Belize is one of eight countries who will be participating in the 2009 Central American Basketball Confederation Championship (COCABA) to be held in Cancun, Mexico from August 10 thru August 14 at the Gimnasio Polifunctional. Belize, who has been placed in division B, will be joined by Nicaragua, Panama and arch rival Guatemala; while division A will have the likes of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and regional powerhouse Mexico doing battle against each other. The tournament, which was initially scheduled for August 5 thru 9, has been rescheduled to enable the organizers to sort out problems they have been experiencing in organizing the event. Belize will open up its first game on August 10 against Nicaragua, while Panama will face Guatemala. On the same day, in division B, Costa Rica will take on El Salvador, while Mexico will face Honduras. Belize will take to the court once again on August 11, this time to do battle with Guatemala. And on August 12, they meet their greatest test when they take on the talented Panama, to conclude first round of play. The remaining two days, August 13 and 14, have been set aside for the semis and the finals.
The 2009 COCABA Championship is the first step for aspirants wishing to participate in 2012 Olympics to be held in London. The top three teams from this tournament will move on to the 2010 Centro Basket Tournament, which is a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics. Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, British Virgin Islands and Cuba have already qualified for this tournament, and will be awaiting the three qualifiers from the 2009 COCABA Championship.
Revisiting division B, Panama clearly is the team that will pose Belize’s greatest challenge in the division. The Panama team has a successful and well-experienced program, being led by new head coach, Puerto Rican National David Rosario. On the court they will be led by Michael Hicks, Danilo Pinnock, Jr., Gary Forbes and a couple NCAA players, namely Josimar Ayarza, who plays for Southern Mississippi, and Abdul Herrera from Kansas State. Michael Hicks, the former Central Missouri State 6’ 5" forward, is 32 years old and played in the Italian league for Scavolini Spar Pesaro this past year, averaging 18.2 ppg. Meanwhile, Pinnock participated in the 2008 Centro Basket, while Forbes played in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. Belize should be able to get by Nicaragua rather comfortably in its opening game, however will certainly be tested in its second game against arch rival Guatemala, who always plays us tough. In division A, regional powerhouse and 2006 and 2007 COCABA champions Mexico should have its way in the division. They will suit up two NBA players in Eduardo Najera from the New Jersey Nets, and Earl Watson from the Oklahoma City Thunder, to go along with other players such as Omar Quintero, Enrique Zuniga, Pedro Meza, and Horacio Llamas. According to a press release issued earlier this week on July 20, the Mexican press has labeled this year’s team as the best team ever assembled in its history.
U-15 BELIZE BANK BULLDOGS CHAMPS OF CARIBBEAN SHORES/FREETOWN/BHPL 2009 TOURNAMENT
The U-15 arm of the Belize Bank Bulldogs completed a two- game sweep of Freetown Hitters this past Tuesday night in the 2009 Caribbean Shores/Freetown/BHPL Championship finals. The Bulldogs, who won game one over Freetown Hitters by the score of 48-42, brought out the broom this past Tuesday night, winning by the final score of 62-56 on their way to the title. They were the best in the regular season, winning five games in six outings, and as a result entered the playoffs as the #1 seeded team. Overall, they compiled a record of 7 wins against 1 loss, and for good measure were also the champions of the two-day marathon played on May 24, 2009.