PLAYOFF REPLAY: The Bain and Grants Town Cybots advanced to a 2-0 series lead and remain undefeated against the Bamboo Shack Patrollers.

As of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) Panthers and Bain and Grants Town Cybots are heating up in round two of the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association (BGDBA) playoffs.

#With the top three 2023 regular season teams battling to advance to the next round, competition levels have picked up at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

#Last year’s defending champions, the Panthers, rebounded with a 80-78 narrow win against the Police Crimestoppers on Monday night following their loss on the weekend.

#The Cybots remain in the driver’s seat after collecting a 86-79 win to make it their fourth straight of the playoffs and second win of the series over the Bamboo Shack Patrollers.

#Panthers vs Crimestoppers

#The Panthers regained their footing in the best-of-five series on Monday night against the Crimestoppers. Coming into the game the series was tied 1-1 but the team closed out game three by two points following a big game by Kemsey Sylvestre.

#Before Monday’s game the Crimestoppers’ game plan was to slow down the Panthers star and his teammate Roosevelt Whylly. However, the latter did not play but his teammate stepped up in a big way.

#The former national basketball team member pushed his team to a 2-1 series lead after he put up a jaw-dropping 23 points and 21 boards for a double double in the victory. Additionally, he amassed eight assists, nabbed two steals and blocked two shots.

#In one of the more competitive series of the BGDBA playoffs, the Panthers and Crimestoppers started the first quarter of play in typical form, evenly matched.

#After leading 13-4 in the first five minutes of the game, the Panthers closed out the first period leading 24-22. The following quarter saw the score differential change to six points this time favouring the Crimestoppers who outscored their opponents 24-16 before the halftime break. The score was 46-40 as both teams prepped for the second half.

#The third quarter saw the Crimestoppers lead 55-51 early in the period with Jeron Smith and Michael Furley Bain Jr leading the way. Smith ended the night with a team-high 17 points and shot 58.3 per cent from the field in the tough loss. Meanwhile, Bain notched 15 points, 6 rebounds and five assists.

#Despite shooting more than 47 per cent in the paint compared to the Panthers’ 35 per cent, the Crimestoppers could not stop their opponents on the boards. The Panthers secured 64 rebounds to the 43 grabbed by the Crimestoppers.

#Although the Crimestoppers also bested the Panthers in fastbreak and bench points, the team’s free throw woes soiled their chances of earning their second win of the series.

#With 0.40 seconds remaining in the ball game, Sylvestre hit a big bucket to push the lead to 79-78. Cyril Rolle, his teammate, knocked down a key free throw to make the score 80-78.

#On the final play, Bain was awarded two foul shots that gave the Crimestoppers a chance to play an extra period for overtime.

#However, both of his free throw attempts clanked off the iron to close the curtain on the Crimestoppers.

#Sylvestre talked about the difficult win against the Crimestoppers.

#“We know being down two starters everybody had to dig deep and everybody just had to come and play. It took a full team effort, I was thankful to my team for giving me a little break so I could bring them home at the end,” he said.

#He added that the Crimestoppers made a crucial mistake switching their defensive set to a box-and-one zone which he took advantage of on the go-ahead bucket for the win.

#Cybots vs Patrollers

#The Cybots are one of the more experienced teams in the BGDBA playoffs and it showed against the Patrollers on Monday night.

#The team earned a seven-point win to push their series lead to 2-0 and will look to complete the sweep tonight at 7:30pm.

#The Patrollers kept up with the Cybots throughout the first two quarters. The lead was 38-34 going into halftime with the Bamboo Shack team in charge.

#However, in the third period the momentum shifted for the Cybots who started the quarter leading 49-44 and ran the lead up to 10 points to close out the 10 minutes of play.

#The Cybots placed their feet on the gas pedal and got out to a 75-53 scoring run to earn a 22-point lead which was their biggest of the game.

#Despite narrowing the lead down to single digits in the final period, the Patrollers were unable to regain the lead anymore after the second half.

#Wayde Watson, head coach of the Cybots, said it was a good win and the Patrollers played hard and came back strong but was thankful his team was able to pull it off. He added that the goal remains to win every quarter and every game to advance.

#The 2023 BGDBA playoffs will continue tonight at 7:30pm.

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As of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

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Rayshard and Richard Gibson and Makeda Johnson in New York at the 42nd US Mid-Amateur Championships that took place at the Sleepy Hallow Country Club in Scarborough, New York.

Golfer Richard Gibson Jr and his brother, caddie Rayshard Gibson, in New York.

Brothers Rayshard and Richard Gibson Jr in New York.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#RICHARD Gibson Jr, the Bahamas’ top ranked international amateur golfer, returned home last week after participating in the 42nd US Mid-Amateur Championships that took place at the Sleepy Hallow Country Club in Scarborough, New York.

#He wasn’t successful in making the cut for the top 64 out of the field of 264 field to advance to the match play for the hardware, but Gibson said the experience gained was just as valuable.

#“That’s the best experience I ever had in golf and it was a new experience for me,” said Gibson, who was only the second Bahamian to play in the event, following on the heels of DeVaughn Robinson.

#“I never experienced some of the stuff that I went through. I give thanks to God for giving me the opportunity, but I never played on a golf course that was so rough. The rough length was about 4-5 inches. I never played the rough that high before and I never played greens in competition that was that fast. That’s the fastest I’ve ever played the golf course before in terms of putting.”

#The 31-year-old Gibson Jr, whose world ranking is pegged at 245 before the start of the tournament in New York, admitted that in order for him to continue to improve, he will have to definitely play more competition in the United States.

