BELIZE CITY–On Monday, November 10, the National U-16 basketball team left for Panama to participate in the COCABA U-16 Championship tournament. The delegation includes Coach Matthew Smiling, Coach Fred Gabourel, and Coach Linbergh Graham. Eight countries will be participating in this tournament.
The tournament is divided into two groups. Group A consists of El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua. Group B consists of Belize, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinal round. The teams that place first and second in the tournament will qualify for the Centro Basket U-17 Tournament to be held in 2015.
The participation of the national team was made possible with the facilitation of the Belize Olympic Committee and the sponsorship of the National Sports Council. The BBF would like to give special thanks to Ms. Juanita Juan of Sacred Heart College cafeteria for her support and hospitality.
Belize’s schedule of games is as follows:
Wed. Nov. 12 – Costa Rica vs Belize @ 4:30 p.m.
Thurs. Nov. 13 – Belize vs Panama @ 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 14 – Honduras vs Belize @ 5:00 p.m.
The national team players are listed below with the high schools they attend:
Darnell Oden and Delvin Sentino (Toledo Community College); Donell Arzu and Nayib Casimiro (Ecumenical High School); Martin Nolberto (Delille Academy); Shevon Butenschoen (St. Ignatius High School); Jared Chatham (Washington Prep, Los Angeles, CA); Jamal Smiling (St. John’s College); Kieron Salazar (Gwen Lizarraga High School); Nicolas Phillips (Edward P. Yorke); Holdane Swazo and Antwan Rivero (Anglican Cathedral College).