On Friday, October 19, the National U-16 Boys’ Basketball Team will leave for Tegucigalpa, Honduras to participate in the COCABA U-16 Championship tournament. The delegation includes Coach Matthew Smiling, Coach Bernie Tarr and Coach Raymond Sanchez. Six countries will be participating in this tournament, and the teams will play in a round-robin format. Belize’s schedule of games is as follows:

Sun. Oct. 21 – Belize vs El Salvador

Mon. Oct. 22 – Belize vs Honduras

Tues. Oct. 23 – Guatemala vs Belize

Wed. Oct. 24 – Belize vs Costa Rica

Thurs. Oct. 25 – Panama vs Belize.

The teams that place first and second in the tournament will qualify for the Centro Basket U-17 Tournament to be held in 2013.

The participation of the national team was made possible through the sponsorship of the Belize Olympic Committee, Ministry of National Security, D Victoria Hotel, Derrick Gillett, Caye Caulker Water Taxi. Numerous parents also supported the team.

The national team players along with the high school they attend are:

Roman Alvarez – Muffles College

Vicente Avila – Muffles College

Kevin Brown – Belmopan Comprehensive School

Jamie Carbajal – Sacred Heart College

Shaquiel Crawford – Wesley College

Eusebio Espinosa – Toledo Community College

Kelvin Hendy – Anglican Cathedral College

Jared Marin – St. John’s College

Auburn Rivero – Anglican Cathedral College

Andrew Vasquez – St. John’s College

Zachary Usher – St. John’s College

Roderick Williams – Sadie Vernon High School