#“The Caribbean golf is pretty much the same. You might find a golf course where the rough is a little bit higher, but for the USGA event, they intentionally grow the rough up because they want you to play a championship course.

#“So they will grow the rough up from maybe 3 ½ inches to about five inches. They penalise you if you miss the fairways. So you need to hit the fairways. If you miss the fairways, you will be penalised. Other than that, you have to learn how to deal with the weather delays.”

#In most tournaments he’s played here around the Caribbean, Gibson Jr said the organisers would more than likely cancel the rest of the match play or shorten the rounds whenever it rains. With the rain delays in New York, Gibson Jr said the organisers just pushed the tee times back.

#“I was supposed to play on Saturday and Sunday, but I ended up playing on Saturday and Monday because my tee times were pushed back,” he said.

#“Originally, I was supposed to tee off at 1:38pm on Sunday, but after the rain delays, it was pushed back to 6:38pm. Then we had another delay and when I went to check to see what’s going on, they told me my tee time had been moved to Monday at 8:38am.

#“So that was a new experience for me. I always wanted to see how that worked out. I always watched it on TV, but to actually be a part of it was something else. The only thing I didn’t somewhat like, because it was raining so much, I thought they would have done lift, clean and place where once your ball hit the fairway, you would lift it and clean the dirt off and play. But they just let us go with the ball down where you just played from wherever your ball landed on the fairway.”

#Gibson is now preparing to team up with Nolan Johnson, the Bahamas’ second highest ranked international amateur golfer at 887, in the US Amateur Fou Ball Championships that will be staged in Bayou Oakes South Course in New Orleans, Louisiana.

#“We’re going to give it our best shot,” Gibson Jr said.

#If they are successful, they will advance to the 2024 US Amateur Four Ball Championships that will be held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Philidelphia May 25-29.

#At this stage in the game, Gibson Jr said he’s been pleased with his progress since he started playing the game at the age of eight with his father, Richard Gibson Sr. But he admitted while he enjoys the competition here, he needs more of a challenge to get to the point where he could be a contender in the big tournaments on the international scene, especially in the USA.

#“When I’m playing against a group of people and I know I’m going to be coming in either first, second or third, that’s not helping me,” he stated. “For me to get better, I know I have to get to the United States or Europe or Canada where there are a lot more golfers who I don’t know and I have to perform.

#“That’s the only way that I am going to get better to get on the professional tour where they are watching you play on TV. That is where I want to go, but I know I have to get in some more tournaments to improve my scores and my game.”

#Compared to a Professional Golf Association pro, Gibson Jr said those players wake up in the morning and head to the gym to lift weights. They then go on the golf course for the rest of the day, practicing and playing golf.

#When he gets up, he spends the majority of his time working on the golf course where he’s assisting the visiting amateur and pro golfers as they practice and compete at the Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar where he is the operations assistant.

#“I can’t practice on the golf course until I get off. That’s a big difference,” Gibson Jr pointed out.

#“Until I can find a big sponsor who will enable me to stop working, I still have a lot more to do before I can take that step and turn pro.”

As of Wednesday, September 20, 2023

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Anya James, president of the Bahamas Football Association.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SHE’S been in office for four months but, for Anya James, it’s an honour to be serving as the first female president of the Bahamas Football Association.

#Although it’s widely considered a “male-dominated sport,” James is not operating in her first rodeo. She previously served as the executive vice president for the past eight years under the presidency of Anton Sealey.

#But now at the helm since elected on May 16, James said she has some plans to grow the sport from the grassroots level to the women’s game throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

#“We’ve targeted Grand Bahama because Grand Bahama has a very strong youth women’s programme and I think they have a few players coming in from Grand Bahama to play on our women’s national team,” James said.

#“We are looking at improving and expanding the women’s programme in Grand Bahama, we are looking at expanding in Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera for starters. We plan to get more players in and also now that we have our senior women’s national team playing, we have some of the older players and senior players interested in coming back.”

#Through the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Tecnology, James said they are looking at enhancing their programme in the schools and they have already shipped equipment to Cat Island, Inagua and a few other islands so that they can start and sustain their programmes.

#“But we want to start with those four islands that I mentioned earlier with those because we know we have people on the ground who can sustain the programmes,” she stated. “We don’t just want to introduce the programme, but we want to make sure they are sustainable as well.”

#Funding, according to James, won’t be an issue for the BFA.

#“For some of the programmes, we will get some assistance from the FIFA Foundation and FIFA also has a programme called Football for Schools, so that’s one of the avenues that we are to use to introduce football to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”

#In an era where more women are coming to the forefront in sporting organisations on the global stage, James said she has embraced her opportunity at the national level.

#“I didn’t think that being president of the BFA was attainable at some point because football is still a man’s world,” James said.

#“But I was actually encouraged by my late father, my husband and my sons, so I actually had men encouraging me to step forward.

#“Being involved in the administration of football over the past eight years, why not.”

#But, at the same time, it’s always good to be the first to break the glass ceiling.

#“As women we bring a different perspective to the table. We’re not here to take over, but we’re here to sit at the table and add value,” James stated.

#“So it’s exciting and I’m encouraging other women to step forward because I know there are a few other women who are capable of leading, so I’m the first female, but I definitely won’t be the last female.”

#And while she will be the trailblazer, James said she’s encouraged to have another female in Daria Adderley serving on the board as well as the council member responsible for the women’s programme.

#“Most people will know that soccer is her life,” James said. “She’s contributed a lot to the sport, so it’s exciting and I will be encouraging a lot more women to get involved in all aspects of football.”

#As for her tenure in office so far, James admitted that it’s been busy. “I’m going to stay focused on the plans that we have. I have an excellent combination of council members, a few that have served previously and a few new members,” James said.

