University of the Bahamas Mingoes open new year with big victories

As of Friday, January 6, 2023

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#WITH the return of the New Providence Basketball Association action at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, the University of the Bahamas Mingoes and the Rockets opened the new year with big victories.

#In the feature game on Wednesday night, the Mingoes knocked off the Tucker Boys 91-58, while in the opener, the Discount Distributors Rockets blasted the RC Liquors Eagles 84-74.

#• Here’s a summary of the two games played:

#Mingoes 91, Tucker Boys 58: Dremiko McIntosh exploded for a game high 18 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the University of the Bahamas, who improved to 2-3.

#McIntosh, who shot 8-for- 14 from the field and 2-for-3 from the free throw line, finished with 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block shot.

#Dave Lindsey added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals and blocks, Justin Burrows had 12 points and nine rebounds, Theodore Grant had 10 points, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals, Erquantae Edgecombe had nine points and seven rebounds, Delano Armbrister also had nine points with five rebounds and both Ricardo Taylor Jr and Ahmad Young chipped in with eight.

#For the Tucker Boys, who remained scoreless at 0-5, Jaden Stubbs scored 12 points with six rebounds, Clayton Tucker had 11 points and 10 rebounds, Leon Bain had eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal, Arlington Brown also had eight points with 10 rebounds, Kieron Mortimer had seven points and six rebounds and Randon Swaby added six points with eight rebounds.

#Rockets 84, Eagles 74: Keith Rolle pumped in a game high 26 points with six rebounds and three assists to lead the Discount Distributors to victory as they improved to 4-1.

#Davito McIntosh had 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists, Terrano Oliver Sr had 18 points, three rebounds and two steals and both Careem Gray and Torrez Basden added seven points, Basden with 14 rebounds and two steals and Gray with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

#In a losing effort for RC Liquors, who dropped to 3-1, Sherman Marshall scored in 21 points with six rebounds and three assists, Lorenzo Riley had 16 points and three assists, Alexio Frances had 14 points, 19 rebounds and three assists and Devon Seymour had 10 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists and steals and Cornelius Rigby had seven points and six rebounds.

#• Here’s a look at this weekend’s schedule:

#Tonight

#7pm – Your Essential Store Giants vs RC Liquors Eagles (DII)

#8pm – Commonwealth Bank Giants vs Sand Dollar (D1).

#Saturday

#7pm – Cyber Tech vs

#Produce Express (DII)

#8pm – Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets vs Caro Contractors Shockers (D1).

As of Friday, January 6, 2023

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#By YOURI KEMP

#Tribune Business Reporter

#ykemp@tribunemedia.net

#The Opposition’s leader yesterday warned that the Government’s “breach of law” in borrowing $233m worth of IMF special drawing rights (SDRs) from the Central Bank sends “a bad signal” to the international financial markets.

#Michael Pintard, returning to the attack on the issue, reiterated that the Free National Movement (FNM) was not opposed to the Government seeking out creative means to access low-cost foreign currency borrowing and save Bahamian taxpayers millions of dollars in interest costs.

#However, he again argued that such transactions must first have full legal standing under Bahamian law. This was not done in the case of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) SDRs, as both the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance have both confirmed that the former’s governing Act will now be amended retroactively to give the borrowing lawful basis.

#Mr Pintard argued that this admission sends a “bad signal to ratings agencies” and the wider international financial community, including The Bahamas’ lenders, creditors and holders of its external foreign currency debt.

#“It is absolutely important that the international community be able to trust the word of policymakers, and to the extent that we act in a manner that is ultra virus of the law – that is, a breach of the law – we then create a credibility issue, and what flows out of that is decisions are made in the credit market that are likely not to be favourable to us.”

#The Opposition has argued that, without the promised legal reforms, the IMF SDR transaction contravenes the Central Bank Act’s section 21. They are now demanding an accounting of how the funds will be used.

