claim first place at 2023 Bahamas ILCA Nationals

Paul de Souza (left) and Craig Ferguson ll (right).

As of Thursday, September 14, 2023

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Joshua Weech

Gavin McKinney

Norman Cartwright

Bryan Paine

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Paul de Souza and Craig Ferguson ll emerged as champions at the combined 2023 Bahamas Open International Laser Class Association (ILCA) Nationals this past weekend.

#The two-day event wrapped up on Montagu Bay and saw Souza win gold in the ILCA 7 senior category. In the ILCA 6 junior portion of the combined competition, Ferguson placed first among his fellow sailors. The national championships saw stiff competition between 21 sailors from the junior and senior divisions.

#Andrew Higgs, ILCA Fleet captain, talked about the level of competition between the senior and youth sailors.

#“I am happy with the turnout we had last weekend for our 2023 Bahamas Open ILCA National Championships. The level of competition was very competitive between both our senior and youth sailors,” Higgs said.

#Souza, who also serves as head coach of The Bahamas National Sailing School, came first in five of six races among his senior competitors. He ended the competition with a subtotal of eight and five points in total. Bryan Paine claimed second for the silver medal with a subtotal of 12 and overall total of nine points. He earned a first place finish, four second place finishes, and third place in the two-day event. Gavin McKinney secured bronze with a subtotal of 28 points and capped off the event with 20 points in total.

#Higgs was particularly impressed with the efforts of the youth sailors at Montagu Bay.

#“Our New Providence youth sailors have been working very hard under the coaching of Robert Dunkley and Paul de Souza improving everyday and it shows in local and international competition,” he said.

#Among the youth sailors to show out this past weekend was Ferguson, who solidified the win for the juniors with a total of 28 points. Norman Cartwright came second with a subtotal of 47 points and a total of 37 points. Joshua Weech sailed away with bronze after ending the competition with a subtotal of 53 points and overall count of 42 points.

#Out of the 21 sailors in competition including five females, Ellianne Higgs ended the national championships as the top ILCA 7 female and junior sailor in the competition. In some of her best races this past weekend she finished third and second. She capped off the two-day event with a total of 24 points for fifth overall.

#With sailing being deemed the Bahamas’ national sport since April, Higgs is proud of the strides and growth across all islands but is seeking more external support for sailors.

#“Now that sailing is the national sport we hope that the government will support our sailors in order for our kids to get better. They have to compete internationally and sail against the best. In the past and currently we have depended on self funding, individual, and corporate sponsorship to attend international events,” he said.

#Following the 2023 Bahamas Open ILCA Nationals the next event for the sailors will be the Cecil Cooke Regatta at the Nassau Yacht Club November 4-5.

As of Thursday, September 14, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Bahamian Jevone Barrett has been selected to join the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Future Basketball Operations Stars (FBOS) Programme for the next six months.

#The league’s programme is designed to promote diversity within the NBA professional ranks in addition to attracting and developing new talent to join basketball operations in the future.

#Participants are afforded the opportunity to train virtually and successful individuals will be given the chance to connect with NBA teams and others affiliated including the G League, WNBA, BAL, and 2k league for future employment opportunities.

#The 2018 Government High School graduate made his commute to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio after obtaining a full-ride scholarship to partake in the school’s marching band as leader of the mellophone section for three years.

#Now with his sights set on becoming a NBA Scout or General Manager he is happy to join the league’s FBOS training programme.

#“I am just grateful for the opportunity to learn and be an example for others to follow,” he said.

#Barrett is no stranger to the NBA’s training programmes. The 23-year-old’s journey towards achieving his career aspirations started in 2022 during his internship at the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. During this period the 2018 graduate got the opportunity to interact with NBA big names including Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, veteran point guard Chris Paul, Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, and Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry.

#After this stint, the CSU student was chosen to be a part of the inaugural launch of the NBA’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fellowship Programme. Out of 3,600 applicants Barrett was one of 60 students selected to join the all-expenses-paid internship. It included a luxury apartment, food stipend, flight expenses, and payment for the 40-hour work week.

#A mere six weeks into his internship he was offered a full-time position with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a Junior IT Support Analyst. He later used networking to his advantage to join the latest NBA programme.

#Barrett said he is excited for the learning and networking opportunities the programme will allow him to experience.

#“I am most excited about networking and learning I am a firm believer that your network determines your net worth and who you know influences your income and opens a wide pool of opportunities . . . also, in my career journey I am hungry to learn because the skills I learn now will help me in the long term,” he said.