#“They have brought a lot of new ideas and a lot of new ideas to execute our plans, so it’s exciting.”

#Before her four-year term is done, James said she intends to get more people involved in the sport.

#“Football is the world’s favourite sport, so we plan on taking over,” she said. “It might not be the favourite sport in The Bahamas, but that’s part of my plan. That is going to change soon.”

#One of the changes will be the return of some of the former players as they participate in the formation of a senior women’s league that is high on the agenda for James.

Player Rachel Rolle, coach Ricqea Bain, Minister of Sports official Adam Miller, BFA president Anya James, player Melina McClure and BFA Technical Director Bruce Swan pose from left to right.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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Anya James, president of the Bahamas Football Association.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#For the first time in about three decades, the Bahamas senior women’s national soccer team will get a chance to compete on the international stage just like their male counterparts.

#With Anya James as the first woman serving at the helm as president as well, the Bahamas Football Association announced the CONCACAF Women’s Road to Gold Cup.

#The journey for the women will begin on Wednesday when they host Grenada at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium beginning at 7pm before they head to Grenada to play on Sunday at 4pm.

#Playing out of League C and Group C, the Bahamas will only have to play one other team, the US Virgin Islands, whom they will travel to play in October and host here in November, according to the BFA’s technical director Bruce Swan.

#“It has been a struggle over the years since most of our players, after finishing high school, would have moved on to university and colleges,” Swan said.

#“It’s important for the growth of women from the Bahamas to play the game beyond university and the decision was taken to enter into the women’s Gold Cup.”

#The winner of their Group will advance to play the winner of Group B to determine who will move on. Only one team will advance from the Group to the Gold Cup.

#In their quest to advance, the BFA named the following players to the team: Raynia Russell and Melina McClure (goalkeepers), Diane Maillis, Brianna Capron, Tyra McKenzie, Samina Moss, Edissa Bain, Dalexis Huyler, Angel Williams, Liah Rae Tucker, Jada Thelamour, Demitra McClure, Kyrah Miller, Janeka Edey, Giselle Laing, Jodei Clarke, Karen Wert, Rachel Rolle, Megan Wood, Valtrinique Simmons, Taleah Thompson, Hadassah Knowles and Kaitlyn Rolle.

#As a backdrop with the slogan: “Women, who win,” James said she’s delighted to be in the role during a monumental stage as they mark a new chapter in women’s soccer in the country as it embodies a spirit, resilience and determination.

#“Our team, which stands as a beacon of hope, talent and perseverance, resonates perfectly with our mantra women, who win and indeed every stride that they take on the field, every goal they aim for and every challenge they overcome, they do so as winners.

#“However, this moment is not just about participating. It’s about showing the tenacity, talent and spirit of Bahamian women. It’s about breaking barriers, setting benchmarks and inspiring the next generation to dream even bigger.”

#James expressed her gratitude who have all been a part of the women’s journey, including the players, coaching staff and unsung heroes behind the scenes, they have arrived, and they wish that their fans will rally around and provide the support needed for the women’s team to win.

#Head coach Ricqea Bain said the team’s dedication and energy resonates with their slogan and they have to go out on Wednesday and accomplish their goal of winning.

#Bain, a former coach of the junior national team, said they will field a team that includes seven high school players two of whom are based in the United States, along with a core group between the ages of 20-23 and two players ranging in 28-29.

#“It was easy to get them together because locally we play on one league, so we were already messed together and it was just a matter of bringing everyone together to play at the same time,” Bain said.

#In reference to playing at home, Bain said she’s elated.

#“We’ve been doing this for a while, but we keep stopping at the Youth 17 age, so it’s awesome for us to be home to celebrate that we are going to play our first game at home and win at home.”

#With the team assembled, Bain said she’s confident that they can beat Grenada and will make everybody home proud of their accomplishments.

#“This is just the beginning of our journey, so there’s no pressure to go out there and win,” Bain said. “We know what we can do and what we won’t do in the next couple of months because this is a competition that is here to stay.”

#Two of the players on the team, returning home from college, were Melina McClure and Rachel Rolle.

#McClure, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, said they are electrified to be in this position to represent the country. She noted that they have been training really hard and they a game plan that they hope to execute as they forge ahead to success.

#The University of Colorada, Colorado Springs sophomore noted that she’s excited about playing at home.

#“So many people dream of this happening to them and to have this kind of impact on everyone, especially for future generation of players, so I think we’re all ecstatic,” she said.

#On the team selection, McClure said they couldn’t have put together such a line-up.

#“I see the improvement, even just over the last few months,” she pointed out. “I think we are strong. I see our game plan that we have, and I think we can make it pretty far personally. I have very high hopes.”

#And Rolle, 20, said while there are no words to describe their participation in the games, they are prepared to put their best foot forward literally and fugitively as they do their best and play their game.

#“I’m extremely excited to be back at home,” said Rolle, a sophomore at Allen University in Colombia, South Carolina. “Not only excited, but I’m also honored to come back to play for my team, to showcase our talent as a group and to show our country what we can do as a team.”

#On the team selected, Rolle, who played on the national team for four years, said she’s confident in everyone’s ability as they go out and dominate their group.

#Adam Miller, a Sports Officer at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said they fully support the women’s national team in their journey through the Gold Cup.

#“It’s really important to have this national team being able to compete at home,” he said. “It provides people an opportunity to see women’s football and the potential and growth that it has over the years and the future for the sport.

#“One of the mandates for the ministry is about growing the game for all and I think having a women’s national team being able to compete at an international level is vital for that vision. So, it’s really good to see that the Bahamas Football Association is setting a mandate again and setting a standard for women’s international representation.”