#The Ministry of Finance, in a previous statement on the matter, said that when the IMF’s SDRs were first issued in August 2021 it was made clear that they could be used for debt management and other fiscal purposes in the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath.

#Mr Pintard, though, described this as a “red herring” because the Ministry of Finance was speaking to what the funds could be used for rather than their actual use. “Quite frankly, this matter shouldn’t arise,” he added. “That money should really be returned, because that there is no basis for them having that in their possession.

#“In August 2021, the Central Bank released a press release that indicated the Bahamas’ SDR allocations are not being earmarked for lending to the government and do not increase the Central Bank’s ability to lend to the Government. The lending limits remain fixed by the law. This is the same law that the IMF has said to member countries like The Bahamas that you need to be compliant with your local laws as you treat with these SDRs.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/06/opposition-bad-signal-over-233m-borrowing/?news

ABOVE THE RIM: Deyton Albury in action for the Chipola College Indians, who are riding a perfect 18-0 record that has them sitting on top of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) division one men’s basketball rankings.

As of Thursday, January 5, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#DEYTON Albury and the Chipola College Indians are off to a great start, riding a perfect 18-0 record that has them sitting on top of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) division one men’s basketball rankings.

#The Indians had to wait until the new year for NJCAA to publish its weekly rankings. This marked the first time that Chipola has been ranked atop the poll since the 2006-2007 season, holding that feat for 10 straight weeks. Their 18-0 record is also the best since the 2012-13 team that started the season with the same record.

#In their last game on Saturday, December 31, Albury saw limited action as they blew out North Florida Prep 117-39 as he scored on a field goal, pulled down three rebounds with as many assists and a pair of steals.

#The Indias are gearing up for a big match-up on Saturday when they take on Northwest Florida State College, one of their top rivals in their conference.

#“A lot of people were underestimating us in our conference, saying we were probably the fourth best team, and we weren’t as talented as last year,” Albury said.

#“But we have a very good coach (Donnie Tyndall) and a talented team, and we believe we can become what he believes we can become. Every day we were grinding it out from June to now. It started with us being locked in at practice and we just have a very unselfish team, which is the reason for our success.”

#Albury, a 20-year-old 6-foot, 3-inch guard, is making his contribution to the success of the team. He is averaging 11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Those numbers have allowed him to be pegged at number 56 for the first time in the NJCAA rankings.

#“It means a lot to me because I’ve never been ranked a day in my life in the Bahamas in a solid ranking,” said the former Temple Christian Academy Suns player, who left in grade 10 to attend Sunrise Christian Academy.

#“Being in America where there are so much JUCO players and to be ranked as the 56th player in the country means a lot to me because coming from the Bahamas where you really didn’t have this kind of recognition. So, this is really special for me.”

#As for the numbers he’s posted so far, Albury said they dropped a bit because of the system coach Tyndall is using.

#“We have a lot of guards who came back, and we rotate fast because we press a lot and what he likes to do is wear down our opponents so we have the starting five in for about five minutes and then he would put in another five, which is just as good as the starting five,” Albury said.

#“We just keep wearing down our opponents and because we substitute our players a lot, my numbers have dropped this year, but I’m not worried about it once we are winning.”

#After they play on Saturday, Chipola will have 11 more games to complete their regular season and hopefully an unprecedented perfect season.

#Can they do it?

#“It’s just a matter of us to stay locked in and be together as a team,” Albury stated.

#“I know I’m going to put in my extra work, and I will encourage my team-mates to do the same.

#“Hopefully we all can stay healthy God’s willing, and we come out and win the conference, win the state and win the national tournament. Winning the national title would afford a lot of our guys an opportunity to get a scholarship to go on to a division one college.”

#Although he hasn’t received any offers as yet, Albury said since the rankings came out, a lot of schools have expressed an interest in signing him for the next two years, including FYU, Indiana State, Buffalo, North Texas, Florida Gulf Coast University, Austin PA, SMU, Liberty State, UTA, Stoneybrook and West Seattle.

