Home|Sports|Joseph wins open division at UB InvitationalSports

Inaugural cross country event for UB deemed a complete success

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 3, 2022 326 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

University of The Bahamas (UB) had 700-plus athletes participate in its inaugural UB Cross Country Invitational at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre on Saturday.

The meet featured races between one to four kilometers with the courses starting and ending at the sports center. The open division encompassed a four-kilometer course. The under-17 division featured a three-kilometer course. The under-15 and under-13 athletes had to push through a two-kilometer course and the under-11 athletes ran a one-kilometer course.

Head coach at UB Ednal Rolle was happy with the great showing from the high schools, primary schools and the clubs.

“Cross country is the new thing, and we are trying to develop distance runners here in The Bahamas. I have a cross country team and I am looking for new recruits and looking for the best just like other colleges. This is a great showing,” Rolle said.

The open men’s division title was won by UB’s Lhevinne Joseph in a time of 13:59. The freshman won over decathlon national record holderKen Mullings, and Ramon Miller – a member of The Bahamas’ ‘Golden Knights’ from 2012.

“My goal was to win. Coach told me that I should win this race, so I came out with the mindset of winning. I came here mostly to have fun but on the other hand, it is competitive, so I had to keep that competitive aspect. The whole plan of the race was to get out as comfortable as possible. As the race go on, you pick up the pace until time to finish,” Joseph said.

Miller from Unique Athletics was second in a time of 14:36. Joseph’s teammate Kenold Jean was third in a time of 14:59.

Joseph had previously run cross country in the United States this season but, this time, he got to run in front of family and friends.

“It was fun to run at home because you get family support – my mom was here. When you are abroad, you only have one or two people cheering you on. I also had other persons cheering me on because they like what they see. I like the environment and the energy. I would do this next year and as much as I could,” Joseph sad.

UB also secured a victory in the open women’s category as freshman Lakeicia Lewis crossed the finish line first in 18:49.

“I’m happy with the victory,” Lewis said. “This morning, I started to get a little down because of the slight late start. All I kept telling myself was not to pick the pace up too much and stay in it. Coming around the first kilometer, I started to slip and fall behind. I had to motivate myself and push through.” Lewis’ teammate Nancy Joseph was the only other competitor in that division, finishing in a time of 22:13.

The event started with the open runners, so the younger athletes could observe them and hopefully gain motivation.

“I allowed my team to run first, so the kids could see the collegiate athletes run. We won the open men and women, so that is a good showing for my team. They are used to running eight kilometers and they are running four kilometers here, so it was like a walk in the park for them,” said Rolle.

Lewis said running abroad prepared her for the meet on Saturday.

Red-Line Athletics’ Daveigh Farrington ran a brilliant race, jumping ahead of the pack in the under-13 girls division. She never relinquished the lead, and won in 8:31.

“I was very surprised because it was my first cross country race and I placed first. I got out first at the beginning of the race and I just kept the same pace. I am very happy, and it is an accomplishment that I will remember,” she said.

Neveah Mackey from 3PA Stallions was second in 8:31. Shakinah Lewis from A.F. Adderley Junior High School was third with a time of 9:07.

Farrington, a seventh-grade student at St. Augustine’s College (SAC), said she is looking forward to running more cross country races.

Assistant Athletics Director at UB Sean Bastian said the meet was in the making for quite a while.

“This is our first cross country meet, but this is something that we have been planning for the last five years,” said Bastian. “Coach Rolle put on a well-organized meet. We are happy and pleased to have over 700 entries who participated in this meet. It is an awesome start.”

Bastian added, “It was a good support from what I saw and from what I heard from the other physical education instructors, they are excited to have this because they use these cross country meets as a mean of conditioning for their athletes for the remainder of the track and field season. This is something very positive for UB Athletics Department.”

Ezthza Maycock from Red-Line Athletics won the under-20 girls division with a time of 13 minutes flat. Swift Athletics’ Chris Salaslis convincingly won the under-20 boys division in 14:50.

The under-13 boys winner was Velocity Track Club’s Cordell Munroe, clocking 7:28. C.R. Walker Senior High School’s Aden Taylor won the under-17 boys title in a time of 5:55. It was 3PA Stallions’ Jasmine Mackey who finished first in the under-17 girls division when she crossed the finish line in 13:21.

Rolle is already looking at expanding the meet for next year as he looks to give athletes more exposure.