#Entry fee for the game on Wednesday is $20 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 13.

#The women’s team follows on the heels of the men’s national team, which has already started playing in the CONCACAF Nations League. Playing out of League B and Group D, the Bahamas lost 6-1 to Puerto Rico on September 6 and 3-2 to Guyana on September 12 in their first two games played.

BAHAMAS LADIES ON ‘ROAD TO CUP’: Women’s national soccer team to host Grenada tomorrow

Player Rachel Rolle, coach Ricqea Bain, Minister of Sports official Adam Miller, BFA president Anya James, player Melina McClure and BFA Technical Director Bruce Swan pose from left to right.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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Anya James, president of the Bahamas Football Association.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#For the first time in about three decades, the Bahamas senior women’s national soccer team will get a chance to compete on the international stage just like their male counterparts.

#With Anya James as the first woman serving at the helm as president as well, the Bahamas Football Association announced the CONCACAF Women’s Road to Gold Cup.

#The journey for the women will begin on Wednesday when they host Grenada at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium beginning at 7pm before they head to Grenada to play on Sunday at 4pm.

#Playing out of League C and Group C, the Bahamas will only have to play one other team, the US Virgin Islands, whom they will travel to play in October and host here in November, according to the BFA’s technical director Bruce Swan.

#“It has been a struggle over the years since most of our players, after finishing high school, would have moved on to university and colleges,” Swan said.

#“It’s important for the growth of women from the Bahamas to play the game beyond university and the decision was taken to enter into the women’s Gold Cup.”

#The winner of their Group will advance to play the winner of Group B to determine who will move on. Only one team will advance from the Group to the Gold Cup.

#In their quest to advance, the BFA named the following players to the team: Raynia Russell and Melina McClure (goalkeepers), Diane Maillis, Brianna Capron, Tyra McKenzie, Samina Moss, Edissa Bain, Dalexis Huyler, Angel Williams, Liah Rae Tucker, Jada Thelamour, Demitra McClure, Kyrah Miller, Janeka Edey, Giselle Laing, Jodei Clarke, Karen Wert, Rachel Rolle, Megan Wood, Valtrinique Simmons, Taleah Thompson, Hadassah Knowles and Kaitlyn Rolle.

#As a backdrop with the slogan: “Women, who win,” James said she’s delighted to be in the role during a monumental stage as they mark a new chapter in women’s soccer in the country as it embodies a spirit, resilience and determination.

#“Our team, which stands as a beacon of hope, talent and perseverance, resonates perfectly with our mantra women, who win and indeed every stride that they take on the field, every goal they aim for and every challenge they overcome, they do so as winners.

#“However, this moment is not just about participating. It’s about showing the tenacity, talent and spirit of Bahamian women. It’s about breaking barriers, setting benchmarks and inspiring the next generation to dream even bigger.”

#James expressed her gratitude who have all been a part of the women’s journey, including the players, coaching staff and unsung heroes behind the scenes, they have arrived, and they wish that their fans will rally around and provide the support needed for the women’s team to win.

#Head coach Ricqea Bain said the team’s dedication and energy resonates with their slogan and they have to go out on Wednesday and accomplish their goal of winning.

#Bain, a former coach of the junior national team, said they will field a team that includes seven high school players two of whom are based in the United States, along with a core group between the ages of 20-23 and two players ranging in 28-29.

#“It was easy to get them together because locally we play on one league, so we were already messed together and it was just a matter of bringing everyone together to play at the same time,” Bain said.

#In reference to playing at home, Bain said she’s elated.

#“We’ve been doing this for a while, but we keep stopping at the Youth 17 age, so it’s awesome for us to be home to celebrate that we are going to play our first game at home and win at home.”

#With the team assembled, Bain said she’s confident that they can beat Grenada and will make everybody home proud of their accomplishments.

#“This is just the beginning of our journey, so there’s no pressure to go out there and win,” Bain said. “We know what we can do and what we won’t do in the next couple of months because this is a competition that is here to stay.”

#Two of the players on the team, returning home from college, were Melina McClure and Rachel Rolle.

#McClure, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, said they are electrified to be in this position to represent the country. She noted that they have been training really hard and they a game plan that they hope to execute as they forge ahead to success.

#The University of Colorada, Colorado Springs sophomore noted that she’s excited about playing at home.

#“So many people dream of this happening to them and to have this kind of impact on everyone, especially for future generation of players, so I think we’re all ecstatic,” she said.

#On the team selection, McClure said they couldn’t have put together such a line-up.

#“I see the improvement, even just over the last few months,” she pointed out. “I think we are strong. I see our game plan that we have, and I think we can make it pretty far personally. I have very high hopes.”

#And Rolle, 20, said while there are no words to describe their participation in the games, they are prepared to put their best foot forward literally and fugitively as they do their best and play their game.

#“I’m extremely excited to be back at home,” said Rolle, a sophomore at Allen University in Colombia, South Carolina. “Not only excited, but I’m also honored to come back to play for my team, to showcase our talent as a group and to show our country what we can do as a team.”

#On the team selected, Rolle, who played on the national team for four years, said she’s confident in everyone’s ability as they go out and dominate their group.

#Adam Miller, a Sports Officer at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said they fully support the women’s national team in their journey through the Gold Cup.

#“It’s really important to have this national team being able to compete at home,” he said. “It provides people an opportunity to see women’s football and the potential and growth that it has over the years and the future for the sport.

#“One of the mandates for the ministry is about growing the game for all and I think having a women’s national team being able to compete at an international level is vital for that vision. So, it’s really good to see that the Bahamas Football Association is setting a mandate again and setting a standard for women’s international representation.”