#The son of Genice and Michael Albury Sr, has a younger brother, Michael Albury Jr, 17, who is now starring for Florida Coastal Prep Sports Academy after he left Teloes Baptist Academy in Nassau.

#“I would just like to stay healthy God’s willing, win the conference, win the state championships and win the national title and have a lot of opportunities where I can choose which school I want to go to,” Albury summed up.

#“I don’t want to be forced into a programme where it’s a last-minute thing. I want to be able to explore my opportunities and to embrace the moment.”

#Hopefully it will be a good one.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/05/deyton-albury-and-chipola-undefeated/?news

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

As of Thursday, January 5, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With this being the 50th anniversary celebrations of the nation, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said there’s quite a bit of things for the sporting populace to look forward to in 2023.

#“I anticipate a very, very active year for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in all three departments within the ministry. That is youth, sports and culture,” said Bowleg, who just witnessed two successful junkanoo parades in New Providence and one in Grand Bahama.

#“There are some major sporting events on the calendar, including the CARIFTA Games, the return of the Bahamas, the international relays in March in Grand Bahama and the return of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic.”

#Not to bypass the other two components of his ministry, but Bowleg said they are looking forward to the E Clement Bethel event, the return of Junior Junkanoo with New Providence having their own on January 26 and the historic launch of the National Youth Guard in Grand Bahama where they will be preparing 100 young people for the disaster response as well as the first draft of the youth policy.

#As for the sporting activities, Bowleg said Grand Bahama, which played host to the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in November, will host the first international relays.

#“We will have some college teams coming in to participate in a series of relay events and all of the high school teams will be invited to participate,” Bowleg said.

#“It’s like a showcase event where the colleges will be looking at recruiting some of our athletes,” he added.

#Although sailing and regatta in particular fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bowleg said his ministry is looking at a collaboration in naming sailing as the national sport during the National Family Island Regatta in George Town, Exuma, in April.

#With this being the 50th anniversary, he said it’s important for all Bahamians to embrace the celebrations because it’s not likely that many would be around for another grand occasion.

#“It’s very important for all Bahamians to get involved in celebrating this milestone,” he pointed out. “We hope that they will come out and participate in each and every event they can because it’s a rare moment that we will encounter again.

#“I know I myself will be involved in anything and everything leading up to the celebrations and during the celebrations and I encourage all athletes, officials and the fans to get involved. It’s going to be a once in a lifetime thing that you will remember for the rest of your lives.”

#One of the highlights of the celebrations will be the Bahamas Games, which makes its return after a 21-year hiatus with the last one staged back in 2001. The mini-Olympic style sporting event will take place from July 7-15 in New Providence.

#“We have a whole generation who don’t have any experience of what the Bahamas Games is all about,” he said.

#“For them to experience this, I think it will bring a new appreciation for sports in the country because for many of the athletes, they will get a chance to compete against athletes from the various Family Islands.

#“It’s a different feeling and a different view of sports that they would expect, so we’re looking forward to them coming out and participating in every event or as much as they can participate in.”

#At this stage, Bowleg said the wheels are in motion for the planning of the event through the Games Secretariat, headed by Martin Lundy, assisted by Sharon “The General” Storr.

#He noted that another conclave with the Sports Councils for each island will be held either at the end of January or the beginning of February.

#“We want to ensure that the Sports Councils are taking the necessary steps to have their teams ready to compete,” Bowleg said.

#“The funding is available for them. We know that some of them are preparing for their island games and so we’re just waiting for them to announce their dates.”

#Bowleg also took the time to wish all of the student athletes, coaches, administrators and officials a “Happy New Year.”

#He added that he hopes it will be a “prosperous one” filled with sporting activities.