#The NBA’s six-month programme aims to show trainees the ropes in basketball operations. Additionally, they will work with league office executives and partake in sessions that will enhance self awareness and point out skills necessary for success in the league’s operations.

#Although he acknowledged it is hard to be employed in the league’s front offices, Barrett plans to utilise this programme as the gateway to being more marketable for future roles that may arise in the NBA or Division One Sports.

#The 23-year-old is hoping that betting on himself will pay off in his quest to become a future NBA Scout or General Manager.

#The NBA FBOS programme will run for the next six months of the 2023-24 season.

As of Thursday, September 14, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) Panthers and the Police Crimestoppers have now advanced to round two of the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA) playoffs. Last night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the Panthers, BGDBA defending champions, earned an eight-point win over the Real Deal Rangers. Meanwhile, the Crimestoppers claimed game two 100-52 in a dominant showing to send the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Rampage home.

Panthers vs The Real Deal Rangers

#Panthers vs The Real Deal Rangers

#After dishing out a 40-point drubbing to the Real Deal Rangers in game one, the Panthers were in a more competitive bout in game two. The elimination game started off with both teams poised for the win. The score was tied 16 apiece at the 2:50 mark of the first period. However, a quick layup by Kemsey Sylvestre followed by a three-pointer from behind the arc pushed the Panthers lead to six points. After a late offensive surge, the defending champions closed out the opening quarter 27-19 on their opponents.

#Cordero Coakley, of the MOYSC Panthers, got their offence going in the second period after knocking down a smooth floater to advance the lead to double digits. Despite the Real Deal Rangers maintaining a close score in the first quarter, the Panthers had a comfortable 18-point cushion (51-33) going into the second half.

#Sylvestre along with Roosevelt Whylly came up big for the Panthers all game long. Whylly plugged in a game-high 22 points complemented by 16 boards to finish with a monster double double. Sylvestre was just as dominant on the glass. He also put up a double double with 19 points, and 12 rebounds to stuff the stat sheet.

#Although the Real Deal Rangers narrowed down the double digit lead to 13 in the third and had a late offensive spark in the fourth quarter it ultimately was not enough to stop the Panthers from completing the sweep.

#Perry Darling, head coach of the Panthers, talked about the team’s performance to move on to the next round.

#“The first half was a good performance, the second half we fell off. We know its pressure being a champion trying to win back to back, everybody is gunning for you,” Darling said.

#He added that going into the next round the team will need to improve on rebounding, cleaning up sloppy plays, and capitalising on in-game situations.

Crimestoppers vs Rampage.

#Crimestoppers vs Rampage

#In the following game, the Crimestoppers joined the Bain and Grants Town Cybots and MOYSC Panthers by solidifying their spot in round two of the playoffs. The second-seeded regular season team finished off business against the Rampage with a 48-point blowout win last night.

#The Rampage brought a much more competitive spirit to the elimination game in the beginning. The Crimestoppers finished the first quarter 22-14. In the second period the Crimestoppers, led by Jeron Smith, wrapped up the quarter, leading 42-31 going into the break.

#Smith dropped a balanced 21 points to pair with six assists, and five boards in the blowout win. Michael Furley Bain Jr closed out round one with 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

#The leading team flipped the script in the second half, outscoring the Rampage by 21 points to end the third quarter leading 64-43. The game was a foregone conclusion after the third period of play as Crimestoppers could not be stopped on offence en route to the next round.

#Anthony “Cops” Rolle, head coach of the Crimestoppers, talked about how he felt about the team’s dominant performance last night.

#“I was really impressed with the guys tonight. Two of our key players sat out tonight due to some injuries and seeing that we were up 1-0 we wanted them to get some rest ahead of the next round against the Panthers,” Rolle said.

#He credited the efforts of the team defensively and was happy with some of the younger players who stepped up in the absence of the veteran players.

#The final remaining contest of the first round will feature the Airport Authority Avengers versus the Bamboo Shack Patrollers this weekend.

Team Bahamas in action against Guyana during last night’s Nations League match.

As of Wednesday, September 13, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas men’s national soccer team put up a gallant fight, but lost 3-2 to Guyana for their second straight loss in the CONCACAF 2023 Nations League.

#After falling 6-1 to Puerto Rico on Saturday in their opener at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, the Bahamas team took to the road in the home-and-away format and played their first match against Guyana on Tuesday night.