#Entry fee for the game on Wednesday is $20 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 13.

#The women’s team follows on the heels of the men’s national team, which has already started playing in the CONCACAF Nations League. Playing out of League B and Group D, the Bahamas lost 6-1 to Puerto Rico on September 6 and 3-2 to Guyana on September 12 in their first two games played.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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From left are coach Augusto Sabbatini, Aidan Knowles, Xavier Cooper, Tre Moncur, Nrosnan D’Arville, Joshua Adderley and coach Kurkwood Greene Sr.

Sisters Sheniah and Sternesha Pratt with coaches Augusto Sabbatini and Kurkwood Greene Sr.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER an intense month of training sessions that was completed on Saturday, the Bahamas Volleyball Federation feels it is better equipped to move forward with a vibrant beach volleyball programme.

#The BVF hosted a weekly training session at the Bahamas Football Association’s Beach Soccer facilities at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge. The sessions were conducted by visiting coach Augusto Sabbatini and local coach Kurkwood Greene.

#Sabbatini, a Brazilian coach with 31 years of experience, spent the past three months in the Bahamas working with the men’s and women’s national volleyball teams before they participated in the NORCECA Tournament in Suriname in August before he concluded his trip with beach soccer.

#The emphasis for the beach soccer training sessions was to prepare the youth, junior and under-23 players to participate in a series of international tournaments next year.

#A total of 29 players, including 14 females and 15 males between the ages of 14-21, participated in the training sessions, which were conducted on Saturday mornings.

#Greene, the vice president of the BVF, said they contacted FIVA, the governing body for volleyball, for assistance with their training programme and they sent Sabbatini.

#“The concept with the beach volleyball programme was to concentrate on the junior players,” Greene said. “So we put out a call for young people between the ages of 12 and 21 because we have several teams to field for international tournaments next year.

#“The beach training also give us an idea who can also play volleyball indoors. But with beach volleyball, there’s less people to play on a team and while we have a few players on the senior circuit, we want to get our junior programme going. It’s a lot more fun to play, but we hope that we can sustain this programme at least once a week on Saturday to put the resources in place.”

#Sabbatini, who will leave town today for St Lucia for one year for another programme, said he was glad to implement the training programme for beach volleyball and he hope that the BVF will continue it.

#“Most of the time when I leave, the programme stops, but you have some very good players and they need the programme to continue so that they can develop,” Sabbatini said. “There are a lot of technical aspects of the game that they have to work on.”

#Sabbatini said he enjoyed his experience here in the Bahamas, especially with the facilities at the Beach Soccer complex. He said the Bahamas also have some excellent players who can excel in the sport.

#Pratt sisters Sternesha Pratt, 16, and Sterniah, 14, both students of Leadership Academy and Andiel Bowleg, a 16-year-old student of Aquinas College, were among some of the female players who indicated that they enjoyed the experience.

#As an aspiring actress who speaks Spanish fluently, and participates in ballot, gymnastics and hip hop, Sternesha said she’s excited to branch out into another sport.

#“I am very tired, and I can’t wait to go into my mother’s car to drink some water and when I go home, I am going to go to sleep,” said Sternesha, in a Spanish translation.

#The 12th grader said as a former track athlete who also played the panio, said she was aways interested in learning something new and when the opportunity presented itself, she decided to test her skills in beach volleyball.

#“Before I came here, I thought I was good in volleyball, but when the coaches took us through the training sessions, they really humbled me,” she said. “On my first day here, I barely could pass the ball back to the coach.

#“But after coming here for the past month, I really improved. Now I am able to pass the ball back to the coach and I can hear ‘good job Sternesha’ from the coach. I was able to pass the ball to my team-mates. I really learn how to be consistent.”

#Her younger sister, Sterniah Pratt, who is now in the tenth grade, said she decided to come out because when she started playing four years ago, she enjoyed it.

#“It’s been good, but it’s been tiring playing in the sand,” she said. “The first time I got here, I thought I was good, but as I started to practice, I realized that I got better.”

#She noted that as long as she stays focused and concentrate more on her serving, she will eventually get better.

#Bowleg, a native from Andros, came to the camp with the hopes of improving her game since she started playing from grade ten. She’s now in grade 12 and she hope that what she was taught will enable her to become a better player.

#“Out here is very hot and you get tired running in the sand,” Bowleg said. “I have to work more on my overhand serving. But I’m looking forward to playing at the national level.”

#For his attendance in just about every training session, Leroy Tre Moncur, a 16-year-old 11th grader of St Andrew’s School, got a special gift from coaches Sabbatini and Greene.

#Moncur, who started playing volleyball in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools, said as the captain of the Hurricanes’ senior boys’ team, when his coach Rachel Knowles told him about the programme, he decided to come out and participate.

#“It’s been an excellent experience. I learnt a lot in and off the court,” Moncur said. “Coach Sabbatini and Greene have both been excellent volleyball mentors in how to play volleyball.

#“Beach has overall been a different experience and it has allowed me to improve my game, digging, receiving, spiking, everything on the court.”

UNIVERSITY of the Bahamas Mingoes athletes in action at Keiser University Flagship Invitational in West Palm Beach.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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#THE University of The Bahamas cross country teams had to fight through a thunderstorm weather delay to have several improved individual performances at the Keiser University Flagship Invitational at the Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach.

#Lhevinne Joseph turned in the best performance across the teams and finished 50th out of 107 competitors in the men’s division with a time of 17 minutes 24.82 seconds in the 5km event.