“I am looking for this to grow. Next year, we intend to bring in some colleges to be able to come in and compete against us as well as watch the high school athletes compete. It’s an opportunity for them to get scholarships as well,” he said.

UB’s cross country season is just about over, and they will gradually turn their attention to the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

https://thenassauguardian.com/joseph-wins-open-division-at-ub-invitational/

 Home|Sports|Bahamians compete in Berlin MarathonSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailOctober 4, 2022 143 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The country’s premier long distance running club, Bahamas Roadmasters (BRRC), is extending congratulations to eight of its members who recently traveled to Germany and successfully completed the Berlin Marathon (26.2 miles/42.16 Kilometers).

The team comprised veteran marathoners Shavaughn Blades, Eva Etienne, Michael Cunningham, Anthony Longley, Charles and Eunice Johnson, and Ted and Dr. Ebbie Jackson. Each of the members has a reason to be exceedingly proud of their respective accomplishments in Berlin.

According to RunRepeat, approximately 0.05 percent of the United States population has completed a marathon, and worldwide, only about 1.1 million runners finish a marathon each year. That equates to approximately 0.01 percent of the world’s population. Each of the eight members of the Bahamas Roadmasters completed the Berlin Marathon.

The Berlin Marathon is one of the Abbott World Majors (the six most prestigious marathons in the world) and is considered as the one with the fastest course of all of the leading races. With temperatures between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit on race morning, conditions were perfect for the performances from the Bahamian team.

At age 65, Cunningham clocked a personal best (PB) of 4:03:19 and qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon. Longley, 61, clocked a PB of 5:11:00. Blades celebrated her 50th birthday by racing in her 50th marathon. She ran the London Marathon a week after competing in Berlin in her quest to complete all six of the Abbot World Majors. She accomplished that and joined fellow BRRC member Charles Johnson who earned this 

distinction earlier this year.

Known for record-breaking performances, history was made once again in Berlin as Eliud Kipchoge, of Kenya, established a new world record of 2:01:19, shaving 30 seconds off his previous world record. He broke his own world record which he set at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. The women’s race was won by reigning Olympic Champion Tigist Assefa, of Ethiopia, in 2:15:37.

The BRRC was formed in 1990 with a mission to advance the sport of long distance running in The Bahamas. Members travel several times each year to compete in international marathons. BRRC hosts two major events locally – its ‘Midnight Madness Fun Run/Walk’ in June, featuring 10 kilometer (k) and 5k races, and its signature event the Bahamas Half Race Series, set for November 20 this year. The Bahamas Half Race Series features a half marathon, a half marathon relay and 10 and 5k races.

Registration is ongoing via the website www.bahamashalf242.com

Through the support of major sponsors, The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism, the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Colina Insurance, Caribbean Bottling Co., Bahamas Welding & Fire, Nassau Agencies Ltd. and Lignum Advisors, attractive cash prizes are once again being offered for the Bahamas Half Race Series

Male and female winners will receive cash prizes – $2500 for first place, $1500 for second place, $500 for third place, and there will be a special prize for the first male and female Bahamian resident, $250.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamians-compete-in-berlin-marathon/

 Home|Sports|Jones plays against the CelticsSports

Jones plays against the Celtics

Bahamian pro player scores five points and pulls down five rebounds

Sheldon LongleySend an emailOctober 4, 2022 177 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian Kai Jones is certainly making his case for inclusion in the Charlotte Hornets’ opening day roster, turning in a strong contribution off the bench in the team’s preseason debut for the 2022-2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) season.

Jones converted both of his shot attempts, both dunks, in the Hornets’ 134-93 loss to the defending Eastern Conference Champions Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

Jones, a 6’10” 221-pound power forward with the Hornets, didn’t play until the fourth quarter on Sunday, but when he did, he reminded everyone just how agile and athletic he was and how impactful he could be. Jones rose up over Celtics’ forward Luka Samanic on both occasions on thunderous dunks just 30 seconds apart in the fourth quarter.

The 21-year-old Bahamian finished with five points, five rebounds and a block in nine and half minutes of play. Jones was 2-for-2 from the floor and 1-for-3 from the charity stripe. He is hoping to have his playing time increased as the preseason goes along, and make enough of an impression to new Head Coach Steve Clifford to possibly be added to the regular rotation of the Hornets for the 2022-2023 season.

Clifford is making his second stint with the team, replacing the fired James Borrego in June.