#With a slightly different line-up from the one they used against Puerto Rico, the Bahamas once again struck first as Wood Julmis came through with the initial goal of the game in the 39th minute. He scored the team’s only other goal in the 86th minute.

#Guyana, on the other hand, responded with the 1-1 equaliser in the 44th minute on a goal from Omari Glasgow. Stephen Duke-McKenna put Guyana up 2-1 in the 54th minute and Kelsey Benjamin scored the insurance goal in the 58th minute.

#Despite the loss, coach Nesly Jean said he was pleased with the team’s performance.

#“We played well. We played very well,” he said. “Defensively, going forward, obviously we made one or two mistakes. This is the stuff we are trying to eliminate. I think once we can eliminate that, we will do better going forward.”

#On the change in the line-up for last night’s game, compared to Saturday, Jean said it’s automatic, when one person can’t show, it’s the next man up.

#“You have to show the coaches why you deserve to play and why you deserve to be on the team,” he said. “The guys today showed that they can compete if someone was to get injured.”

#The Bahamas will now prepare to face Antigua & Barbuda in November with the first game at home and the next one on the road. That will be followed by a home match against Guyana before they close out play on the road against Puerto Rico. 

#Meanwhile at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Puerto Rico, staying here to play their home game against Antigua & Barbuda on Tuesday night, pulled off a 5-0 whitewashing for a 2-0 record. Antigua & Barbuda suffered their second straight loss.

#Gerald Diaz struck for a hat-trick with goals in the 15th, 46th and 90th minutes. Ricardo Rivera added a pair of goals in the 39th and 43rd minutes.

As of Wednesday, September 13, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The Bain and Grants Town Cybots booked their tickets to round two of the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA) playoffs on Monday night after sweeping the Police Royals 2-0. Meanwhile, the Bamboo Shack Patrollers tied their series 1-1 with the Airport Authority Avengers at the AF Adderley Gymnasium. The playoffs will continue tonight where both the Police Crimestoppers and Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture (MOYSC) Panthers will look to complete the sweep in their respective series.

#Cybots vs Royals

#In one of the more competitive series of the BGDBA postseason, the Cybots secured an 80-77 win to send the Royals home on Monday night. Game two of the series got off to a relatively competitive start with the scored tied 10 apiece at the halfway mark of the opening quarter. By the end of the initial quarter the score was 23-22 with the Cybots in the lead.

#Stephen Miller, who poured in 18 points for the Royals, opened the second quarter with a jump shot after a series of bad misses by his team.

#The Cybots’ Jeremy Hutchinson made his mark in the game and in the second period canning three two-pointers after being subbed in. He capped off his night with a team-high 20 points, seven rebounds, on a scorching 61.5 per cent shooting from the field.

#After a shaky offensive stretch to start the quarter by the Royals, the Cybots took a 43-34 advantage heading into the halftime break.

#In the third period the Royals struggled to keep the score within range. The lower-seeded team saw the Cybots widen the gap to as much as 18 points (62-44) at the 3:35 mark of the third. The former BGDBA champions ultimately closed out the period leading by 16.

#Miller made it his mission in the final period to keep the Royals’ playoff hopes alive. He splashed a quick three-pointer to get the fourth quarter going. On the following play, his teammate Brandon Cooper was fouled on a three point attempt and drained two out of three free throws at the charity stripe. Miller charged his way to the free throw line on two separate occasions and drained all four of his attempts to trim the lead down to nine.

#Despite the Royals trimming the lead down to eight at the 2:39 mark of the final period, the Cybots were able to hold on and advance to round two.

#Wayde Watson, head coach of the Cybots, was grateful for the win and commended the coaching efforts of rookie coach Denero Davis.

#“For us it was a step closer to our goal we set out to achieve hats off to the Police Staff Association Royals, they are a young and talented team but I know it was my guys’ experience down the stretch that pulled it out,” Watson said.

#He added that despite getting the 2-0 sweep it was two very close games and the goal remains the same to bring the BGDBA championship back over the hill to Bain and Grants Town.

#Avengers vs Patrollers

#After losing in a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Avengers last weekend, the Patrollers got revenge in Monday’s 21-point blowout win. The team finished game two 84-63 to even the series.

