Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S MALE and female contingent will begin their hunt for double gold when the 18th Caribbean Basketball Championships get under way at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) today.
Thirteen teams, male and female, the majority of which arrived in the island on Sunday, are down to take part in the event which will run from the 13th to the 18th of this month.
Defending champions Cuba will have their eyes set on retaining their men's title, but their women's team which lifted the title the last time the tournament was held in their country in 2004 did not make the trip.
Jamaicans will be hoping for a positive start when they tip-off with the men facing St. Kitts/Nevis at 8:00 p.m. tonight, while the women open with a 7:00 p.m. encounter against the US Virgin Islands.
Recently retired WNBA Seattle Storms centre Simone Edwards will lead the charge for the Jamaican female team, who will definitely start favourites not just because of the absence of Cuba and last tournament's runners-up Puerto Rico, but will feel they have a solid team with Edwards supported by forward Althea Byfield who is coming off an excellent season with collegiate team Texas A&M and veteran Oberon Pitterson who not only brings experience but toughness to the team.
The task, however, will be a bit tougher for the men and defending champions Cuba who have retained most of their squad will pose a major threat.
However, they are not short on talent and the presence of Cedarville University Yellow Jackets high flyer Mugabe Thomas and Iowa State's Damion Staple, both coming off excellent collegiate seasons, indicates that the team will pose a challenge to the champs.
In fact men's assistant coach Elfraito Remikie is confident that they will be able to do so and looks forward to the start of today's competition.
"Cuba will definitely be a tough challenge but the last time we played Cuba at home we only lost by two points. Our team is much stronger now and we have the home court," Alf Remekie, assistant coach of Jamaica's men's team, said.
He added: "We had some minor issues with all the players not arriving in camp at the same time, we are not 100 per cent in terms of our team chemistry yet but we are satisfied so far."
The men will play in group B alongside Barbados, St. Kitts/Nevis and the US Virgin Islands, while Cuba are in group A along with Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
There will be just one group for the women which will see Jamaica competing against The US Virgin Islands, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas.
Men
Antigua and Barbuda vs St Vincent 11:00 a.m.
Barbados vs US Virgin Islands 1:00 p.m.
Cuba vs Bahamas 3:00 p.m.
Jamaica vs St Kitts and Nevis 9:00 p.m.
Women
Barbados vs Antigua and Barbuda 9:00 a.m.
Jamaica vs US Virgin Islands 7:00 p.m.
