The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FIBA Americas looks to galvanise support for its upcoming AmeriCup through social media and the Bahamas Basketball Federation is on board with the new initiative as one of the participating programmes.

FIBA AmeriCup launched its social media campaign yesterday with each of the 16 participating member federations tasked with engaging interaction with fans in preparation for the 2021 Qualifiers.

For local updates follow @bbfbasketball on Instagram and “Bahamas Basketball Federation” on Facebook.

Internationally, follow and subscribe to @AmeriCup on Twitter, @americup on Instagram and FIBA Americup on Facebook.

Newly elected BBF President Mario Bowleg has emphasised the importance of the use of social media in galvanising support for the national team programme. “We hope that with the power of social media we will be able to promote not only the future of Bahamas basketball but to show where and what we have achieved in the past. The Bahamas Basketball Federation is proud to be one of the 16 federations to be able to participate in this social media campaign for the FIBA AmeriCup qualifiers,” Bowleg said.

“The Americas regions is known as one of the toughest regions in the world. With countries like the USA, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico we know will always have our work cut out. We start a new chapter of Basketball history when we take the court in November to have a chance to qualify for the AmeriCup.”

The Bahamas last qualified for the AmeriCup in 1995 when they finished No.8 overall.

“We have shown in the past that we are able to compete with these other nations, but with the talent of basketball players the Bahamas has produced there isn’t any reason why we shouldn’t be advancing to the highest level of tournaments in the FIBA Americas Region. With the start of the new window of home and aways this November we are looking for the support of the community to help cheer on team Bahamas,” Bowleg said, “International basketball is like a relay, it’s a process. You just don’t start in the final group. We have pros playing on these teams here that know the importance of getting through the first couple of rounds. They know that in order to get Buddy Hield and Deandre Ayton they need to do their part in advancing.”

Team Bahamas advanced to the next round in their bid for FIBA AmeriCup and World Cup qualifications after they finished second among Group Phase A at the AmeriCup 2021 Pre-Qualifers, hosted last February in Belize. They concluded with a 2-1 record following an 86-72 win in the finale over the host country Belize.

Cuba finished the tournament at 3-0 while Belize was 1-2. The top two teams in each group advanced to the qualifying tournament that will begin in November in a home and away series of games and continue in February and June, 2020.

Team Bahamas included a cross-section of international and locally based players including: Domnick Bridgewater, who is currently playing in Fos Provence, France; Michael Carey out of Mexico; Jean Rony Cadot out of Spain; Kentwan Smith out of Denmark; David Nesbitt out of Brazil; 7-feet Winslo Barry out of Spain; Shavanno Cooper out of the Philippines; Shaquille ‘Shaq’ Cleare out of Mexico and Lourawls Nairn, now working in the Phoenix Suns’ organisation in the National Basketball Association, Michael Bain Jr of the Commonwealth Bank Giants and both Eugene Bain and Torrington Cox of the PJ’s Stingers in the New Providence Basketball Association.

In game one, the Bahamas suffered an 88-74 loss to Cuba. Carey finished with 14 points, Nairn and Nesbitt each finished with 13 points, Cleare added 12 points and nine rebounds while Smith scored eight.

In game two, the Bahamas scored a dominant 110-56 win over Antigua and Barbuda. Carey had a game-high 29 points, Nairn finished with nine points and 10 assists, Smith scored 14, JR Cadot added 12 and Eugene Bain scored 10.