Jordan Surenkamp, who coached Jones with the Greensboro Swarm, an affiliate of the Hornets, in the NBA G League a season ago, and who also coached the Hornets Summer League team, said he likes what he sees from the Bahamian but his playing time this year will depend on what direction the organization is going in.

“I think it kind of depends on what we’re looking at from an organization standpoint in terms of rotations and things like that,” he said. “In terms of how many minutes and how often, those are still things that are up in the air.”

Second-year forward Jones, the 19th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is looking for a bigger role with the team this season. Jones spent most of his rookie campaign with the Swarm, averaging 18 points and 10.5 rebounds in 26 games while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from three-point range. In 21 games with the Hornets, he averaged one point and 0.5 rebounds per game in just three minutes per game on the floor. He shot 64.3 percent from the field and hit one of his two three-point attempts.

Jones remains optimistic.

“We’ve talked about the potential of the team,” Jones said about a conversation with other younger players on the Hornets. “The biggest thing for us is always just being workers. We talk about that all the time, 

getting your extra in, coming in whenever you can – early morning, late at night – to be the player that you can be. Fulfill your potential.”

On his first dunk against the Celtics on Sunday, Jones rolled to the basket, tapped the ball out on a missed shot attempt, received the ball in the post and then rose up over Samanic for a two-handed dunk. The Hornets were significantly out of the game at that point, trailing 132-88 with 2:52 remaining in the game. About 30 seconds later, Jones rolled to the basket again, got an offensive rebound off another missed shot, and after a pump fake, rose up for another two-handed jam over Samanic.

Jaylen Brown had 24 points and five rebounds to lead the Celtics over the Hornets. Jayson Tatum added 16 points and six rebounds.

The Hornets were led by Kelly Oubre Jr. with 17 points. LaMelo Ball added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Jones and the Hornets will welcome fellow Bahamian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield and the Indiana Pacers to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday. That game will get underway at 7 p.m. The only other Bahamian in the NBA, DeAndre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns, will get his preseason underway when the Suns take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday. That game will get underway at 10 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-plays-against-the-celtics/

A VIEW of the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium over the weekend.

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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ARCHITECT Mike Foster gives BBA and COCABE executives a tour of the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium over the weekend.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With the assurance that the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium will be completed by November, the Bahamas Baseball Association is moving full steam ahead with the hosting of the fourth Caribbean Cup.

#Scheduled for December 4-11, the Caribbean Cup will feature teams from the US Virgin Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, defending champions Curacao, Colombia, Aruba, Peru and Cuba, all vying for a spot at the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled for next year in El Salvador.

#Cuba, by the way, has already qualified for the games and so the remaining teams will be joining them either by winning the tournament if Cuba is not successful or, if they do, by being the runners-up.

#In attendance at the press conference to officially launch the tournament were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, BBA president Sam Rodgers, chairman of the Local Organising Committee Teddy Sweeting and his deputy chairman Lyrone Burrows and the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE) president George De Lira and his executive chairman Ramsey Betorina.

#In preparation for the tournament, the BBA and the Bahamas Government are working feverishly on having the new stadium completed.

#Architect and project manager Mike Foster, before taking the media and the COCABE executives on a tour of the facilities, assured everyone that it will be ready in time for the tournament.

#The stadium, according to Foster, will have a price tag of $55 million when completed, but everybody will love the synthetic surface that will be laid down this month, while the remaining cosmetic and infrastructural work is done.

#Foster said at present, the stadium lights also have to be installed, along with the LED scoreboard, the corporate boxes and the concession stands will be completed, while the pond and the roads around the stadium are being done simultaneously.

#Bowleg, before leaving to attend the funeral services of the late sprinter Shavez Hart in Abaco, said with the majority of players coming from the Great Britain team that recently qualified for the World Cup, this will be the first step towards the Bahamas having its own team assembled for the international competition.

#“This is the beginning of the road for us qualifying for a higher level tournament,” said Bowleg, as the Bahamas Basketball Federation is in the process of doing so in the Americas region.

#“I want to thank the organisers, along with the president and his assistants and COCABE for being here and hosting this event at the end of the year.

#“Baseball is on the move. This is just the beginning of what is to come,” Bowleg said. “This is one of those initiatives that go with the opening of the new stadium, but we look forward to many more events to come in the future.”

#Sweeting, the secretary general of the BBA, said they are delighted to host the event, which is an historic venture for the Bahamas, but one that they hope to take advantage of by producing one of the best teams ever assembled to represent the island nation.

