Jamaica’s triumphant Scotiabank-sponsored National Under-16 team returned from Barbados yesterday loaded with trophies.

A large welcoming party ,which included Allie McNab, who represented Sports Minister Olivia Grange, new president Dr Paula Daley-Morris, team sponsor Shelley Sykes-Coley of Scotiabank, first and second vice-presidents Nola Phillpots-Brown and Cora Ricketts, respectively, plus other executive members were at the Norman Manley International Airport to receive the team.

Netball Jamaica hosted a welcome reception and press conference in the VIP Lounge where the team and management were praised for bringing back several trophies in addition to the championship trophy. Jamaica won trophies for being the best defensive, most accurate, best goal average, most attacking, as well as the MVP trophy which went to Latanya Wilson.

Additionally, five members of the team were named among the top 16 players of the tournament. They are captain Abigale Sutherland, Denay Thomas, Zandria Cohen, Shadine Bartley and Latanya Wilson.

Head coach Marvette Anderson was very pleased with her team and for the support of assistant coach Winston Nevers, as well as the management and support staff that travelled with the team. She said, “Down there many persons thought that we were very weak, so they thought that they had a shot at the title, but the girls really stood up and showed that they were true Jamaicans, that they were resilient, that they know what it means to win a championship, so we had the victory.”

McNab heaped praise on the winning team. He said that Minister Grange was very pleased with their performance in Barbados and looked forward to their continued excellent performance.

Dr Daley-Morris was ecstatic to receive her first team and a successful one too. She said that the road to victory was a long one because of funding issues. “I am really elated today because it’s the beginning of a long road towards victory. We want to do this many more times. I am sure that corporate Jamaica will now understand that we are worth the investment, so for me this victory is very sweet and I thank the coaches, I thank the players for all their efforts and I thank the sponsors for all they have done to make this possible.”

Sponsor representative Sykes-Coley, manager – sponsorship, was overjoyed for the success of the team and said that the bank’s investment was in good hands. “I feel so elated. I am so proud of the girls. It has been a fantastic tournament for them, the fact that they were able to have a hundred per cent rate and the fact that this is their 11th win – it is just fantastic. I feel great.”

Sykes-Coley also pledged the bank’s continued support for the team.

Captain Sutherland said that the team was “happy to be an ambassador for the country and we did our best just to make you guys proud”.

The 12 players were Shadine Bartley, Zandria Cohen, Kamia Daley, Lori Daley, Britney-Ann Elliott, Christal Holness, Brittany Morgan, Kimone Shaw, Felicia Smith, Abigale Sutherland, Denay Thomas and Latanya Wilson.

Scores in the Jamaican matches were: Jamaica 48, Antigua & Barbuda 8; Jamaica 45, Grenada 11; Jamaica 32, Dominica 17; Jamaica 25, St Lucia 24; Jamaica 39, Bermuda 9; Jamaica 45, Trinidad & Tobago 10; and Jamaica 35, Barbados 21.

The management and support staff in Barbados comprised president and delegate Dr Paula Daley-Morris, head of delegation Arleene Findlay (technical manager), head coach Marvette Anderson, assistant coach Winston Nevers, manager Joan Benjamin, physiotherapist Maureen Spence-Campbell and support staff Eulalie Whitney.