#Leading up to halftime, both teams were in the contest despite the Patrollers leading 44-34 into the break. However, the momentum stayed with the Patrollers who ran out to a 70-50 lead behind the efforts of Lerecus Armbrister and Kareem Lightbourne Jr to end the third period.

#Armbrister dropped a game-high 29 points which was bolstered by six three-pointers splashed from behind the arc. Lightbourne, his teammate, turned in 25 points on 45 per cent shooting along with five boards on the night.

#Next up on the BGDBA playoff schedule will be the Panthers versus The Real Deal Rangers and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rampage against the Crimestoppers. Games begin tonight at 7:30pm.

As of Wednesday, September 13, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Michael Albury Jr is following in the footsteps of his brother Deyton Albury as he heads off today to enrol in Believe Prep Academy in South Carolina.

#Eighteen-year-old Albury Jr left Teleos Academy here to complete his high school tenure in Miami, Florida before he went to play for Florida Coastal Prep Sports Academy last year. Deyton Albury, 21, pursued a similar path as he left Temple Christian Academy to attend Sunrise Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, before he went on to Believe Prep and now he’s in his junior year at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida.

#Before he left town today, Albury Jr said he decided to go to this school because of the history behind it.

#“Ninety percent of their players go on and earn scholarships beginning their college careers including my older brother and that’s a part of my dream,” said Albury Jr, who some believe is just as talented or even better than Deyton Albury.

#“Also the coach Kevin Jackson is legendary and known for his hard coaching, winning and making players better and that’s the environment I want to be in on and off the court.”

#As he is headed to Believe Prep, Albury Jr said the expectation is for him to bring the same Bahamian mentality to hard playing and coachability that was exhibited by Deyton Albury.

#Albury Jr said he hopes to go in and work hard everyday and help his team be successful. 

#“I feel very comfortable. Deyton has been someone I look up to my whole life and knowing this is where he went and been through, I feel I can do the same or even better,” Albury Jr said. “He has motivated me a lot, constantly calling me to remind me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I should take advantage of it.

#“He told me this is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life but if he can do it, he knows that I can do it too.”

#While waiting to make the transition from high school to his road to college, Albury Jr said he’s ready to take his talent to the next level. 

#“I spent a lot of time working out, staying in shape, watching a lot of college films and just getting mentally prepared for what’s to come,” he pointed out. 

#With the stage set again, Albury Jr said he wanted to make the best of his opportunity to succeed.

#“I’m always trying to grow my game as a player,” he stressed. “I want to get more comfortable shooting the ball, being more aggressive defensively, and just learning from the films I watch.”

#Nobody is watching the progress of the Albury brothers than their proud father, Michael Albury Sr.

#“I am feeling very proud that my two boys are chasing their dreams on the road to become professional basketball players,” he stated. “I am more confident than proud though because my boys are in great programmes surrounded by great people. They love the game, work hard and are very talented. So I feel like the sky’s the limit.”

#Albury Sr said he will watch with interest as his sons continue to soar. 

As of Wednesday, September 13, 2023

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#BY TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#National Football League (NFL) Flag Bahamas hosted a successful officiating and coaching clinic last week Thursday at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. Participants got the opportunity to learn in-game rules, coaching strategies, and practice plans from the director of officiating at NFL Flag and RCX Sports, Tom LaNeve.

#LaNeve was grateful to be a part of the programme’s preparations and talked about the focus of the NFL Flag Bahamas officiating and coaching clinic.

#“The purpose of the seminar is to educate coaches and officials on the game of NFL Flag Football and everything that has to do with rules,” he said.

#From a coaching standpoint he added that the seminar was useful in helping potential coaches to understand offensive and defensive strategies, and how to set up their practice plans to take advantage of the time that they have to grow the game.

#“By teaching the game and trying to give them every tool that I possibly can while here they can be as successful as they possibly can to build the programme for the youth here in this country,” he said.

#Participants will also be required to be certified on a yearly basis, which is extremely important according to LaNeve.

#“It is extremely important because it refreshes everything in their mind from an understanding rules standpoint . . . we all learn by doing, studying, and repetition,” he said.

#As an official for more than two decades LaNeve not only believes that being certified yearly is important but also these types of officiating and coaching clinics.

#“I think they are invaluable and I just want to thank Chris Prudhome and his entire team here and understanding that it is a privilege for me to be here I certainly appreciate the opportunity to serve Chris, the programme here, as well as the country as we grow the game of football,” he said.