#However, he noted that Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm and Lucius Fox will both be in attendance, but will not be able to participate for the Bahamas in the qualifier because they are on Major League 40-man rosters.

#Should the Bahamas qualify, Sweeting said they will then be eligible to compete for the Bahamas at the CAC Games.

#“We will have all of our other minor league players on the team,” said Sweeting, who noted that the coaching staff will be announced very shortly.

#“We are going to be very competitive and we’re looking forward to showcasing the talent that is available in what is called “the show.”

#“Our expectations is that we will have a very good chance to qualify for the CAC Games. With the competition of the stadium, we will have all of our minor league players available to compete for the Bahamas because it’s their offseason.”

#Sweeting noted that once the team is assembled, they will get to travel to Grand Bahama for a mini training camp as the final touches are put on the completion of the stadium.

#But he noted that there probably won’t be any opportunity for the team to participate in any scrimmages before the tournament.

#De Lira thanked Bowleg, whom he called his “best” friend for keeping his word on allowing the tournament to be staged in the Bahamas and the LOC, headed by Sweeting and president Rodgers for their leadership in making sure that the tournament comes off. “The Bahamas is coming up in baseball,” De Lira said.

#“The tournament will give the Bahamas a chance to showcase the young players coming up.”

#And Rodgers said it’s a great time for baseball in the Bahamas and the BBA is ready to push the sport to higher heights.

#“There are a lot of other qualifying tournaments and we will try to push it as high as we could,” Rogers said. “The sky is the limit.”

#With just one 90-foot international baseball diamond available in the country, Sweeting said they have to limit the amount of teams participating in the tournament.

#The visiting teams will use Super Club Breezes as the Games Village.

#The tournament is expected to cost about $250,000.

#Once the tournament is completed, Sweeting said there are plans to reintroduce night league baseball and also to introduce a professional baseball league for the Bahamas.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/bba-full-steam-ahead-caribbean-cup/?news

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemeddia.net

#THE hard work is certainly paying off for talented Bahamian national team point guard Domnick ‘Nardo’ Bridgewater.

#The 22-year-old Bridgewater, who stands at 5-feet, 11-inches, inked his name on a contract last week to play for the US Avignon/ Pontet Basket, the top division II team in the France Basketball League.

#“I feel pretty good about it. It’s a great opportunity,” Bridgewater told The Tribune Sports before he left for France over the weekend.

#This is Bridgewater’s second year since professional basketball player Jaruan ‘Kino’ burrows, also an agent, completed the recruitment process through his organisation called Raw Talent Sports to head to France to further his basketball skills.

#“I’ve had some ups and downs, but it was a solid experience. It’s been nice so far,” said Bridgewater about his transformation to playing at the professional level overseas.

#“It’s also nice to get to experience the different culture.”

#Since he went to France, Bridgewater said his game has improved tremendously and he’s now seen a vast improvement in his personal commitment to being a young man. “It’s been a big change for me,” Bridgewater said.

#“I only hope that I can learn from the performance as I attempt to become a better individual on and off the basketball court.”

#If there’s any disappointment so far for Bridgewater, it would have been the fact that the team he played for last year didn’t get to advance to the league’s championship.

#“I got hurt in my last four games of the regular season and I couldn’t play to help my team,” Bridgewater said.

#“I think that was my biggest downfall.”

#With his new team this year, Bridgewater said he’s excited to move to the next level in France.

#“I’m excited about what’s going on,” he said.

#“I believe the hard work that I put in over the summer is finally paying off. So I’m pretty pleased about it.”

#Just like he did when he stepped in to play on the men’s national team, Bridgewater said he’s looking to step in and make a contribution to US Avignon/Pontet Basket.

#“It was an awesome experience,” said Bridgewater about wearing the national colours as a member of the men’s national basketball team this summer. “Anytime you can represent your country, it’s an awesome experience. It was a lot of fun for me. I’m looking forward now to helping my team win the championship.

#“I know I have a lot of them to improve on like my jump shot, but in time, I know I will get them. I see myself improving every day. Playing with the national team will definitely help me as well.”

#While he would like to be one of the Bahamians playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Bridgewater said he’s still pleased to be in the position that he is in right now.

#“God has placed me in this route, so I’m pretty pleased about it,” he said. “I’m enjoying it because my ultimate goal is to get to the highest level that I can get, whether it’s here in France or wherever I end up playing.”

