DEANDRE Ayton in action.

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEANDRE Ayton’s free agency speculation continues to make the media rounds and his agent offered public comments for the first time this offseason on the developing situation between the former top pick and the Phoenix Suns.

#During the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Ayton’s agent Bill Duffy discussed Ayton’s future on SiriusXM’s NBA show.

#“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,” Duffy said. “He went out and was a soldier the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it. Things will work out for Deandre. He’s a valuable player. There’s other teams in the league as well.

#“He’s a restricted free agent, so we’ll see how this process unfolds.”

#As a restricted free agent, Ayton is free to sign an offer sheet with another franchise but the Suns would still have the ability to match the deal and retain his rights if they choose to do so.

#In his fourth season, the 23-year-old centre averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#During exit interviews, both Suns general manager James Jones and head coach Monty Williams addressed Ayton’s impending restricted free agency.

#“Deandre had an amazing season and he’s progressed every year and improved every year. He’s been here and so he’s a big part of what we do. His future with us is something we will address at the proper time which is in the future,” Jones said in an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 show Burns and Gambo.

#“He’s a free agent and I’ve said all along, he’s about the same things we’re about which is winning. We’ll address it at the proper time.”

#Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension.

#He was eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension that could have reached as much as $207 million if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#“Deandre had a great season, a really productive season. I think across the board, when you look at what he did, he improved. That’s a testament to him and the hard work. That’s what you expect from a player of his calibre,” Jones said in his exit interview. “As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time. That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Dallas Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals.

#Several teams with available cap space have been linked as sign-and-trade destinations for Ayton, including the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

#Several players in Ayton’s 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions, including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks, and Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

DEANDRE Ayton in action.

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEANDRE Ayton’s free agency speculation continues to make the media rounds and his agent offered public comments for the first time this offseason on the developing situation between the former top pick and the Phoenix Suns.

#During the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Ayton’s agent Bill Duffy discussed Ayton’s future on SiriusXM’s NBA show.

#“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,” Duffy said. “He went out and was a soldier the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it. Things will work out for Deandre. He’s a valuable player. There’s other teams in the league as well.

#“He’s a restricted free agent, so we’ll see how this process unfolds.”

#As a restricted free agent, Ayton is free to sign an offer sheet with another franchise but the Suns would still have the ability to match the deal and retain his rights if they choose to do so.

#In his fourth season, the 23-year-old centre averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#During exit interviews, both Suns general manager James Jones and head coach Monty Williams addressed Ayton’s impending restricted free agency.

#“Deandre had an amazing season and he’s progressed every year and improved every year. He’s been here and so he’s a big part of what we do. His future with us is something we will address at the proper time which is in the future,” Jones said in an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 show Burns and Gambo.

#“He’s a free agent and I’ve said all along, he’s about the same things we’re about which is winning. We’ll address it at the proper time.”

#Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension.

#He was eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension that could have reached as much as $207 million if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#“Deandre had a great season, a really productive season. I think across the board, when you look at what he did, he improved. That’s a testament to him and the hard work. That’s what you expect from a player of his calibre,” Jones said in his exit interview. “As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time. That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Dallas Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals.

#Several teams with available cap space have been linked as sign-and-trade destinations for Ayton, including the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

#Several players in Ayton’s 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions, including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks, and Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

FRANKLYN Petion

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Franklyn Petion has overcome several setbacks over the course of his collegiate basketball career and is now seeking assistance to complete his academic and athletic goals.

#Petion’s sophomore season for the Williams Baptist Eagles was cut short due to an ACL tear, but after reconstructive surgery and an ongoing rehab process, the Grand Bahama native is optimistic about a strong conclusion with the programme.

#To that end, Petion created a Spotfund account to solicit crowd sourced funding in an effort to complete outstanding tuition payments of $7,000 and become eligible for a full scholarship.

#“Right now I’m on a partial scholarship because I signed so late, there’s a chance I can get on a full scholarship now, they have the space, but the money I owe I have to pay before they sign another player,” he said. “But we have discussed it and they do want me back, that’s why I need help to get this done.”

#The 6’3” guard suffered the injury just seven games into his first season with the Eagles. He scored 20 points on a perfect shooting night from the field in his debut.

#“It was a good fit, the team chemistry was really good, the best chemistry I had since moving to the states. After the first game I knew I was going to go off and it was going to be a crazy year,” he said.

#Six games later, a matchup against fellow Bahamian Edriel Martinborough and Evangel University, Petion suffered the injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

#“I was excited matched up against a former rival in high school. He beat me every time in high school so I just wanted to beat him in college. I was going off, I was probably going for 30 that game, when I got hurt I had 13 and it was still in the first half,” he said.

