information that at the clinic in San Juan, Puerto Rico, there will be simultaneous translation for the English-speaking countries and it may be cheaper for countries like Guyana to travel there. This clinic will be conducted by Alberto Garcia and Fred Hogan.
    The other in Nassau, Bahamas, will be conducted by Hogan and Clarke and it will be targeting countries like the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Aruba and those countries in the north Caribbean area.
    The participants will be required to do a physical test and shuttle run and the written theory test on the rules of basketball.
    Peters, who qualified as a FIBA referee in 1997, was re-certified in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago at a similar clinic. In 2002, while attending the Barbados-held CARICOM basketball championships, Peters did the test while not being obligated to doing it, since the status last for two years. But since then the expiry date has gone and he needs to be re-certified at this year's certification clinic in either Puerto Rico or the Bahamas.
    In July this year Peters carried the whistle in the final of the Leeward Islands Basketball (LIBA) championships that was held in Antigua.
    At the same time, the GABF should be seeking to have more qualified referees from these shores as only such referees are being allowed to officiate at international tournaments. In fact the rule is each national team should be accompanied by a FIBA referee to any championships run by the regional body.
    Only John Yates and Cecil Chin along with Peters are Guyanese who have been accorded recognition by the world governing body for basketball.
    The apparent inactiveness of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), headed by Colonel Godwin McPherson can have telling effects on the game and its players if it continues in this vein.
    It is through the GABF that such information is normally channeled but since the seeming fallout within the federation members no meeting has been held to update members on the latest in basketball locally or in the region.
    This follows after the once sleeping Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) finally got its act together and held elections recently when a fresh body took office.
    Led by new president Christopher Douglas, it immediately made its presence felt by getting the clubs affiliated and planning tournaments for the Georgetown teams along with a national secondary schools competition.
    Georgetown is arguably the most powerful body, rivalled only by Linden, among the three associations recognised by the GABF, with the Berbice. Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) being somewhat inactive.
    Areas such as East Bank and East Coast Demerara have become involved in the game and are considered associate members. One would hope that the GABF ceases to be dormant and regroup for the betterment of the sport quickly.
    This is in light of the recent non-participation by Guyana at the last Caribbean Basketball Confederation championships in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It happened at the last moment since Guyana's teams were prepared to travel until they ran into several problems, which prevented the male and female teams from reaching the U.S. Virgin Islands. Up to this time the real reasons are unclear.
    Guyana also missed out on two important meetings - the regular meeting of the CARICOM Basketball Confederation, formerly the CARICOM Basketball Confederation (CBC), which is headed by Barbadian Gay Griffith and the CBC meeting in Puerto Rico, to discuss the constitution of the body.
    Griffith feels that it was important that Guyana continue to be part of the Caribbean basketball fraternity, having organised the first-ever Caribbean basketball championships back in 1976 and the first-ever CARICOM basketball championships, held here at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in 1981.