#Bridgewater expressed his gratitude to God for giving him the ability to play, his mother Natalie Roker for instilling in him the virtues of being a young man and Burrows for opening the door for him to play in France.

#Despite his height, Bridgewater said he makes the most of his ability to move around the court, which has been the strength of his game. He hopes to start playing with US Avignon/Pontet Basket as soon as he arrives in France.

#“That’s one of the many challenges that I’m faced with,” Bridgewater said. “I have to learn the plays and get used to the guys on the team. I’m confident that I will be able to step right in and make my presence felt.”

#Just as he did with the men’s national team this summer.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/nardo-looking-forward-new-team/?news

CELTICS’ BRODRIC THOMAS, left, and Hornets’ Kai Jones, right, pursue the ball in their preseason game yesterday in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#KAI Jones and the Charlotte Hornets officially began their 2022-23 campaign as the NBA preseason got underway yesterday.

#Jones played sparingly late in the fourth quarter but finished with five points, five rebounds and a blocked shot in just nine minutes of the Hornets’ 134-93 loss to the Boston Celtics yesterday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

#Jones powered home a pair of dunks over Celtics centre Luka Samanic that went viral postgame.

#The Hornets are now under coach Steve Clifford, in his second run with Charlotte after James Borrego was fired following the season.

#Charlotte connected on 35 percent of its overall shots and made only five of 33 shots from 3-point range. Boston led 68-46 at halftime and stretched the lead to as many as 46 in the second half.

#Clifford called Jones “an exceptional athlete” and “phenomenal worker” when asked about his role in the frontcourt at training camp. “Kai [Jones] to me, right now, is more of a centre. He can play some four. Even for our league he’s an exceptional athlete and physical.

#“How quickly he puts himself in a place where he can legitimately play night in and night out in NBA games is just purpose of play,” Clifford said.

#“For all young players, especially inside guys, that’s the hardest thing. Playing to your strengths, helping your teammates play to their strengths, so we’ll see.”

#The Hornets return veteran centre Mason Plumlee, third year player Nick Richards and rookie Mark Williams all at the five spot.

#Plumlee got the start and played 15 minutes while Richards played 18 and Williams received 11 minutes in the rotation ahead of Jones.

#Forwards Jalen McDaniels and JT Thor were also ahead of Jones in the rotation at 19 and 15 minutes respectively.

#Jones called his rookie season “a beautiful experience” at Hornets media day but looks forward to making a bigger impact.

#“With my athleticism, I can have a two-way impact,” he said. “Lob threat, blocking shots, just being versatile.”

#In 2021, he excelled at the G-League level on assignment with the Greensboro Swarm averaging 16.5 points on 61.4 percent shooting from the field – 32 percent from three-point range – 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks in 32 total G League games. He also posted 15 total double-doubles.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/kai-jones-preseason-debut-5-points-5-rebounds-and-/?news

As of Monday, October 3, 2022

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Miami Heat’s training camp at the Baha Mar resort. Photos: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#VETERAN forward Udonis Haslem said there was no better way for the Miami Heat to begin the National Basketball Association’s 2022/23 season than hosting their training camp in The Bahamas.

#It’s the third time that the Heat came to the Bahamas and Haslem was a part of the team in 2013 and 2016 when they stayed at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. This time, they spent the past week at the Baha Mar resort.

#For Halsem, this will be his 20th and final year, all in Miami, as he completes the longest tenure by any player in the league right now. “Great way. Great way to finish my last training camp in Paradise,” Haslem told the media on Saturday following an open house workout session for the residents and visitors to the Bahamas.

#“It’s always much love whenever I come to the Bahamas. It’s just like being in Miami. The love is unmatched. I appreciate it a lot. It’s a dream come true to start off my last year the right way.”

#As an undrafted player in Miami, the team’s captain said the Heat has a tremendous organisation to play for.

#“It’s not easy putting together a playoff or championship calibre team every year,” he pointed out. “You go through your ups and downs and you will always have draft picks. “Some teams up the tank and do it the other way. “We did it to find those needles in the haystack and those diamonds in the rough.”

#Last year, the Heat clinched the eastern conference title and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before they got eliminated by the Boston Celtics. The Heat, coached by Erik Spoelstra, returns with basically the same team with the exception of defensive specialist PJ Tucker, who has gone to the Philadelphia 76ers.

#During the week, Spoelstra and his staff have been watching their rookies and a couple of players out of their D-League developmental programme to help fill in the void.