#“The play where it happened I went up for a layup, I felt it but I didn’t pay any mind to it.

#“The doctor said I should have stopped then because it was my meniscus first, but on the next play when I went down, I tried to slide on defence, my knee hyperextended and the doctor said that’s when the meniscus opened up and tore across my ACL.”

#It meant that for the second consecutive year, injuries would sideline the versatile guard.

#“I went blank. I was thinking the school wasn’t going to want me anymore. I was thinking when a school hears an injury they just turn to the next player and are done with you,” he said. “After the surgery I was in physical therapy the next day but it was tough mentally. Even though I’m a few days away from being cleared now, it’s tough mentally.”

#His college career began with Missouri State West- Plains at the junior college level where he had a promising freshman season before an accident sidelined him in his sophomore campaign. After admitted miscues in the recruitment process, he joined former high school teammate Shackeel Butters at William Baptist late in the process.

#“I had a great freshman year, sophomore year was okay but I had to deal with injuries, I had surgery on my face after suffering a broken nose,” he said,.

#“I had a couple of DII offers, I should have taken one of them, but I missed those opportunities. I felt like I was better than a DII which I shouldn’t have been thinking. I just was thinking I wanted to go DI but I should have been thinking that what really matters is my education. I went to William Baptist with a former teammate Shackeel Butters. The plan was to go there, play my COVID year and transfer, but now there’s a lot going on here.”

#Petion began his basketball life in earnest with the St George’s Jaguars under coach Darell Sears.

#He credits Sears and his staff for their continued guidance both on an off the court.

#“There was a moment in my life where I was about to make one of the worst decisions of my life. Coach Sears and coach McIntosh sat me down and laid out my options.

#“They said I could take one path, help my mom and my family or take another path to end up dying or going to jail,” he said.

#“The way they cared made me want to change my ways because there’s not much people that do that. For me as a kid growing up people don’t normally do that but to see how much they sacrificed for me, making sure I got to and from school, anything I needed they were there. It always meant a lot to me and made me want to be better.”

#Following a successful high school career that concluded with a national championship, Petion saw many of his teammates leave for college on scholarships but those opportunities were not immediately present for him.

#“Coach Sears always told me everyone’s path was different but just stick to it. My thing was I stayed working with St George’s and helped out and they allowed me to use the gym whenever I needed.

#“I would work out in the morning, noon and night.

#“Ms Higgs, who was also a huge help to me was coaching the girls at the time so I starting helping her out and we were able to come away with two titles in those two years,” he said.

#“My mindset was just to keep going and not to give up. Watching everyone go off to school was tough, it hurt but it was just adding more fuel to the tank. I know God wasn’t just going to let it happen like that.”

#The disappointment led Petion to discover his passion for coaching on the sidelines.

#“I’ve always wanted to coach. Coaching in the US would be great to help kids with their recruitment wanting to come here. I want to tell them about my path, what to do, what not to do, what to expect and how to navigate the whole process.”

#Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine with a minor in psychology, Petion is hoping he has an opportunity to complete his academic and athletic career.

#“I’m a kid from Freeport, Grand Bahama, raised from nothing. I was in a bad place but I’ve spent years bettering myself, changing and becoming a better person. Getting my degree will be successful,” he said.

#“I feel like I can be a good representative of where I come from and how hard you need to work to get to where you want to be.

#“I hope to be able to give back to people from my situation as well.”

#The link to donate to Petion’s cause can be found at:

#http://spot.fund/Vy7XgX

TRAVIS Munnings

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#TRAVIS Munnings and his Portuguese club advanced to the league final while Zane Knowles and his Bulgarian club received a favourable ruling in arbitration to keep their playoff hopes alive.

#Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have advanced to the finals in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB) after they defeated his former club UD Oliveirense in a three-game sweep. They will face the winner of the other semifinal matchup between FC Porto and Sporting CP .

#Munnings did not play in game three but opened the series with five points, five assists and three rebounds off the bench in an 89-72 game one win. In game two he pulled down seven rebounds and dished three assists in a 93-80 game two win.

#Benfica completed a two-game sweep of Povoa in the quarterfinal. In game one, Munnings had five points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 77-59 win. In game two, he had a perfect shooting night from the field (5-5) and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in an 84-67 win.

#In 28 games this season, Munnings averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc.

Zane Knowles

#Zane Knowles and Levski Sofia staved off elimination on the court in Bulgaria’s NBL semifinal against Balkan Botevgrad, but after an administrative ruling, the club was forced to battle off the court in order for the series to continue.

#With Balkan leading the series 2-1 NBL officials ruled that Levski was ineligible to continue competition and the remainder of the games in the series would be forfeited due to issues surrounding the clearance of Levski player Yordan Minchev.