#Following the announcement of NFL Flag Bahamas in June, the league has hosted various clinics in preparation for the season’s eventual start in October.

: Set for second four-year term after this Saturday’s vote

As of Tuesday, September 12, 2023

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ROMELL Knowles

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#ROMELL Knowles will return to office unopposed for his second four-year term as president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

#The BOC’s elections will take place on Saturday at 10am at the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters following the annual general meeting.

#The former long-time executive in softball and volleyball said he’s always been interested in giving back to the development of sports, especially considering the fact that he played just about every sport and at a high level.

#“What really motivates me to do what I do in sports administration is to see the accomplishments and the development of young people in sports,” Knowles said. “There’s no greater joy, I can tell you, when in 2012 in London when the Bahamas had not won any medals at the Olympic Games.

#“Then in the last event, the Golden Knights came through with a magnificent performance, capturing the gold on the world stage in the men’s 4 x 400m relay. I can tell you the sense of pride, the accomplishment, the tears of joy hearing the national anthem played and the flag being raised was one of the greatest experiences in my life.”

#Behind the scenes, Knowles said there’s tireless hours being spent to prepare teams to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Pan American Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Youth Commonwealth Games, the Youth Pan Am Games and the Caribbean Games.

#“To see Team Bahamas assemble and to see our athletes with the guts and pride get set to go out represent the country is an awesome experience,” Knowles said. “To know that you played a hand in that behind the scene is just awesome.

#“I think one of the greatest take aways from being in office was the hosting of the Commonwealth Youth Games. More than 100 athletes paraded during the opening ceremonies. I believe it was one of the largest team’s contingent of athletes assembled on home soil.”

#After working with the National Sports Authority to get the facilities ready, Knowles said he commended the federations and associations, who all pitched in to make the event a grand success.

#“One of the young ladies in judo had only been practicing for a year, but she captured our first youth Commonwealth Games medal,” he said. “We captured 15 medals and it turned out to be our largest haul at the games.

#“Then, to have been able to travel to the Family Islands to see young athletes compete in the trials or the team with less than adequate facilities as well to get ready for our own Bahamas Games, these were priceless moments for me as an administrator.”

#When he looks at federations like track and field, swimming, soccer and now basketball with the men’s national team on the verge of qualifying for the Olympics next year in Paris, France, Knowles said it brings a lot of satisfaction to be president of the largest sporting body in the country.

#Knowles said he will be content knowing that he has given the best of his service as an administrator, just as he did when he was on the other side of the playing field as an athlete.

#Nominations for the elections closed on Saturday and from the list of nominees, Knowles, secretary general Derron Donaldson and treasurer Dorian Roach will not be opposed.

#However, there are three candidates for assistant secretary, which include Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson, the Bahamas Softball Federations first female president; Catherine Ramsing-Pierre, Equestrian Bahamas president, and Oria Wood, the assistant secretary general of the Bahamas Baseball Association. 

#Isaacs-Dotson; Adam Waterhouse, of the Bahamas Rugby Football Union and Vincent Strachan, president of the Bahamas Boxing Federation, have been nominated for the post of assistant treasurer.

#There are also 17 persons running for six vice president posts, including incumbent members of the past administration – Roy Colebrook, Robert Butler, Joseph Smith, Clarence Rolle, Cora Hepburn and D’Arcy Rahming.

#The new additions are Gina Rolle from the Bahamas Golf Federation; Drumeco Archer from the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations; Brian Cleare from the Bahamas Basketball Federation; Algernon Cargill from Bahamas Aquatics; Theodore Sweeting from the Bahamas Baseball Federation; Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre from Equestrian Bahamas; Sean Bastian from the Bahamas Handball Federation; Lori Roach from the Bahamas Triathlon Association; Vincent Strachan from  the Bahamas Boxing Federation; Shane Albury from the Bahamas Softball Federation; Moses Johnson Jr from the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

As of Tuesday, September 12, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHILE the Bahamas men’s national team is in Guyana playing their second match in the 2023 Nations League, Puerto Rico will host Antigua & Barbuda in their home game tonight at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

#The Bahamas men’s national team, coached by Nesly Jean, will be out to redeem themselves after losing 6-1 to Puerto Rico in their opening game on Saturday at the TAR Stadium.

ANTIGUA & Barbuda’s DeAndre Bishop, head coach Anthony Ferguson and Myles Weston at the press conference at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#Antigua & Barbuda are coming off a 5-1 loss to Guyana, but on their arrival to the Bahamas on Monday, head coach Anthony Ferguson said they are eager to turn things around when they play Puerto Rico.