#And he expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the late basketball coach and official Rodney Johnson, who will be laid to rest this weekend.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/05/minister-i-anticipate-very-very-active-year/?news

As of Thursday, January 5, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMAS Olympic Committee president Romell Knowles said they are looking forward to another hectic year of activities, but paramount will be their election of officers.

#Although no date has been set, Knowles said he will be seeking re-election for another four-year term in office when they hold their annual general meeting and elections during the first quarter.

#Looking back at his tenure in office since taking over the mantle from past president Wellington Miller, Knowles said he was pleased with the manner in which his executive team performed.

#“We saw small sports make gigantic leaps like equestrian, we’ve seen baseball make some strides, judo made some strides, basketball made their strides and so it’s only a matter of time before these sports make their presence felt internationally in the Olympic sporting arena,” Knowles said.

#“We have an open-door policy and we have been very supportive of our member associations and federations, and we have taken the financial burden of travelling to the CAC Games, the Pan American Games, the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games, the Youth Commonwealth Games, all of which were done through the purse of the Bahamas Olympic Committee through our international partners.”

#Knowles said they were also able to assist in getting a number of associations and federations started in their coaching clinics and the women in sports have also done a phenomenal job, he added.

#“So, there are any number of things that we can point our fingers to and be proud of accomplishments, but the work is not done,” he said. “We want to continue to see our federations go full-fledged in their developments and we will continue to work with the government and our private partners for the good of the sport.”

#Once the elections are completed, Knowles said the BOC will go full force in preparing the national teams to represent the country at the Central American and Caribbean Games as well as the Pan American Games and possibly the Youth Commonwealth Games.

#And while the focus at home will be on the return of the Bahamas Games in July, Knowles said the BOC will be making its contributions to member federations to ensure that the event is successful and at the same time they will continue to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

#“We will continue to offer scholarship assistance, both continental and Olympic scholarships, to our athletes,” he said. “So, it’s going to be very hectic.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/05/bahamas-olympic-committee-elections-paramount/?news

 Home|Sports|Jones shines in the G-LeagueSports

Bahamian averaging 28.5 points and 11 rebounds in two games

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 9, 2023 182 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Playing in his second game this season on National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League assignment, Bahamian professional basketball player Kai Jones didn’t disappoint his team and fans as he had a monster night. He dropped 27 points and flirted with a double-double as he added nine rebounds to help the Greensboro Swarm to a 118-113 victory over the Delaware Blue Coats on Friday night at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware.

Jones went 12-for-15 from the field, shooting 80 percent. He made his only shot attempt from deep and hit both of his attempts from the charity stripe. Jones also had two assists. The center was not only an energizer on offense but also on defense where he came away with four of his team’s five swipes and blocked half of his team’s eight shots that night.

Jones was everywhere. He scored eight points in the first quarter alone. His final field goal of the first quarter, at the 5:20 mark, put them up 20-12. On that play, he grabbed a defensive rebound and went coast to coast, maneuvering his way in the paint for a slam dunk. The quarter ended with the Swarm up 27-25.

Jones showed more of his athleticism in the second quarter. The 6’10” player stole the ball at the 10:24 mark, sprinted up the court and threw down a reverse slam dunk to put his team up by double digits, 37-27. By the end of the first half, the center had 17 points, most with dunks and some on jump shots. He also had two blocks and five rebounds before he was subbed out of the first half with 4:45 left in the second quarter.

The Swarm went into the intermission up 61-56 as the Blue Coats hung around.

Both teams battled fiercely in a back and forth third quarter. In the end, it was the Blue Coats outscored the Swarm in that quarter, 32-29, but Jones’ and company held on to a slim 90-88 lead going into the fourth.

Jones made two free throws late in the game to put the Swarm up 114-109. That came with 1:27 left in the game. He got his fourth block of the game with 25 seconds remaining, helping his team hold on for the win.

The Swam finished the game shooting 50 percent and they were able to hold the Blue Coats to 40 percent shooting from the field. The Swarm had 14 three-pointers while the Blue Coats finished with seven three-pointers.