#This was a more than a minute improvement over his previous cross country performance of 18:35.9 at Florida Atlantic University on September 1. The men’s team finished 9th out of 10 teams with 253 points and the women’s team finished 11th with 318 points.

#In the team event, the lower the score the better performance of the team.

#Jackson Ozias finished 80th in 18:47.57.

#Dennis Williamson finished in 83rd spot in 18:55.57.

#Kenold Jean finished 92nd in 19.26.0 and Donya Roberts, known more for the 400m event, took 101st spot in 21:22.73 – an almost one-minute improvement over his FAU meet performance (22:16.4).

#The top five runners from each team receive a score that counts toward the team performance.

#In cross country, the lower the score the better the performance. Both teams competed in the 5k.

#“Overall, it was great improvement with both teams,” head coach Ednal Rolle said. “Our top male Joseph ran a personal best by more than a minute and that was really fantastic for him being a middle-distance runner and moving over to the cross country.”

#On the women’s side, Lakeicia Lewis had the best performance for UB as she finished 91st out of 121 competitors with a 23: 31.85 which represents an almost two-minute improvement over the cross country meet three weeks ago (25:54.8 at Florida Atlantic University).

#Fridline Augustine took 111th spot in 26:22.42 – another two-minute improvement (28:46.9 at FAU meet); Sienna Mackey took 115th spot in 28.47.24 which is an almost four-minute improvement over 32:16.4 at the FAU meet. Kaiya Cambridge took 116th spot in 29.02.99 and Kendera Munroe was 118th in 30:21.8.

#“All of the women turned in personal bests for this meet,” coach Rolle said. “That shows that what we have been doing is paying off and helped them to improve.”

#The women’s team amassed 318 points to finish 11th. Both teams next compete in UB Cross Country meet at TAR National Stadium on September 30.

Geron Sands, second from right, co-founder of International Sports Academy, with Albert Cartwright, second from left, and organisers of the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMIAN Major League Baseball (MLB) star Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and his foundation will begin the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League starting next Saturday.

#The Miami Marlins centre fielder has not only made his mark on the field but also within the community.

#The Little League will continue from September 23 to December 3 and host up to 300 kids teaching them the fundamentals of baseball at a young age.

#Chisholm Jr expressed his excitement towards being able to bring his latest charitable initiative to life.

#“We are very excited about this right now. It is like a childhood dream coming through to help the kids that do not have it. We do not really have it like how they have it in the United States so we are really trying to make it fair for our kids and some kids that really need help in South Florida,” he said.

#The Little League will take place at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and will afford kids the opportunity to play more baseball than they are accustomed to during the fall season.

#Geron Sands, co-founder of International Sports Academy and the league’s commissioner, described Chisholm Jr’s desire to give back to his home country.

#“This is an historic event for Jazz to actually be giving back to his country where he came from to try to help the entire country. “It is not just a particular place, it’s everywhere he wants to help and give back and to give young kids the exposure he did not have when he was coming up here in Nassau,” he said.

#Despite the Little League being the latest project for the foundation, one of the organisers Kim Sweeting said there is more to come. “I am so proud to be a part of this team to watch the whole thing evolve from where Geron and Albert have started…our team here, the people that are working on this end in The Bahamas make this foundation a huge success,” Sweeting said.

#She added that as 2023 comes to an end, there are plans to host toy drives, a baseball camp, fishing tournament and fun day.

#The foundation aims to provide equipment and resources to youth in baseball and softball leagues, incorporate financial literacy education into various programmes, and support mission-aligned non-profit organisations.

#For more information on the Little League set for this week Saturday, log onto:

#www.jazzchisholmfoundation.org

#The 25-year-old Miami Marlins star, along with the members of the foundation, are grateful for all the continued support they have received from the public and various sponsors in their latest community initiative.

: Chisholm Jr and Marlins rout Braves 16-2, sweep series

Miami Marlins’ Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a grand slam during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves yesterday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#MIAMI (AP) — Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr hit a grand slam for the second consecutive game and the Miami Marlins routed the Atlanta Braves 16-2 yesterday to complete a three-game sweep of the NL East champions.

#Jorge Soler, Jake Burger and Nick Fortes also went deep, and Luis Arraez had three hits for the Marlins, who began the day a half-game out of the third NL wild-card spot. It was Miami’s first three-game sweep over Atlanta since 2015.

#Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo struck out eight in six scoreless innings. Luzardo (10-9) allowed four hits and walked two.

#Miami outscored Atlanta 36-11 in the series after getting outscored 83-29 while losing nine of the previous 10 meetings between the division foes this season.

#On Saturday, Jake Burger hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Chisholm Jr added a grand slam in the eighth inning as the Marlins pulled away to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5.

#Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for the Marlins, who became the first NL East team to win a series against the division champions. The Braves were 11-0-1 in their previous series against division opponents.

#“This team has handled us the whole year, handled the league,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, whose club was 1-9 against Atlanta before winning the first two of the series. “We knew that we weren’t going to shut them out. We had to keep punching back whenever they scored.”

#Gurriel singled, and Jesús Sánchez and Garrett Hampson walked before Chisholm Jr connected off Michael Tonkin for Miami’s first grand slam of the season.

#“I didn’t even know that, honestly, that it was the first grand slam,” Chisholm Jr said. “It feels great, especially how we’re playing right now.”

#Yesterday, Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr missed his second straight game because of right calf tightness.

#Chisholm Jr’s shot over the wall in right-centre capped a five-run third against Braves starter Charlie Morton.

#Josh Bell hit an RBI single before Chisholm Jr became the first Marlins player to hit grand slams in consecutive games.