#On Wednesday, the Arbitration Commission of BSE Basketball overturned the decision and reinstated Levski into the playoffs.

#The series is set to continue and game four will take place on May 29.

#In game one, Knowles came off the bench to finish with eight points and four rebounds in an 80-74 loss. Moved into the starting lineup for game two, he finished with 17 points and five rebounds in a 76-72 loss. In game three he nearly posted a double double with nine points and 11 rebounds in a 66-56 win.

#Last season while preparing for the season in Hungary with Zalakerámia ZTE KK, Knowles sought treatment for what he described as a minor hamstring injury when doctors discovered a rare Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) that required surgery.

#In eight games since he returned to play, he has returned to form with averages of 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Sports

Bahamian set to play NCAA Division I basketball for the first time

Simba FrenchSend an emailMay 27, 2022 60 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II basketball season ended, Bahamian collegiate basketball player Lathaniel ‘Tanny’ Bastian took a gamble, entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal. That gamble paid off as the NCAA Division II player came out of the portal by committing to play for the Cal State at Fullerton Titans in NCAA Division I basketball.

The move to division one basketball shows that hard work pays off. Bastian went from Doris Johnson Senior High School to play in the junior college ranks for Trinity Valley Community College before heading to play for the Angelo State University Rams in NCAA DII last season.

A hyped Bastian posted on Instagram about the upward movement of his basketball career.

“I am excited to continue my basketball career at the division one level. With that being said, I am proud to announce my commitment to Cal State Fullerton for the rest of my college career. Go Titans,” Bastian posted.

Bastian had several options to choose from such as Glenville State, Benedict College and the University of Charleston.

He joins a Titans basketball program headed by Dedrique Taylor who has been at the helm for nine seasons. They finished with a 21-11 win/loss record overall and 11-4 in the Big West Conference. They are the reigning champions in the conference after narrowly defeating Long Beach State, 72-71, in the championship game. After receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, they played and lost 78-61 against Duke University in the first round.

The 6’8” 220-pound forward finished his only season for the Rams averaging 11.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game. His rebounds and blocks were the highest on his team. Bastian shot a blistering 61 percent from the field. Those numbers earned him Lone Star Conference (LSC) All-Conference Honorable Mention.

The Rams finished with a 20-10 win/loss overall record, 9-6 in the LSC.

Bastian’s highest single-game point total of the season of 23 points was in a 79-74 loss for his team to Western New Mexico. He shot 8-for-12 from the field in 26 minutes of play. Bastian missed a double-double in that game by just one rebound. He also finished with three blocks in that game and shot 7-for-12 from the charity stripe.

Bastian grabbed a season-high 16 boards against West Texas A&M on March 3. His season high of four blocks was in November against Northwest Nazarene.

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMay 27, 2022 113 11 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes has one of its largest class of student-athletes graduating during this year’s commencement.

A total of 11 UB Mingoes receive their degrees in this class from five different sporting disciplines: Bulinsky Cousin (men’s soccer); Alivia Culmer (women’s volleyball); Donovan Dean (men’s basketball); Shanntanna Etienne (women’s volleyball); Daniel Hall (men’s basketball); Kaneisha Johnson (women’s softball); Romica Josey (women’s track and field/cross country); Christoph McKenzie (men’s basketball); Aaron Munnings (men’s soccer); Davia Wright (women’s track and field/cross country); and Jervane Turnquest (men’s soccer).

Athletics Director (AD) Kimberley Rolle said she is excited to have such a large class graduate.

“This is an impressive class of student-athletes who have made a huge impact on the program on many different levels,” she said. “They all had their fair share of challenges during their tenure; however, I am so pleased they persevered and have arrived at this point in their lives. I share in their excitement of getting to this point and can’t wait to see what’s ahead for them.”

Rolle noted that while UB Athletics Department does push their student-athletes in the athletic arena, it is important the program aid in the development of the whole person.

“I have seen the maturation of all of these student-athletes over the course of time,” AD Rolle said. “While we push them hard in their respective sport, we also challenge them about the game of life and to how make a difference in our country. I am confident they are far better today than they were four or five years ago, and that is extremely gratifying.”

Bulinsky Cousin

Bulinsky Cousin didn’t have the easiest route to becoming a Mingoes athlete. He didn’t quite have the qualifications to get into UB.

“He was broken about that,” Men’s Soccer Head Coach Dion Godet said.

That didn’t stop the striker. He attended another institution to get his grades up and then transferred to UB.

Cousin made an immediate impact on the pitch and carried that persistence into that classroom. That tenacity was rewarded as the civil engineering technology major graduates with a 3.20 Grade Point Average (GPA).