The game had two lead changes and one tie.

This was Jones’ second game of the season for the Swarm. In the two games, the 21-year-old is averaging a double-double with 28.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. The 2021 first round draft pick is averaging 3.5 steals and three blocks in those two games. He is shooting 77.4 percent from the field.

Despite his success at that level, Jones is looking forward to returning to the big league to help the Hornets.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-shines-in-the-g-league/

 Home|Sports|Junior tennis tournament in full swingSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 9, 2023 113 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) got its first competition for new calendar year underway on Saturday. The second day of the BLTA’s New Year’s Tournament for the under-14 and under-16 divisions wrapped up on Sunday at the BLTA’s National Tennis Centre inside the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.

Youth national team players Tatyana Madu and Briana Houlgrave are playing in both divisions and punched their tickets to the final in both divisions.

Madu is the number one seed in the under-14 girls division and received a bye in the opening round of that division. In the second round, she took care of the unranked Aryauna-Skye Davis in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-1.

The Grand Bahamian then played in the under-16 division where she is the number two seeded player. She was in action against Claudia Drgon in the semifinals. Madu won a tough first set 7-5 and then won the second set 6-2. In the opening round on Saturday, Madu shut out Jasleen Salkey, 6-0 and 6-0.

Houlgrave, the second seed, powered her way to the finals in the under-14 division when she took care of Millie Beukes, 7-5 and 6-2. On Saturday, she defeated Drgon, 6-2 and 6-4.

After taking down Beukes, Houlgrave had a tough game ahead of her against the number one seed in the under-16 division, Saphirre Ferguson. Houlgrave was able to pull off the upset, winning 6-4 and 6-2.

Houlgrave and Madu will play in the under-14 final today at 3:30 p.m. They will play the under-16 final tomorrow.

On the boys side, the semifinals for the under-14 and under-16 divisions are set. The under-14 boys semifinals will pit number one seed Patrick Mactaggart against Synaj Watkins and Chase Newbold against Panagiotis Mousis.

Mousis will play in the under-16 boys division semifinals when he takes on the number two seed Jackson Mactaggart. In the other semifinal, William McCartney will play Reeves Mahelis.

Jackson Mactaggart took care of his younger sibling Patrick in straight sets, winning 6-2 and 6-3, to advance to the under-16 semifinals. Mousis fell 3-6 in the first set against Ayai Bethel, but stormed back to win the second set 6-4 before winning 10-7 in the third set tiebreak.

McCartney easily took care of his opponent Watkins. He shut him out, 6-0 and 6-0. Mahelis, like Mousis, lost the opening set before rebounding in the quarterfinals. He fell 3-6 to Miguel Smith in that 

opening set, but then battled back to win the match, 3-6, 7-5 and 10-6.

In the under-14 boys division, Newbold had a tough time against Atharva Hombal as he dropped the first set 6-7(1). He managed to regroup and won the next two sets, 6-0 and 10-5. Mousis upset the number two seed Mahelis in two straight sets, coming out on top 6-4 and 6-4. Patrick Mactaggart easily took care of Cohen Knowles in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-1. The diminutive Watkins won over Bethel, 6-3 and 6-3, to reach the semis.

The under-14 boys semifinals are set for today at 2 p.m. The under-16 boys semifinals will be played any time after 3:30 p.m. today.

https://thenassauguardian.com/junior-tennis-tournament-in-full-swing/

 Home|Sports|Mario Ford program supported by CWCOSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJanuary 9, 2023 135 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Inner city children as young as four and up to 15 years old continue to use baseball as a tool for sport, physical fitness and character development, thanks to the Mario Ford Baseball Program and financial support from sponsors such as Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (CWCO).

Now in its 37th year, the program is celebrated for the ongoing mentorship and multi-level real-world readiness learned along with baseball skills.

Founder of the program, Mario Ford, underscored that baseball teaches life lessons.