#Four consecutive two-out walks by Morton in the fifth increased Miami’s lead to 6-0 and ended his outing. Morton (14-12) gave up six runs and six hits.

#He walked five and struck out five.

#Arraez’s RBI single and Soler’s two-run homer off Dereck Rodriguez in the sixth made it 10-0. Activated from the injured list earlier in the day, Soler drove Rodriguez’s fastball into the left-field seats for his 36th homer.

#Burger also connected off Rodriguez with his two-run shot in the seventh.

#Rodriguez, promoted from the minors yesterday, allowed eight runs and eight hits in two innings.Marcell Ozuna hit his 35th homer and Michael Harris II had an RBI single for the Braves in the eighth before Fortes connected on a solo shot in the bottom half.

#SMALLER CREW

#The game was played with three umpires. Manny González, who worked the first two games, was not with the crew Sunday.

#ROSTER MOVES

#The Marlins optioned OF Dane Myers to Triple-A Jacksonville to make room for Soler. Miami also selected the contract of RHP Chi Chi González from Jacksonville and optioned LHP Josh Simpson to the same minor league club.

#The Braves selected the contract of Rodriguez from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned Jared Shuster to the same affiliate.

#TRAINER’S ROOM

#Braves: Eddie Rosario was hit on his right elbow by a 97 mph fastball from Luzardo in the fourth. Although he needed assistance from the training staff, Rosario stayed in the game before being removed in the seventh. … LHP Dylan Lee (left shoulder inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

#Marlins: OF Bryan De La Cruz (right ankle discomfort) missed his second consecutive game. …

#OF Avisaíl García (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to increase his lower body rehab activities this week.

#UP NEXT

#Braves: Return home for a three-game series against Philadelphia beginning Monday, when RHP Kyle Wright (1-2, 7.48 ERA) will start against Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (11-6, 3.70).

#Marlins: RHP Edward Cabrera (6-7, 4.52 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Mets at home on Monday. RHP José Butto (1-2, 3.46) pitches for New York.

SHOWN on the podium are The Bahamas’ Kami Roach, far left, with her silver medal won in the road race.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#TRIATHLETE Kami Roach will return home from the Caribbean Elite Juniors Road Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic, leading the Bahamas’ team with a pair of silver medals.

#Roach, competing in the junior girls’ 17-18 age group division, got her first silver in the individual time trials on Saturday. The 17-year-old senior at Windsor School at Albany came back yesterday in the road race and secured another silver.

#“It feels great to win two medals. I’ve been training hard and felt really good this weekend,” Roach said.

#Looking at the two races, Roach said she enjoyed the road race the most. “There’s most strategy involved and you always have to be watching everyone’s moves,” she said. “The competition was tough. All the girls kept attacking and trying to drop everyone.”

#Roach clocked 16 minutes and 38 seconds for her silver in the junior girls (age 17-18) timed trials.

#Gabrielle Gabourel of Belize took the title in 25:58 and Melsey Perez Vega of the Dominican Republic was third in 15:45.

#Barron Musgrove Jr, competing in the junior boys’ race, was 10th in 33:30.

#In the boys’ juvenile (15-16) division, Ayden Bain was 11th overall in 16.09 just ahead of his Grand Bahamian team-mate Launy Duncombe in 16.29. Anjaleah Knowles got fifth in the girls’ race in 19:52.

#Back for the 60 kilometre road race, Roach clocked 2h:7mins:1sec for her second silver. Perez Vega took the gold this time in 1h:6m:40 and Gabourel had to settle for the bronze in 1h:7m:1sec.

#In the other results from the road race, Bain was 11th overall and Duncombe was 20th, both timed in 1h 55 53. Ellie Gibson got a cramp and was unable to finish the race. Knowles had some mechanical problem and didn’t finish, while Musgrove Jr got a crash and was unable to complete the race.

#Barron Musgrove Sr, the secretary general of the Bahamas Cycling Federation, said as the coach of the team, he was very excited and elated to see their youth programme is taking off again.

#“We have started the process again and we are looking at a 10-year programme where we are preparing the cyclists for all of the major international competitions,” Musgrove said. “We hope in the future that we will have cyclists from Eleuthera, Exuma and Long Island to join with what we have from New Providence and Grand Bahama.

#“But we are ecstatic with the biggest youth team that we ever carried and we got on the podium.

#“We missed it with the boys, but we hit it with the girls. Great performances from all of the team members, especially Kami, who got two silver.”

#As they move forward, Musgrove said they intend to seek their own training and competition facility so that they can prepare their cyclists to compete in the road race, track, time trials and mountain biking.

#“We’re looking to explore all avenues, but we definitely need the facilities because this is just an indication of what we can do when we put our effort into it,” Musgrove said.

#“We want to thank the manager, coaches, attaché and everybody who came and supported this team. It was an excellent job.”

#The team, managed by Kenton Roker, is expected to return home today.

Elected BOC officers, from left in front row, are Bishop Joseph Smith, Dorian Roach, Oria Wood-Knowles, Romell Knowles, D’Arcy Rahming, Adam Waterhouse and Robert Butler. In back row, from left, are Cora Hepburn, Clarence Rolle, Derron Donaldson and Roy Colebrook.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHILE president Romell Knowles, secretary general Derron Donaldson and newly elected treasurer Dorian Roach went in unopposed, the remaining cast for the Bahamas Olympic Committee’s executive board was completed during the election of officers on Saturday night.

#With the exception of one newcomer, Adam Waterhouse from the Bahamas Rugby Union, all of the incumbents contesting their same positions or new ones, were returned by the delegates in the Paul Farquharson Building in the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters.