“As a member of the Mingoes I was always pushed to be a hard worker on and off the field with the support from my teammates, coaches, professors and the many friends I met on my college journey here at UB,” Cousin said. “I also learned to always strive to be the best and keep pushing as a student-athlete even through tough times.”

Godet calls Cousin the “picture of persistence” on the pitch. “He is not a natural talent but he has a willingness to try and believes in best,” he said. “I am pleased to see his development and wish him all the success.”

Alivia Culmer

Alivia Culmer captained the women’s volleyball team to one of the best seasons in the program’s history – coming within a few wins of making it to the playoffs in the New Providence Volleyball Association’s (NPVA) 2019-2020 season.

The computer information systems major said her best memories of wearing the Mingoes uniform is the relationships on and off the court with her teammates – despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.

“The relationships I’ve built through volleyball; those ladies have become my sisters, they are relationships that will continue on outside of UB and outside of volleyball,” she said. “My experience at UB, though it was cut short due to the pandemic, is one I will always remember. I have built many long-term relationships with athletes and non-athletes.”

She added that she’s learned a lot as a Mingoes athlete. “I have learned a lot of self-control and more importantly, being on the team has also taught me patience.”

Culmer said she is not certain if she will keep playing “but who knows what the future holds for me” – however, she knows she wants to give back to the sport. “Volleyball will always be my love and first passion and if my assistance is ever needed, Coach Raymond Wilson and Coach Sydline Justillien know how and where to find me.”

Shanntanna Etienne

Shanntanna Etienne leaves a huge mark at UB not only as a volleyball player but as a founding vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

The SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and is intended to provide input on rules, regulations and policies impacting student-athletes and their collegiate experience. The SAAC was formed three months before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down sports worldwide.

The bio-chem major said she’s grateful to her coaches for bringing out her talent.

“My best memory was being able to watch my coaches bring me from not knowing about the sport to a point of actually being good in the sport,” she said. “My progress while being at UB is something I will always treasure.”

She added that she learned a lot about herself in the volleyball program.

“I’ve learned patience, teamwork, and school spirit while being a Mingoe,” she said. “It’s not always about winning but it’s about encouraging and lifting up your team members and fellow Mingoes when they might not be able to do it for themselves.”

She may take off the blue Mingoes uniform but blue will never leave her. “Being a Mingoe and representing my school was my best college experience by far and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I will always bleed blue!”

Daniel Hall

Daniel Hall joined the men’s basketball team right after the team transitioned from the Caribs to the Mingoes.

“I will never forget that experience,” he said. “There were a lot of new things happening and expansion of things already in place such as media day and homecoming. I think being a part of formative years of Mingoes athletics will always stick with me.”

He added that his second-best experience was his first basket on an international tour for UB, “but ultimately it’s trumped by that experience of helping to form The Mingoes Culture,” he said.

As a Mingoes athlete he said he learned the importance of hard work.

“Our coach would often say ‘we’re a team full of guards’ and so coming in as a guard on a team full of guards to play guard one would see the challenge in that,” he said. “This definitely further developed my persistent spirit and it is now a trait that I believe will assist me in my future endeavors.”

The marketing major hopes one day to either manage international basketball teams or represent players.

“I’d like to start with player scouting for a few years,” he said. “I believe in order to be able to represent athletes I must first know exactly what teams would look for in them. So, scouting will be a good experience and a learning opportunity for me.”

Kaneisha Johnson

Kaneisha Johnson ends her time as a Mingoes athlete but leaves with the memory of being a part of the first UB women’s softball team.

However, she said it’s the memories of camaraderie that will remain with her as she graduates.

“My best memory as an athlete had to be my very first Mingoes Awards,” she said. “It was so much fun showing out with my team and watching how well everyone got along pre-COVID.”

After graduation, the computer information systems major said she hopes to become a cybersecurity expert. “I aspire to further my knowledge of information technology first.”

During her time at UB, the softball infielder said she truly understood the maxim of trusting the process.

“It really is true when people say that comparison is the thief of joy,” she said. “Focusing on my journey and realizing that there can be no flowers without rain was a big part of me being able to push forward and graduate.”

Looking back on her time at UB, she imparted some advice to those coming into the institution.

“To all the freshman I would say to soak it all in, experience everything you can, join clubs and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” she said. “You can’t expect to be boring at a school that has a blue flamingo as a mascot.”

Romica Josey

Athletics Head Coach Ednal Rolle calls Romica Josey one of – if not the – most supportive athletes he’s coached in his entire career – not just at UB.

