The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

TEAM Bahamas came out firing on home soil last night, knocking down Panama 100-82 at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium to keep its FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 qualification hopes firmly alive.

The Bahamas improved to 3-4 in Group F with the victory, while Panama fell to 1-6. Although the result does not officially qualify or eliminate either team from contention, the win was critical for The Bahamas as it continues its push toward the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.

Under the qualification format, the top three teams in Group F, along with the best fourth-place team from Groups E and F, will advance to the World Cup.

The Bahamas controlled the game from the opening quarter, taking a 27-17 lead before extending it to 52-34 at halftime. Panama briefly cut into the deficit in the third quarter, but the home team answered and carried an 80-67 advantage into the final period before closing out the 18-point victory.

Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr led the way offensively with 25 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and an impressive 7-for-11 from three-point range. He also grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists in 35 minutes.

The performance was particularly important for Edgecombe, who has been balancing his role as one of the team’s primary scorers with the need to play within a deeper Bahamas backcourt.

Chavano “Buddy” Hield added 19 points, including five three-pointers, while Kai Jones gave The Bahamas a major defensive presence with 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. Isaiah Mobley contributed nine points and eight rebounds.

Head coach Mikhail McLean said the biggest response from his team came on the defensive end after The Bahamas’ previous home game.

“We were disappointed with the last game we had here. So for us to come out and respond,” McLean said. “I thought our guys did a really good job of responding defensively.”

Panama shot just 7-for-27 from three-point range, and McLean pointed to The Bahamas’ work on the perimeter as one of the deciding factors.

“Our game key going into this game was to defend the three-point line,” he said. “They shot 26 per cent.”

McLean was especially pleased with Jones, who responded to criticism from the team’s film session with one of his strongest defensive performances of the window.

“For him to come out and respond with six blocks, 11 rebounds and be a plus-28 while he’s on the floor, I mean, he was an animal,” McLean said.

Jones also formed an effective frontcourt combination with Mobley, giving The Bahamas more size and allowing the team to create opportunities in transition.

McLean said the balance between the two big men gives The Bahamas another dimension.

“Isaiah’s a lot more skilled, and Kai has just a frequent athleticism way to do everything on both ends of the court,” McLean said.

While The Bahamas found success offensively, McLean acknowledged that the team still has work to do before its next window, particularly when it comes to shot selection and maintaining its offensive rhythm.

The Bahamas scored 100 points but allowed Panama to remain within striking distance for stretches after building a commanding first-half lead.

“We got to have somebody get us settled down,” Hield said. “We can’t take your turn, my turn basketball. We got to get the best shot available.”

Hield also stressed the importance of allowing whichever player has the hot hand to continue attacking rather than forcing individual opportunities. “If VJ going, let you ride VJ. If Franco’s going, ride them,” Hield said.

“But we got to get the best shot available.”

For Edgecombe, Monday’s performance came with a clear understanding that his role has evolved.

The 19-year-old guard knocked down his three-point attempts at a 63.6 per cent clip, providing The Bahamas with a much-needed perimeter threat.

Edgecombe said the team’s changing personnel means sacrifices have to be made, particularly with players capable of carrying the scoring load.

“Rules change. Sacrifices got to be made,” Edgecombe said. “So, I mean, I got to be ready to be able to catch and shoot.”

He credited the work he has put in on his shooting and said the transition between international basketball and the NBA has made getting game repetitions particularly valuable.

McLean said The Bahamas is no longer approaching these games simply hoping to compete.

“It’s not a surprise anymore,” he said. “We celebrate it when we beat (a team) a year ago, but we felt like we was good enough to win that game before we even played it.”

The coach credited the players for establishing that mentality, calling the current group a “player-led team” and pointing to the leadership of Hield, Edgecombe and others.

Edgecombe, meanwhile, said the opportunity to represent The Bahamas alongside players who helped pave the way for the current generation remains significant.

“For them, all the OGs, to put on that jersey and obviously just represent us, they went through it,” Edgecombe said.

“They was in the mud, in the trenches.”

Now, The Bahamas has another chance to build on that foundation.

The 100-82 victory does not guarantee anything in the qualification race, but it keeps the door open. With the team sitting at 3-4, the remaining games will carry even greater importance as The Bahamas attempts to finish inside the qualifying positions and secure an historic place at the 2027 World Cup.