#The core of their team will include Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Victor Oladipo, Dewayne Dedmon, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Nikola Jovic, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Omer Yursev and Haslem.

#They’re looking to add to their roster from a list that includes Marcus Garrett, Darius Days, Jamaree Bouya, Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson.

#Haslem, the team’s captain, represented the club during the press briefing. He said if the players all buy into the programme presented by the coaches, they too can have a long career in the league like he does.

#The 42-year-old Haslem noted that they are preparing for the start of the pre-season on Tuesday at home at the FTX Arena in Miami against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have added Rudy Gobert to play with Anthony Towns.

#The Heat’s 35th regular season will also open at home on October 19 when they will entertain the Chicago Bulls.

#“Last year we didn’t lose much. Everybody is basically back,” he said. “Health issues is going to be our major thing. But right now, we’re here in the Bahamas in Paradise. We’re bonding, so it’s been a great trip here so far.”

#As for the expectations for the team, Haslem said the goal as usual is to win another championship title.

#“We always have championship expectations. We don’t come into the season thinking about anything else,” he pointed out. “But we know it’s a long road before we get there. There are steps that we have to get there. The championship is always our expectations.”

#Haslem said the trip here was just like a home game, so they enjoyed playing in front of the Bahamian crowd. The Heat also hosted a children’s clinic on Thursday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

#“It’s been a great week. We got some work in,” he said.

#“We had a little bit of rain, but we held on pretty good. Some of the younger guys got on the water slides and some of the older guys played some golf.

#“So it was good to be here. We had everything here to be successful to get ready for this season.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/03/great-way-finish-my-last-training-camp-paradise/?news

 Home|Sports|Ayton prepared to put last season behind himSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 30, 2022 425 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian DeAndre Ayton, the starting center of the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA), said this week that he hasn’t spoken to Suns’ Head Coach Monty Williams since the conclusion of Game Seven of last season’s Western Conference semifinals, raising speculation as to the relationship between the two and the response he will give on the court this coming season.

In an attempt to soften the blow, Williams said he hasn’t spoken to a lot of players since their season ended abruptly to the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in last season’s playoffs, giving them a chance to recover from the devastating loss and refocus their energy toward this season.

The Suns were the number one seed in the Western Conference of the NBA, finishing with a 64-18 win/loss record – a full eight games ahead of the second-place Memphis Grizzlies. They were favored to beat the fourth-seeded Mavericks and advance to the Western Conference Finals for a second year in a row.

However, they had arguably their worst game of the season in that Game Seven against the Mavericks.

Ayton played just 17 minutes on the floor. He was 2-for-5 from the field for five points and added four rebounds, coming off a season in which he averaged a double-double for a fourth year in a row. He was benched during that stunning Game Seven loss, falling out of favor with Williams.

Trade rumors surfaced again in the offseason, and Ayton eventually signed a four-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers. However, with him being a restricted free agent, the Suns had 48 hours to match the offer, and they did, locking down their former No. 1 overall draft pick for four years.

Following the Suns’ media day, Ayton said he hasn’t spoken with Williams since the benching.

“I haven’t spoken to him at all, ever since the game,” Ayton told reporters after the team’s first practice of the season on Tuesday. “I can show him better than I can tell him. It’s life. Nobody cares about the uncomfortable nature of it, it’s how you perform and what you bring to the table. What’s said is already said.”

Ayton worked out at the Suns facility for weeks leading up to training camp, but Williams said he purposely decided to leave players alone a little this summer.

“I think one-on-one’s are always needed between guys I’ve been around for awhile,” Williams said. “Some guys need it and some guys don’t. I’ll identify that as the season progresses. I’ll talk to everybody as I always do during camp and it won’t be an issue at all.”

Be that as it may, Ayton says it’s all business for him this season as he tries to solidify himself as one of the better centers in the league, thereby justifying the investment made in him.

“When I’m in between those lines, man, I work,” Ayton said. “I know I’m not playing for myself. I have an organization across my chest and a name on my back I have to represent, I’m just here to work.”

The Suns were blown out on their home floor, losing by 33 points to the Mavericks in Game Seven of their Western Conference semifinal series. The previous year, they came within two games of winning the NBA title, falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

On Monday, Williams said he believes Ayton could put any lingering issues behind him.

“He’s just too good of a player, and he’s a good dude,” Williams said. “There’s times where you bump heads on certain issues, but that doesn’t define a person in totality, and I think sometimes that stuff just gets blown out of proportion and rightfully so, when you don’t know all the facts.”

Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 58 games last season. As mentioned, he has averaged a double-double in each of his four years in the league.

https://thenassauguardian.com/ayton-prepared-to-put-last-season-behind-him/

 Home|Sports|Bahamian collegiate tennis players get their seasons underwaySports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 30, 2022 416 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian collegiate tennis athletes are getting prepared for the 2022/23 season, and a number of them have experienced preseason action with their respective teams.

There are approximately nine athletes who are on the tennis college scholarships in the United States. The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) congratulates each of them on their hard work thus far, and wish them the very best in their upcoming seasons.

Jacobi Bain, a member of the Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) Gold Rush men’s tennis team, was awarded the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) South Region Rookie Award for his performance for the 2021/22 season. Bain finished with a 20-7 win/loss record in singles and was 26-9 in doubles last year.

Bain started his 2022/23 season at the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) National Tournament. In singles, Bain who was seeded third, played well but lost against Jonasz Dziopak, of Tennessee State University, 6-3 and 6-0.

Bain obtained success in doubles with partner VanDer Woody. They captured the doubles title, 6-3, over Ruan Du Preez and Sam Bajracharya of Alabama State University.

Competing for the Hampton University Pirates, Donte Armbrister and his doubles partner Emiliano Jorquera won the title at the Elon Fall Invitational Powell Doubles Tournament. In the championship match, Armbrister and Jorquera won over Naresh Bharathy and Neiman Sneed from North Carolina Central University, 7-5. In singles, Armbrister lost to Eder Blanco of North Carolina A&T State University, 6-2 and 7-6, in the second round.

At the Christopher Newport University (CNU) Fall Invitational the week prior, Armbrister was a perfect 4-0 in singles and doubles.

Elana Mackey and the Mars Hill Lions competed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) Division II Southeast Regional Championships. In singles, Mackey lost in the round of 16 to the sixth seeded Dana Heimen of Flagler College, 6-4 and 6-4. In doubles, Mackey partnered with Amanda Kadiri and they lost 8-4 to Evgeniya Pugina and Lucy Whelan of Lenoir-Ryne University.

Sydney Clarke and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers competed in the Samford Fall Round-Robin Tournament.

In singles, Clarke won over Karen Yibirin of Middle Tennesee State University, 6-0 and 6-1, and Sean Mullen of Tulane, 6-4 and 6-0. In doubles, Clarke and Enya Ratkic came back from being down 5-0 to win over Tulane’s Mullen and Lily Walther, 7-5.

Clarke and UAB opened up their fall season at the Austin Peay Tournament where Clarke won over Arbelaz Maria of Cumberland University, 6-0 and 6-2, and had some well-fought matches where she lost against Emma Honore of Murray State, 6-1 and 6-4, Coco Bosman of UT Martin College, 6-3 and 6-2, and 1-6, 6-0 and 10-7, to Melody Hefti of Austin Peay State University. In doubles, Clarke and partner Mackenzie White won over Denise Torrealba and Lucy Lascheck of Austin Peay, 6-4. Clarke also teamed up with Annalisa Smith and they defeated Coco Bosman and Callie Billman of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 6-2. Clarke would rack up another doubles win with Alexandra da Silva as they defeated Elina Sungatullina and Juanita Mendez of Cumberland University, 6-1.

Abigail Simms and the Indiana Tech Warriors are coming off a 2022 season in which they repeated as Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Champions. They started the season, playing at Goshen College. Playing in the number two position in singles, Simms won over Carmen Aliaga of Gosher, 6-0 and 6-0. Simms won in doubles as well and the Warriors won the matchup, 6-0.

At the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) Fall Classic, Simms and partner Criss Echavaria lost to the host’s France Antezana and Sofia Loren Munoz in doubles, 6-2.

Kofi Bowe and the Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls are expected to experience action when they take on Elana Mackey and the Mars Hill Lions. Bahamian Shaytonya Missick also plays for the Golden Bulls.

Bahamian Anthony Burrows Jr. plays for the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons. Burrows is in his freshman year. They will face Missouri Baptist on October 7.

Peyton Anderson plays for the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs. Playing in the number five position in singles, Anderson, a freshman, played against Claire Nemmers of Minnesota State University at Moorhead and won, 6-4 and 7-5. In doubles, Anderson and partner Roz Oye won, 6-0, in the number three doubles position.