“She is special and it is very rare to find an athlete like her,” he said. “I’ve seen her grow throughout the years in Exuma and at C.V. Bethel. She was always a positive person on the track and in the classroom. She was one who I knew was always going to hit the books as hard as she hit the track.”

Rolle added that Josey worked hard on the track in practice and tried to put it together on the track but “sometimes she just could not get over her mental block but it was never because she wasn’t putting in the effort.”

Josey also helped charter the SAAC at UB as the committee’s founding secretary and was instrumental in making it a success. “She was a huge driving force behind the formation of the committee,” Founding Advisor Christopher Saunders said. “She believed in making sure athletes had a voice.”

She was also a big fan for her fellow Mingoes at meets. Her best memory was when the team travelled to the University of South Florida this year and that team was able to socialize with her teammates. “I had my best time ever at that meet but I also enjoyed the time we spent at the restaurant. We shared jokes and spoke about some of our life experiences. It was a great time off the track.”

After graduation, the law and criminal justice major said she hopes to earn a master’s degree in international relations and one day work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She added that being a Mingoes athlete has taught her many things about life and how to face challenges.

“What I have learned while being a Mingoe is that life is filled with ups and downs, and disappointments at times,” she said. “What we do during those times determines determine what the days that follow will be like. I have learned to learn from every experience in life and to not allow it to bring me down but to create a better version of myself.”

Christoph McKenzie

Christoph McKenzie ends his four years at UB as captain of the men’s basketball team.

The computer information systems major said he’s had some exciting times in the Mingoes uniform but his favorite was at 2018 homecoming game against the University of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With about two minutes to go in the third quarter and the Mingoes down two points, McKenzie had a put-back dunk to tie the game. “I still remember that dunk,” he said.

Over his four years in the program, McKenzie said he’s met “some amazing people and made new life-long relationships” that are important to him.

“Those relationships helped me along my journey and I appreciate everyone dearly,” he said. “Also, I would like to say without God and my family I wouldn’t have been able to achieve such an accomplishment. I’d say thanks to Coach Bacchus Rolle, Coach Lavar Johnson, Coach Taige Adderley, AD Rolle and the whole athletics department for giving me the opportunity to play for the team and also granting me an education. I am forever grateful.”

McKenzie said he has big plans after graduation. He is going to explore a professional basketball career. “After my professional career I will become an IT (Information Technology) support specialist.”

Aaron Munnings

Aaron Munnings played for the UB men’s soccer side as goalkeeper but Head Coach Dion Godet called him “my cross.”

Godet said Munnings was an intelligent and brave young man. “Aaron was always the one with solid introspect on how the game was won or loss,” Godet said. “I found him to be a gentleman of even keel and was always respectful.”

So, with all of that Godet still calls him his cross.

“In some far away land, Aaron believes himself to be a striker and sometimes as the goalkeeper a flash of the dream would show up in the game while in goal,” Godet said. “I know Aaron will go far in the future. It was a pleasure to play a small role in his success story.”

For Munnings, he said he will remember his first international tour with the Mingoes, in 2019.

“I was incredibly excited but also nervous at the same time because it would be my first time playing internationally,” he said. “My teammates were very helpful and supportive which helped my confidence to play to the best of my abilities.”

The art major now moves on to pursue acting and is hoping to enroll in a program after graduation. He hopes to carry some of that tenacity from UB with him.

“As a Mingoe, I reaffirmed my belief that supporting and encouraging someone can make a difference in their day and their life.”

Davia Wright

Davia Wright will graduate UB with a degree and a record.

The law and criminal justice major set the Mingoes women’s 3,000 meters (m) record at the University of Central Florida Black and Gold Meet in March 2022 as she ran a personal best of 11:03.57.

She said she loved traveling with the team and building bonds as both a track and field and cross-country participant.

“My best memory was traveling with my team and growing closer as we cohabitated on our trips and encouraged each other along the way,” she said.

Her next goal is to move forward in her field. “I will also continue pushing forward on my journey mainly focusing on entrepreneurship with the expansion of my life as it relates to cryptocurrency, music, businesses and generating passive and active income.”

She said being a part of the Mingoes family helped her to learn to “never listen to the crowd” and to forge her own path.

“A lot of people frown on me attending UB and discouraged it as well,” she said, “but despite the challenges I faced I enjoyed my time at UB and I will never regret it.”

Donovan Dean

Donovan Dean graduates with a degree in economics and finance and said he intends to pursue a career in the investments industry. The basketball forward said that some of his favorite memories in a Mingoes uniform was not in the games but the fellowship with teammates after morning practices. He added that he will probably just play basketball recreationally after graduation but takes something very important with him after his time on the court.

“I learned that it takes sacrifice for the team to grow,” he said.

