by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 17, 2024
The Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL) will host its 2024 Rude Boy All-Star Classic at the Belize City Civic Center on Sunday, April 21.
The All-Star roster will be comprised of 24 players and will be split into two teams – the Home team, which will feature 9 locally based Belizean players vs the Away team with 9 Belizean-American players – with each team being also entitled to include three other foreign players, with only two playing on the court at any given time.
The winning team will receive a cash prize of $3,000 or 10% of the gate revenue, whichever is greater, which will be divided evenly among players and coaches.
The BEBL All-Star Team selection process incorporated a comprehensive voting system that engaged a diverse group of stakeholders, including team owners, managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, media representatives, and desk officials. Participants then submitted their votes using a ranking system, listing players from their top choice down to their ninth. These votes were weighted and calculated, with the final scores announced alongside each selected player’s name.
“We know in many countries [such as] in Europe [and] America, there are different ways in which All Stars are being selected; and this year the BEBL introduced a new model for the league, as well as a new model for the All-Star,” said Dr. Gilbert Gordon, CEO of Belize Hurricanes. “In the future, we are going to make changes. We’re going to add different things to it to ensure that the All-Star players are being selected and that [it] is being done by the fans, media, players, [and] every single entity that we believe that can contribute to ensure that there is fair play and that there is parity across the board for players to be selected to the All-Star,” he added.
Representing the Home team are the following players: Jayden Lopez of Belmopan Trojans (topping the polls for the locals with 177 votes), Glencey Lopez and Eyan Rene of Belize Hurricanes, Edgar Mitchell and Kyron Molina of Griga Dream Ballers, Devin Daly and John Kelly of Belize City Defenders, and Francis Arana and Raheem Thurton of San Pedro Tiger Sharks; with their 3 foreign players: Nigel Jones of Belize City Defenders, Sidibe Bourama of Belize Hurricanes, and Bobby Williams of San Pedro Tiger Sharks.
For the Away team are the following players: Jihad Wright (topping the polls with 248 votes) and Daniel Conorque of San Pedro Tiger Sharks; Victor Evans, Amar Ross and Tyrie Orosco for Belize Hurricanes; D’von Cambell, Lorenzo Dillard, Jamell Harris and Fenton Bradley for Belize City Defenders; Deshawn Brackett, Delvon Henderson and Jonathon Guzman for Griga Dream Ballers. Jihad Wright will not be able to attend the All Star game, so he is being substituted on the Away team by their next highest vote-getter in the poll, Mark Gordon of Cayo Western Ballaz.
“We look forward to having a blast. You can bring the family out; it’s going to be worth it. These are the best guys in the league that were selected, and we plan to give you guys a really good show,” said Conorque. “We’re going to put on a show this year. I know last year it was pretty lackadaisical, with very little defense; this year, money is on the line, so expect us to be competing,” said Evans.
Before the All-Star game is played, two other events will take place on the same night, beginning with the Celluar World 3-Point Shootout, followed by the Nando’s Slam Dunk contest, with the winners of both contests receiving cash prizes and other treats.