#In making his median voyage to the Bahamas, Ferguson said he heard about the facilities and they are looking forward to playing here, especially after the warm reception they have received from the Bahamian people.

#“We have players who are home based and they have been joined by players overseas,” Ferguson said. “Over the last few weeks, we have been working out in preparation for the tournament.

#“It’s been a fantastic experience so far. We lost our first game on Saturday, but we are here to compete and we want to make sure that everybody knows that we can compete with our opposition.”

#Ferguson said all of their players are looking forward to the challenge and competing at the best of their abilities, but the goal is to come here to win.

#DeAndre Bishop, also making his first trip to the Bahamas, said the team are mentally, physically, spiritually, technically and morally ready to compete.

#And Myles Weston, back in the Bahamas for the first time since he played against the Bahamas about four years ago, said he’s excited about his team’s chances in the match against Puerto Rico.

#He noted that as long as they trust in their coach and trust in themselves as players, they will be a team to reckon with. He admitted that the players on this team have not played against Puerto Rico before, although there are former players who did.

#Once they come out and play with a lot of “excitement” and are “organised,” he said, they will be ready to play, even though he noted that they are not taking Puerto Rico for granted.

#Having settled in Guyana, coach Nesly Jean said the Bahamas team spirit is up and they are confident that they can compete at this level of competition.

#“It’s about taking risks. Speaking to them and getting them to believe in themselves and also slight technical changes,” said Jean about the approach the players and coaches have made to get ready for the tournament. 

#“The last game in the second half, we were far behind, but obviously, it showed that we wanted to improve and shoe the fans and to the world that we could play.”

#Jean said there are some players who played on Saturday who didn’t make the trip, but he said they will make the adjustment with who they have and he’s confident that they have a team that could win. 

#With the first game against Puerto Rico game over and done with, veteran Lesly St Fleur said they have to regroup and get prepared for Guyana.

#“The game (tonight) is a more important game, so we have to come out much better than we did in the first period, just like how we played in the second period,” St Fleur said. “The confidence is there and the players are there. 

#“There are a few things we have to change. We have to communicate a little more and move together as a team and pull each other up. Tomorrow (tonight) is going to be a difficult game, but we have to pull through.”

#Playing on the road is not the same as playing at home, so St Fleur said if they can’t win, they need to at least end up with a draw. 

#Goalkeeper Vance Wheaton said after getting off to a great start in the first half against Puerto Rico, they let the game slip away from them until the second half when they switched their formation. 

#“We are hoping that we can switch back to that in the Guyana game and we can come back just as hard,” Wheaton said. “Hopefully the line up will change and it will help us get better. I’m looking forward to it.

#“Playing at home, I was really nervous representing my country on our home field in front of my family and friends., I felt more pressure,” he said. “I’m hoping that we can do that same thing again, but this time we can win.”

#Walter Sawyer, who came in to play in the 57th minute of the game, said he had a good experience.

#“I got to do a lot of running, so it was a good experience,” he said. “To see the home fans cheering me on when I came in, was really good.”

#Learning from the experience, Sawyer said if he gets the call from coach Jean to play, he hope he won’t make the same mistake that he made against Puerto Rico.

#“I wasn’t taking all of my one on ones, so that’s something I would look forward to doing, instead of passing the ball all the time,” Sawyer said.

#The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Antigua & Barbuda and Guyana are all playing out of League B and Group 4 in the Nations League that will run for the next three month in a home and away series.

As of Tuesday, September 12, 2023

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Champion Francis Adderley receives his awards from Jim Wilson from Royal Fidelity and BGF president Lyford Miller.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FORMER softball/baseball player Francis Adderley, who has played well in partnership with others in recent times, emerged as the champion of his first individual tournament over the weekend.

#Competing in the Bahamas Golf Federation’s two-day President’s Cup Tournament on Saturday and Sunday at the Royal Blue Golf Club and sponsored by Royal Fidelity, Adderley emerged with a one-stroke win over Nolan Johnson.

#After taking the lead with a score of 71 on day one, which was hampered by the rain, Adderley held on with a 72 to out-score Johnson, who came back on the final day with a 70 to add to his 74 on day one for his total of 144.

#Andrew Benjamin got third place with 146 (76-70); Anthony Hinsey got fourth with 147 (77-70) and Horace Miller rounded out the top five with 148 (74-74).