“A lot of the kids who came through my program have gone on to play professionally after going off to school. During the Mario Ford program, participants not only learn baseball skills but gain an understanding of the importance of education, discipline, sportsmanship, and the benefits of good character.”

CWCO’s donation this year afforded 30 Mario Ford program participants an opportunity to attend the recent ‘Don’t Blink Home Run Derby’ baseball clinic hosted on Paradise Island. The event highlighted current Bahamian professional baseball players along with some of baseball’s top major and minor league players from around the world. During the clinic, participants were drilled at various skill positions, including hitting, fielding, pitching and base running.

“With help from 

Consolidated Water, we were able to outfit our kids with shirts and rent a bus to the event,” said Coach Ford. He added that financial support is crucial for the program and goes a long way to ensure every child has equipment like proper shoes and a glove.

CWCO General Manager Henderson Cash said he was happy to hear about the youngsters’ excitement during the clinic and applauded Coach Ford for maximizing the benefits of playing baseball.

“We recognize that baseball is more than swinging a bat and hitting home runs. Through programs like the one headed by Mario Ford, education and good character are just as important as game wins. CWCO is proud to support initiatives that develop youth and will continue to support the vision of the Mario Ford program,” Cash said.

CWCO operates water production and distribution facilities and provides water-related products and services to customers in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), The Bahamas, Indonesia and the United States.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mario-ford-program-supported-by-cwco/

 Home|Sports|Robinson is on the way backSports

Former top prospect eager to continue baseball career

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 6, 2023 683 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Kristian Robinson, once listed as one of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) top prospects, has been on a hiatus from the sport of baseball, but he is on the way back and is looking for a steady progression into the majors.

The Bahamian turned heads during the 2019 season in particular, hitting a combined .282 for two teams in Single A baseball with 14 home runs, 51 RBIs (runs batted in) and 43 runs scored, showing that he could hit for power and average. He showed his speed as well with 17 stolen bases and had a slash line of .282/.368/.514.

Robinson last played with the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League – the Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks – in 2019. Since then, he has been assigned to the Visalia Rawhide of the California League and is currently on the restricted list with the Diamondbacks. Robinson is anticipating a strong bounce back performance this year.

In 2020, Robinson was named to the Diamondbacks’ 60-man player pool and was assigned to their alternative training site at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona. That year, he also reached as high as number one on the Diamondbacks prospects chart and number three on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects List.

“Well, I’m looking to get back on the field as soon as possible. I believe that the sky is the limit for me and that I will eventually get to the majors, but more than anything, the goal is to stay healthy and stay on the field,” said Robinson. “More than anything, I have progressed mentally. I want to see where this season leads me. Of course, I will go out there and perform at my best but there aren’t any lofty goals in terms of numbers. I just want to go out there and perform at my best.”

Robinson, an outfielder, came up through the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), signing as an international free agent with the Diamondbacks as a 16-year-old in 2017. He received a $2.5 million signing bonus that year and immediately paid dividends for that organization.

“I was with JBLN for about 10 years and I would say that three things that JBLN taught me was consistency, commitment and community. It was real important for my development,” he said. “You had to show up and commit, you had to exhibit consistency and the community that you build would last a lifetime. Some of the guys who I met through playing at JBLN, I still have ties to, to this day. JBLN facilitated me playing in tournaments as a teenager against some of the best talent in the United States and that helped me to grow as a player. I really appreciate that. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that development.

“I have to say a special thank you to JBLN and the people who have been behind me since day one. There are many out there with faith in me now and I won’t let them down. I’m just eager to get back to work and will continue to push forward.”

Robinson earned mid-season all-star honors in the Class A Short Season Northwest League in 2019 before advancing to the Class A Midwest League, where he was more than three years younger than the circuit’s average player.

Now, at 22, the towering 6’3” Bahamian is eager to continue his career. In two years in the minors, he has produced 21 home runs, 92 RBIs and 91 runs scored. He has shown triple-digit exit velocities.