Jervane Turnquest

Men’s soccer defender Jervane Turnquest embodied the fictional Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

As a defender on the field, his main duty was to disrupt offensive penetration and that sometimes meant extreme pressure on the other side and even tackling offensive attackers.

“Jervane did the dirty work on the team and yet he was an absolute gentleman,” Men’s Soccer Head Coach Dion Godet said. “He was always smiling, always willing and always seeking to improve.”

Off the pitch, Turnquest was one of the most polite and respectful players in the program. At matches, he was the one to ask about his teammates and look out for them. He was the one to make sure everything was set before leaving the pitch.

“I am very proud to say I watched this kid become an excellent young man,” Godet added. “We need to see more of the Jervane attitude in our young men if we are to be a civil, progressive country.”

After graduation, Turnquest said he expects to head to the United Kingdom to pursue a career in law with the intent of returning home.

He added, he leaves the soccer program with some great memories and some great outlooks on life.

“What I learned as a Mingoe is no matter how hard things get you have to keep pushing because nothing in life is easy and you will get curve balls when everything seems straight,” he said. “UB has given me some of the best moments of my life and I will never forget them. I will continue to represent them and will forever bleed blue.”

The UB Commencement Ceremony was held Thursday evening at the Atlantis Convention Center with more than 600 listed graduates.

Sports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMay 27, 2022 111 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Season will begin in The Bahamas again this year, as the longest-running international bowl game in college football history, the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, will be played Friday, December 16 at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Nassau’s 15,000-seat Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium will host the eighth edition of the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, which will air in the United States (US) on ESPN. The 2022 bowl will kick off the first year of a new relationship with HomeTown Lenders as the game’s title sponsor.

“We are thrilled to be the opening game of Bowl Season and to showcase the beautiful islands of The Bahamas through this event, which has been a fixture on the sporting calendar since 2014,” said Bahamas Bowl Executive Director Lea Miller-Tooley.

“The Bahamas Bowl has provided tremendous competition for our participating teams from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference, while offering a one-of-a-kind experience for student-athletes, coaches and families to travel to a foreign country and be rewarded for a successful season. We know that the 2022 bowl will remind everyone why ‘Bowl Games are Better in The Bahamas’.”

Each year, American football fans travel to New Providence to see their universities compete in the only bowl currently played outside the US. In the inaugural game in 2014, Western Kentucky defeated Central Michigan 49-48 in a memorable offensive shootout. Subsequent winners have included: 2015 – Western Michigan (defeated Middle Tennessee, 45-31); 2016 – Old Dominion (defeated Eastern Michigan, 24-20); 2017 – Ohio (defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB, 41-6); 2018 – Florida International University, FIU (defeated Toledo, 35-32); 2019 – Buffalo (defeated the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, UNC Charlotte, 31-9); and 2021 – Middle Tennessee (used a fourth quarter comeback to defeat Toledo, 31-24). There was no game held in 2020 due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl – one of 17 college bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events – will once again feature teams from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.

For more information on the 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, interested persons are asked to please visit the website BahamasBowl.com.

TRAVIS Munnings

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#TRAVIS Munnings and his Portuguese club advanced to the league final while Zane Knowles and his Bulgarian club received a favourable ruling in arbitration to keep their playoff hopes alive.

#Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have advanced to the finals in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB) after they defeated his former club UD Oliveirense in a three-game sweep. They will face the winner of the other semifinal matchup between FC Porto and Sporting CP .

#Munnings did not play in game three but opened the series with five points, five assists and three rebounds off the bench in an 89-72 game one win. In game two he pulled down seven rebounds and dished three assists in a 93-80 game two win.

#Benfica completed a two-game sweep of Povoa in the quarterfinal. In game one, Munnings had five points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 77-59 win. In game two, he had a perfect shooting night from the field (5-5) and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in an 84-67 win.

#In 28 games this season, Munnings averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc.

Zane Knowles

#Zane Knowles and Levski Sofia staved off elimination on the court in Bulgaria’s NBL semifinal against Balkan Botevgrad, but after an administrative ruling, the club was forced to battle off the court in order for the series to continue.

#With Balkan leading the series 2-1 NBL officials ruled that Levski was ineligible to continue competition and the remainder of the games in the series would be forfeited due to issues surrounding the clearance of Levski player Yordan Minchev.

#On Wednesday, the Arbitration Commission of BSE Basketball overturned the decision and reinstated Levski into the playoffs.

#The series is set to continue and game four will take place on May 29.

#In game one, Knowles came off the bench to finish with eight points and four rebounds in an 80-74 loss. Moved into the starting lineup for game two, he finished with 17 points and five rebounds in a 76-72 loss. In game three he nearly posted a double double with nine points and 11 rebounds in a 66-56 win.