Against the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Anderson teamed up with Roz Oye in doubles and they fell, 6-2. In singles, she lost, 6-0 and 6-3, to Plachy Clare.

“We are excited for our returning athletes and our new athletes who will be adjusting to the college scene. We pray that you all are successful on the courts and in the classroom,” the BLTA stated in a press release. “We congratulate Joshua Turnquest, Sierra Donaldson, Hannah-Joy Simms and Afrika Smith who graduated last season and wish them well as they undertake their various pursuits.”

The collegiate tennis season continues for a number of the Bahamians players in the coming weeks.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-collegiate-tennis-players-get-their-seasons-underway/

 Home|Sports|Sands non-committal on another runSports

He said he will decide in due time whether or not he will run again for NACAC president

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 30, 2022 407 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Going into an election year, Bahamian president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Mike Sands said he is satisfied with the work that they would have done, and when the time comes, the body’s membership will judge him and his executive team on their four years in office.

As to whether or not he will offer himself for reelection, Sands remains non-committal, simply stating that he will make the decision in due course. He said that the regional body enjoyed another successful year in 2022, despite the challenges brought forward with the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he is optimistic about what lies ahead in 2023.

“There are always thoughts in my head, but I really don’t look that far ahead,” said Sands in terms of offering himself for re-election in 2023. “There is a lot of work to do, and you would hope that the work you already did, speaks for itself. If you are consistently doing what you were elected to do, then there is no need to scurry later on when it comes times for re-election. I do what I do and I like what I do. As long as persons believe I am capable of making a contribution, then the choice is theirs.”

Sands further said that he’s thankful to be occupying the position of NACAC president and he hope to continue for as long as they would have him, thereby hinting that he would indeed run again in 2023.

“I feel reasonably satisfied with what we in the NACAC executive have done in our term in office. I feel as if we did an amazing job,” said Sands. “We have not received any negative feedback as to our performance and we are in constant communication with our members. I have a personal one-on-one relationship with each and every one of the members. We have open communication on a regular basis and there has been no negative feedback that we’re not doing what they expected us to do. We also have sessions with them to find out exactly what is happening and how we in NACAC can help. It speaks to the platform that we have developed,” he added.

There are 31 full fledged members of NACAC including The Bahamas, the majority of the Caribbean, and North and Central America. There are five other associate members.

In terms of some of their accomplishments in their time in office, Sands said participation at global meets remains above board and stellar, there have been the continuance of the NACAC Senior Championships, the implementation of a kids’ athletic program, and the staging of technical courses, coaching seminars and multi events camps just to name a few.

“NACAC had a very strong year in 2022. Our participation at the world athletic championships, and at other global meets, was top notch as usual. There were several world records broken in 2022 and NACAC athletes certainly had its share in that,” said Sands. “There was the return of the NACAC Senior Championships despite the challenges that we would have faced with COVID-19, and then there is the just completed kids’ athletic program in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in which 19 member federations took part. Also, there are five women from the NACAC area taking part in the gender leadership workshop in Poland.

“We continue to be at the forefront with what is happening in our sport. While there were challenges throughout the year, with COVID and everything else, NACAC never stopped working and recording top performances. We continued to move forward.”

The CARIFTA Games, which is owned and managed by NACAC, will be coming to The Bahamas in 2023 to coincide with the country’s 50th Golden Anniversary Independence celebrations and the 50th anniversary of CARICOM.

Sands said they expect a grand cultural display in the hosting of the 50th CARIFTA Games next year.

Sands said he is looking forward to representing the region at the next World Athletics Council meeting in Rome, Italy, where he will continue to beckon on behalf of the NACAC region at the highest level of world athletics.

“I am pleased to sit at the table and represent the NACAC region and lend my expertise and views to the decisions that will be made,” said Sands. “All of the views that I will present are done on behalf of NACAC, so it’s not my position but it  is a representation of the views of the member federations.”

The 2023 NACAC elections are set for next summer, prior to the staging of the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the 19th edition of that global meet, which is set for  August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.

NACAC produces a weekly newsletter, designed to keep the 36 member federations informed as to what is taking place at an administrative level on a regular basis as well as updates on competitions, meetings, seminars and negotiations for contracts to name a few of the items on the agenda. The information is also posted on the NACAC website, and is distributed to the member federations on a regular basis, making them totally aware of every event and item that is on the table.

https://thenassauguardian.com/sands-non-committal-on-another-run/