“I’m eager to put in the work, stay healthy and play a full season,” said Robinson. “The main goal is to make it to the majors and stay there and be impactful on a major league team. Next year might be a little more realistic in terms of being called up to the majors but I’m very optimistic. I want to believe that this year will be the year and I am going to push as hard as I can to make that a reality. If it doesn’t happen, I will be content knowing that I gave it my all, and I’ll just look forward to it the following year. I have to go out there and do well – that’s all I could control.”

Former Bahamian professional baseball player Antoan Richardson, now a first base coach with the San Francisco Giants, has partnered with Robinson’s agent Mike Nickeas of Creative Artists Agency (CAA). He has been a mentor to Robinson over the past two years.

“The first time we really clicked, he called me and he wanted to check in. He has been there for me ever since.” said Robinson. “If I have any problems and need someone to talk to, I go to him because he has been through the process. He’s been an aid in getting me back to where I need to be mentally and physically. I have trust in him, and I could only see our relationship growing.”

After the hiatus away from the game, Robinson is back in the swing of things. He has been an active participant at extended spring training where he was able to have at-bats and innings in the field. He was added to the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster in November and was then placed on the restricted list.

So far, eight Bahamians have played in Major League Baseball. Robinson is hoping to be the ninth.

https://thenassauguardian.com/robinson-is-on-the-way-back/

 Home|Sports|Hield remains hot with torrid shooting performanceSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 6, 2023 339 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian professional basketball player with the Indiana Pacers Chavano “Buddy” Hield is picking up where he left off from 2022, turning in two efficient performances in the Pacers’ two games so far in 2023.

The sharpshooting guard of the Pacers was named as The Nassau Guardian’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year for 2022, and already this year, he is making a case for that honor for 2023. In two games in 2023, Hield is averaging 21.5 points per game on 48.5 percent shooting from the field. The National Basketball Association (NBA) leader in made three-pointers this season has sunk 10 three-pointers in two games for the Pacers in 2023, and is shooting a blistering 47.6 percent from three-point range.

For the season, going into last night’s games, Hield had 152 made three-pointers, 18 more than the next person on the list – Donavan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was against the Cavs at the end of 22, when Hield broke a record for fastest three-point shot in the play-by-play era of the NBA. He secured the opening tip and quickly spun and launched a shot from distance that hit nothing but net. The shot occurred in just three seconds, breaking the record of four seconds that stood for 22 years. The Pacers won that game, 135-126, with Hield scoring 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field.

Coincidentally, it was Pacers’ legend Reggie Miller who held the old record, launching a three-point shot four seconds into a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 5, 2000. Play-by-play has been recorded in the NBA since the 1996-97 season.

Hield finished a torrid 5-for-6 from distance in that game, and hasn’t cooled down since. In fact, Hield is shooting a ridiculous 54.33 percent (69-for-127) from distance in his last 15 games, the top percentage in the league during that span for that volume of shots.

In short, Hield is on fire. He is having one of the best shooting spurts of his career. For the season Hield’s average is up to 18.1 points per game on 46 percent shooting from the field. His recent tear has improved his three-point shooting percentage to 42.9 percent which is a career-best for him. Among the league leaders, he is third among those with at least 200 attempts. Just Stephen Curry of the Warriors and Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers are ahead of him. Seven-year player Hield, now 30, is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

In his most recent performance, against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, Hield played 41 minutes and finished with a side-high 24 points on 9-for-22 shooting. He was 6-for-14 from distance and added nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block. The Pacers lost that game, 129-126, in overtime and are tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference of the NBA with a 21-18 win/loss record. They are one of the surprise teams in the league this year, just five and a half games behind the league-leading Boston Celtics (26-12).

Hield and the Pacers will host the Blazers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, this evening.

https://thenassauguardian.com/hield-remains-hot-with-torrid-shooting-performance/