#Last season while preparing for the season in Hungary with Zalakerámia ZTE KK, Knowles sought treatment for what he described as a minor hamstring injury when doctors discovered a rare Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) that required surgery.

#In eight games since he returned to play, he has returned to form with averages of 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

FRANKLYN Petion

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Franklyn Petion has overcome several setbacks over the course of his collegiate basketball career and is now seeking assistance to complete his academic and athletic goals.

#Petion’s sophomore season for the Williams Baptist Eagles was cut short due to an ACL tear, but after reconstructive surgery and an ongoing rehab process, the Grand Bahama native is optimistic about a strong conclusion with the programme.

#To that end, Petion created a Spotfund account to solicit crowd sourced funding in an effort to complete outstanding tuition payments of $7,000 and become eligible for a full scholarship.

#“Right now I’m on a partial scholarship because I signed so late, there’s a chance I can get on a full scholarship now, they have the space, but the money I owe I have to pay before they sign another player,” he said. “But we have discussed it and they do want me back, that’s why I need help to get this done.”

#The 6’3” guard suffered the injury just seven games into his first season with the Eagles. He scored 20 points on a perfect shooting night from the field in his debut.

#“It was a good fit, the team chemistry was really good, the best chemistry I had since moving to the states. After the first game I knew I was going to go off and it was going to be a crazy year,” he said.

#Six games later, a matchup against fellow Bahamian Edriel Martinborough and Evangel University, Petion suffered the injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

#“I was excited matched up against a former rival in high school. He beat me every time in high school so I just wanted to beat him in college. I was going off, I was probably going for 30 that game, when I got hurt I had 13 and it was still in the first half,” he said.

#“The play where it happened I went up for a layup, I felt it but I didn’t pay any mind to it.

#“The doctor said I should have stopped then because it was my meniscus first, but on the next play when I went down, I tried to slide on defence, my knee hyperextended and the doctor said that’s when the meniscus opened up and tore across my ACL.”

#It meant that for the second consecutive year, injuries would sideline the versatile guard.

#“I went blank. I was thinking the school wasn’t going to want me anymore. I was thinking when a school hears an injury they just turn to the next player and are done with you,” he said. “After the surgery I was in physical therapy the next day but it was tough mentally. Even though I’m a few days away from being cleared now, it’s tough mentally.”

#His college career began with Missouri State West- Plains at the junior college level where he had a promising freshman season before an accident sidelined him in his sophomore campaign. After admitted miscues in the recruitment process, he joined former high school teammate Shackeel Butters at William Baptist late in the process.

#“I had a great freshman year, sophomore year was okay but I had to deal with injuries, I had surgery on my face after suffering a broken nose,” he said,.

#“I had a couple of DII offers, I should have taken one of them, but I missed those opportunities. I felt like I was better than a DII which I shouldn’t have been thinking. I just was thinking I wanted to go DI but I should have been thinking that what really matters is my education. I went to William Baptist with a former teammate Shackeel Butters. The plan was to go there, play my COVID year and transfer, but now there’s a lot going on here.”

#Petion began his basketball life in earnest with the St George’s Jaguars under coach Darell Sears.

#He credits Sears and his staff for their continued guidance both on an off the court.

#“There was a moment in my life where I was about to make one of the worst decisions of my life. Coach Sears and coach McIntosh sat me down and laid out my options.

#“They said I could take one path, help my mom and my family or take another path to end up dying or going to jail,” he said.

#“The way they cared made me want to change my ways because there’s not much people that do that. For me as a kid growing up people don’t normally do that but to see how much they sacrificed for me, making sure I got to and from school, anything I needed they were there. It always meant a lot to me and made me want to be better.”

#Following a successful high school career that concluded with a national championship, Petion saw many of his teammates leave for college on scholarships but those opportunities were not immediately present for him.

#“Coach Sears always told me everyone’s path was different but just stick to it. My thing was I stayed working with St George’s and helped out and they allowed me to use the gym whenever I needed.

#“I would work out in the morning, noon and night.

#“Ms Higgs, who was also a huge help to me was coaching the girls at the time so I starting helping her out and we were able to come away with two titles in those two years,” he said.

#“My mindset was just to keep going and not to give up. Watching everyone go off to school was tough, it hurt but it was just adding more fuel to the tank. I know God wasn’t just going to let it happen like that.”

#The disappointment led Petion to discover his passion for coaching on the sidelines.

#“I’ve always wanted to coach. Coaching in the US would be great to help kids with their recruitment wanting to come here. I want to tell them about my path, what to do, what not to do, what to expect and how to navigate the whole process.”

#Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine with a minor in psychology, Petion is hoping he has an opportunity to complete his academic and athletic career.