#Joining Knowles, Donaldson and Roach were Roy Colebrook and Cora Hepburn (with 16 votes apiece); Clarence Rolle (14); Bishop Joseph ‘Joe Mo’ Smith (13); Darcy Rahming Sr (12) and Robert Butler 12-10 in run off with Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre, after they were tied with eight each, for the six vice presidents spots.

#In an historic voting procedure, there were a total of 16 persons who were nominated for the vice president spots. The others in order of voting procedure were Shane Albury (7); Vincent Strachan and Theodore Sweeting (6 each); Algernon Cargill (5); Brian Cleare and Moses Johnson Jr (4 each); Sean Bastian and Gina Rolle (3 each) and Lori Roach (1).

#Oria Wood-Knowles claimed the assistant secretary general spot with 14 votes over Jenny Isaacs-Dotson, the president of the Bahamas Softball Federation and Ramsingh-Pierre, who both had four, while Waterhouse got in as the new assistant treasurer with 14 votes over Isaacs-Dotson (5) and Strachan (3).

#Knowles, a former versatile national team player and executive of a number of organisations, said he was really pleased with the selection of the board, whom he will work with during his second consecutive four-year term as president. “I’ve had a chance to work with just about everyone on the board, with the exception of Adam Waterhouse from rugby,” Knowles said. “But we’ve seen the contribution that he has made to rugby and so we welcome him on board.”

#Knowles commended all of the persons who offered themselves for elections and noted that his team will work with all to ensure that no sport is left behind in their quest to make the country more vibrant on the international stage.

#Although they are now in the process of getting the national team off to the Pan American Games next month in Santiago, Chile, his administration will be working towards hosting a sports seminar for all associations and federations before the end of the year.

#Donaldson, back to serve as the secretary general for another term, said the election process went very well and he commended all of their members for the diligence in hosting the elections, even though it was overdue.

#“This has been a busy year and we were in the midst of a number of teams travelling and we are right in the midst of another travelling for the Pan Am Games, which is a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games,” Donaldson said.

#“So usually we try to have the elections in November, but we didn’t want to interfere with the games, so we found this window and we’re glad that we were able to get the elections off.”

#Donaldson, a former executive of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, admitted that every four years, but because of COVID-19 and the lockdown, they had to delay the elections. He noted that this turned out to be the opportune time, with a year out from the Olympics, to stage the elections and not be interrupted in their planning.

#In the only position that had to go to a re-run to break a tie for the sixth and final vice president spot, Butler said it was a relief to have gotten in, even if he was the last man in.

#“It’s like the weight of the world is off my shoulders,” he stated. “Sitting in the chair and listening to my name being called and her name being called, it was nerve-racking. I’m glad I won because she is just as qualified to serve. At least I can get back into it for one more term. So let’s see what happens.”

#Ramsingh-Pierre, one of few women who put their names into the hat to run for the various positions, said she was thrilled to have been afforded the opportunity to test the waters. “It was thrilling. It was an honour to see that equestrian is really taking its place in the sporting world in the Bahamas,” said Ramsingh-Pierre, who in 2016 founded the Bahamas Equestrian Federation, one of the rising sporting bodies in the country.

#“All of these people in the room here tonight have sports and its development in their hearts and to see that a sizable portion thought it worthy for me to be given a chance at this endeavour, I’m happy with it. Congratulations to Robert Butler who won in the end.”

#One of the two women returned to office was Hepburn, a former national team volleyball player who represented the Bahamas Gymnastics Association.

#“It’s always good to return, so I’m thankful to all who supported me,” she said. “I will continue to push for equal opportunities for women. This is the first time in the history of the BOC elections that we had six women vying for positions, so I will continue to encourage persons to immerse themselves into federations so that they can be dominated for positions.”

#As a new kid on the block, Waterhouse said he’s excited to be in a position to serve on the highest sporting body in the country.

#“I get to work alongside Dorian and I know that we will get a chance to continue to push for the smaller associations and federations to get a chance to get representation on the board,” he said.

#Roach, the president of the Bahamas Triathlon Association, said he now has a chance to serve at a higher level in the country.

#“It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “D’Arcy (Rahming) is still on the board, but as a vice president, so I know he will help to make the transition for me and Adam (Waterhouse), the assistant treasurer, an easy one, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

#In garnishing the highest number of votes for the male vice presidents, Colebrook said it’s a testament to the contribution that he has made, but he knows that they can’t rest on their laurels.

#“We still have a lot more work to be done,” he said. “We need to make sure that our athletes are taken care of as we push the Olympic movement forward. So it’s important that we have persons who understand that movement as we continue to take the Bahamas to higher heights.”

#And even though he has a heavy load as a pastor of a Church of God, Bishop Smith, the president of the Bahamas Volleyball Association, said he’s excited and jubilant at the same time.

#“We will have a lot of work to complete,” he stressed. “The team is a great team. The things that we have forecasted for the next four years is great. It’s good when a team can sit together. We can accomplish much.

#“I’m back committed to doing what I have committed to do in the BOC. I know volleyball is on the rise, especially on the beach volleyball side, so we have some plans with NORCECA and FIBA that we want to implement and I feel like all of the other federations have their plans that will be brought to the table.

#“So we just have to see how well we can assist them all.”

#President Knowles commended the Bahamas Football Association for electing its first female president; the Bahamas Basketball Federation for advancing to the Qualifying Tournament for the Olympics; the Bahamas Equestrian Association for the efforts they are making along with the Bahamas Golf Federation.

#The elections was conducted by Kendal Isaacs, a lawyer and host of the popular sports talk show “Getting It Wright,” while NACAC president Mike Sands, Petra Haven and Ethan Adderley served as the observers as they counted the ballots casted.