Photo: Veteran coaches (l to r) Matthew “Champ” Smiling, Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn and Anderson “Roscoe” Rhys were keen observers at today’s U-17 national team scrimmages
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 20, 2023
Perhaps Belize’s best ever U-17 team continued working out, running scrimmages at the St. Catherine High School Auditorium this afternoon under the watchful eyes of, and at the direction of Head Coach Bernie Tarr, and assistants Darwin “Puppy” Leslie and Stephen “Muerte” Williams, as veteran coaches Matthew “Champ” Smiling, the legend himself Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn, and Anderson Rhys observed from the sidelines.
Belize’s latest NBA prospect 6’ 9″ Douglas Langford, Jr., is not expected to arrive until this weekend for the start next Wednesday of the FIBA U17 Centrobasket Championships to be held at the Belize City Civic Centre, July 26-30, for the very first time in our history.
The Belize Basketball Federation is expecting that the participating teams from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, Panama, will arrive in Belize on Monday, and have been divided in two groups whose members will play each other in a round robin, with the two top teams playing each other in a one-game final.
The top 3 teams will qualify for the U18 Americas Championship next year, and the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico have been established as the favourites, but Belize’s veteran observers are optimistic that the youthful Jaguars will surprise and crash the party.
Their second tallest player Michael Caceras did not make today’s scrimmage, choosing instead to nurse a mild left leg injury, but is expected to be on the roster by tip-off.
Both Ian Parham, Jr. (Florida) and Meshach Flowers (Belmopan/Houston) were very active participants in today’s spirited practice.