#“I’m a kid from Freeport, Grand Bahama, raised from nothing. I was in a bad place but I’ve spent years bettering myself, changing and becoming a better person. Getting my degree will be successful,” he said.

#“I feel like I can be a good representative of where I come from and how hard you need to work to get to where you want to be.

#“I hope to be able to give back to people from my situation as well.”

#The link to donate to Petion’s cause can be found at:

#http://spot.fund/Vy7XgX

DEANDRE Ayton in action.

As of Friday, May 27, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DEANDRE Ayton’s free agency speculation continues to make the media rounds and his agent offered public comments for the first time this offseason on the developing situation between the former top pick and the Phoenix Suns.

#During the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Ayton’s agent Bill Duffy discussed Ayton’s future on SiriusXM’s NBA show.

#“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,” Duffy said. “He went out and was a soldier the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it. Things will work out for Deandre. He’s a valuable player. There’s other teams in the league as well.

#“He’s a restricted free agent, so we’ll see how this process unfolds.”

#As a restricted free agent, Ayton is free to sign an offer sheet with another franchise but the Suns would still have the ability to match the deal and retain his rights if they choose to do so.

#In his fourth season, the 23-year-old centre averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#During exit interviews, both Suns general manager James Jones and head coach Monty Williams addressed Ayton’s impending restricted free agency.

#“Deandre had an amazing season and he’s progressed every year and improved every year. He’s been here and so he’s a big part of what we do. His future with us is something we will address at the proper time which is in the future,” Jones said in an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 show Burns and Gambo.

#“He’s a free agent and I’ve said all along, he’s about the same things we’re about which is winning. We’ll address it at the proper time.”

#Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension.

#He was eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension that could have reached as much as $207 million if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#“Deandre had a great season, a really productive season. I think across the board, when you look at what he did, he improved. That’s a testament to him and the hard work. That’s what you expect from a player of his calibre,” Jones said in his exit interview. “As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time. That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Dallas Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals.

#Several teams with available cap space have been linked as sign-and-trade destinations for Ayton, including the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

#Several players in Ayton’s 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions, including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks, and Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis delivers the 2022/23 Budget Communication. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune staff

As of Thursday, May 26, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#According to Prime Minister Philip Davis, the development of the local sporting community and the country’s sports tourism product will figure prominently in his administration’s plans for the immediate future.

#In his 2022-23 Budget Communication in the House of Assembly yesterday, the Prime Minister highlighted several initiatives, including both new and returning events.

#“We have already re-launched our ‘Sports in Paradise’ initiative to diversify our tourism product, and have already secured a pipeline of sporting events such as the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships,” he said. “We have also included a $1 million allocation to facilitate the hosting of CARIFTA, funding for our bid to again host the World Relay Games, funding to support the return of The Bahamas Games, and a 10 percent increase in grants for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.”

#National Sports Authority Chairman Greg Burrows also serves as Babe Ruth Caribbean Region Commissioner.

#The tournament will be hosted July 7-11, 2022, featuring the under-12 division with about 10-12 teams participating in the Babe Ruth Region Caribbean Championship and 10 teams in the 16-and-under division for the International Baseball Tournament.

#Several countries are expected to field teams in both divisions, including The Bahamas, Curacao, US Virgin Islands, Mexico and Puerto Rico. In April, The Bahamas secured the bid to host the 50th edition of the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, which coincides with the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence.

#The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2017.

#The return of the Bahamas Games for the first time in over 20 years has been dubbed the “Golden Jubilee Games.”

#The five previous versions of this Olympic-style festival occurred in 1989, 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2001.

#The World Athletics World Relays is also set to make its return to The Bahamas under the Davis administration.

#The Bahamas hosted the first three editions of the event from 2014-17 at the Thomas A Robinson stadium.

#It shifted to Yokohama, Japan in 2019 and Chorzow, Poland in 2021.

#Guangzhou, China will be the next hosts of the biannual event in 2023.

#Mr Davis said the financial support of elite athletes who represent The Bahamas internationally is a pillar of his administration’s plan to continue the process of future athlete development.

#“Our athletes have contributed so much to The Bahamas. Their successes inspire our student-athletes at home and promote our country on the international stage,” he said. “Recognising this, we have restored the funding to the Elite Athletes Programme as part of our effort to enhance support for our athletes and sporting programmes.”

#Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is expected to detail the further impact the budget will have on the local sporting landscape when he delivers his contribution to the House of Assembly.

#“This budget provides a foundation to strengthen our nation, to lift ourselves up, to face the future with strength and optimism,” Davis said.

#“This budget provides support for the here and now, and also charts the way forward for a brighter tomorrow.”