Coach Vincent hails J'can basketballers for effort in CBC

Saturday, November 21, 2009 5:58 AM

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BY LIVINGSTON SCOTT, Observer staff reporter

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

A small contingent of Jamaica's Caricom Basketball Championship (CBC) team returned home yesterday after successfully defending their regional title with a 65-61 victory over hosts British Virgin Islands on Saturday night.

Team Jamaica basketball coach, Sam Vincent (2nd left), and players Damian Staple (right), Ricardo Halliman (3rd right) and Christopher Walker (3rd left) stand in the arrival area of the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. Also pictured are JABA members Pete Matthews (left) and Patricia Gillings (2nd right). (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

It was the Jamaicans' fourth hold on the regional title and first under new coach Sam Vincent and for the new Ajani Williams-led administration.

The former NBA star, Vincent, who was on his first assignment with the team, said the opening game loss to Trinidad & Tobago was an eye-opener.

"I thought we might have got there a little over-confident because of some of the strong talents that we have... the guys didn't realise that they weren't going to win this thing unless they played hard and execute on offence and defence and take care of business," he said yesterday at the Norman Manley International Airport, shortly after some members of the team landed.

Vincent said the team will now be preparing for the Centro Basketball Tournament next year, from which a top-three finish would qualify them for the Olympics.

"Our team preparation will be a lot more extensive for the Centro tournament... but first of all we will have to stay in touch with the players through their college and professional season," he noted.

Vincent, the former Nigeria coach, said he was very impressed with players like Weyinmi Efejuku, Kimani Friend and Samardo Samuels.

The three were all key players in the final with Samuels top-scoring with 17 points, Efejuku 16 and Friend 11 points and 10 rebounds.

"Friend is a veteran player... and he was a solid veteran leader for us and Samardo Samuels, the big kid from Louisville, is going to be a superstar as long as he continues to work hard and stay focused and be committed to growth.

"Plus the young kids like Ricardo Halliman and Michael Coulbourne, really stepped up and played well. So I was really happy with the balance we had between the veterans and young guys," he said.

President of the local governing body of basketball, Williams, was scheduled to arrive late last evening with the championship trophy.

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