#Adderley, who normally teams up with Richard Gibson Jr, who is currently in New York participating in the 43th US Mid-Amateur Golf Championships, said he was pleased with his performance.

#“I’ve been trying to get my game to the level where I can be competitive,” Adderley said. “The competition is always keen when you are playing these types of events, but I was very pleased with my performance.

#“The course was in very good condition. Even though we had some rain on the first day, it was pretty sunny on the final day. So I’m very pleased that I was able to get a good start on the first day and it held up for me on the final day.”

#Adderley said he’s now looking forward to teaming up with Gibson Jr on September 18 in the 2nd annual Tee Off For Hunger Golf Tournament at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island, where they will be out to defend their title and to cart off some of the exciting prizes that will be up for grabs. 

#Johnson, the latest Bahamian to secure a ranking on the USGA’s world ranking where he’s pegged at 887, said he was delighted to be able to perform as well as he did in the tournament.

#“I played okay. I started the first round and finished two-over-par and I shot the final round two-under-par,” Johnson said. “I stroked the ball very well, but Francis just shot a little bit better, especially on day one and he held on longer than I did.”

#Johnson is now preparing to team up with Gibson on October 10 as they participate in the US Amateur Four-Ball Championship qualifier at the Bayou Oaks South Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. If they qualify, they will participate in the championships at the Philadelphia Cricket Club from May 25-29, 2024.

#While Gibson Jr heads the list for Bahamians on the world stage at 245, BGF president Lyford Miller trails Johnson at about 1,459 and Heathcliff Kane is sitting about 2,452.

#Although it wasn’t a big field as the BGF had anticipated, Miller said they were still pleased with the turnout and the results posted.

#“The crowd wasn’t as big as we wanted too. We felt it was attributed to the hurricane that was passing and some people didn’t know if it as going to affect us or not,” Miller said.

#“We had some rain on the first day, but the remainder of the day and the second day was all good. “

#Miller, who also played and finished 17th overall and was fifth in the Mid-Amateur division, said the competition was extremely tough amidst the golfers who came out and anticipated.

#He thanked their main sponsor Royal Fidelity, whose vice president of corporate Finance, Jim Wilson, was on hand to assist in the awards presentation. The BGF will stage its qualifier on Saturday and Sunday at Royal Blue for the men’s senior team for the 2023 Four-Ball Championships from October 15-20 at Royal Blue. 

#Here’s a breakdown of the top performers in the various categories:

#Ladies division – Rosa Lua with 172 (83-89); Mia Underwood – 180 (84-96); Payton Haye – 185 (87-98) and Thaddia Simms – 223 (87-98).

#Legends – Oswald Moore – 155 (77-78); James Steven Wallace – 157 (71-86).

#Mid Amateur – Nolan Johnson – 144 (74-70); Trevor Wallace – 151 (74-77); Livio Bisterzo – 159 (78-81); Christopher Adderley – 159 (78-81); Lyford Miller – 163 (82-81); Evan Cartwright – 168 (85-83) and Ural Pratt – 169 (85-83).

#Regular – Andrew Benjamin – 146 (76-70); Juan Wilson – 149 (76-73); Malcolm Adderley – 173 (92-81) and Travis Cartwright -215 (104-111).

#Seniors – Peter McIntosh – 152 (7379); Neil Abrahams – 156 (77-79); Dwight Tinker – 158 (78-80); Lawrence Glinton – 161 (82-79); Kelsey Rolle – 167 (85-82); 82; Colin Lightbourn – 178 – (83-95); Marc Robinson – 181 (84-97) and Crestwell Gardiner – 188 (100-88).

#Super seniors – Francis Adderley – 143 (71-72); Anthony Hinsey – 147 (77-70); Horace Miller – 148 (74-74); Raymind Gibson – 156 (76-80) and Larry Wilson – 174 (86-88).

#President’s Cup – Francis Adderley – 143 (71-72); Nolan Johnson – 144 (74-70)’ Andrew Benjamin – 146 (76-70); Anthony Hinsey – 147 (77-70)’ Horace Miller – 148 (74-74); Juan Wilson – 149 (76-73); Trevor Wallace – 151 (74-77); Peter McIntosh – 152 (73-79); Oswald Moore – 155 (77-78) and Neil Abrahams (77-79) and Raymond Gibson (76-80) tied with 156.