DESPITE the multimillion-dollar cost facing the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) in hosting the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers next year, President Paulton Gordon believes the investment could signal further growth for the sport on the island.

The Jamrockers, who historically won their opening two games against Puerto Rico, are scheduled to play two of their final four games in the Americas qualifiers first round at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, facing The Bahamas on February 26 and Canada on March 1.

The national side, who are aiming to qualify for their first-ever World Cup in 2027, had to forego hosting their opening game against Puerto Rico last month after an unsuccessful inspection from world governing body FIBA. While the court at the National Indoor Sports Centre met the standard, an international standard scoreboard and hoop were needed.

Though challenging, Gordon told the Jamaica Observer that the process has begun in acquiring the funds to get the necessary equipment. The hoops are expected to cost over $7 million but the scoreboard situation is a bit more complicated.

“It depends on the brand you are looking at. You can get scoreboards for up to US$70,000 to $80,000 ($11-12 million), which is not necessarily for our purpose. We have a distributor locally who is also looking at talking to some partners who have scoreboards that would fit the criteria, so we are talking to them as well,” he said.

“To rent one based on the standard that they just used at the Caribbean Championships in Guyana it would be less than US $10,000, so that is an option we have but we don’t necessarily want to use it because we want to acquire one.”

The Observer understands that hosting the two matches could cost over $44 million, which would include equipment, team accommodation, welfare, and other operational costs.

Though not confirming the figure, Gordon says Government and private sector support will be needed to make hosting a reality.

“We are talking to both private and public sector as it relates to where basketball is and what a partnership relationship would look like, so that discussion continues,” he said.

“We haven’t been able to tie down a number of those meetings as yet but we are hoping that early in January we will be able to do that.”

Gordon says the games will be a worthwhile venture which would have a lasting effect on Jamaican basketball and the overall economy.

“We think that basketball can be a big asset to the development of sports tourism in Jamaica. That’s why we have also been advocating for some form of facility on the north coast where we can invite new teams, invite colleges, invite just some recreational players who want a vacation and also have a facility that they can work out [on],” he said.

“So we think that this would just add to the overall picture as to what is possible and in terms of just inspiring the youngsters to see what they can ultimately reach. We want to showcase the sport at the highest level to show them what is possible.”

Jamaica and Canada sit joint top of Group B in the first-round qualifiers on four points, with Puerto Rico in third and The Bahamas fourth, both on two points. The top three teams will progress to the final round where 12 nations will compete for the seven available spots at the 2027 tournament in Qatar.

Jamaica’s players celebrate after Kofi Cockburn’s buzzer-beater in their 92-90 win over Puerto Rico, during their first-round FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier on Friday, November 28, 2025 in San Juan. (Photo: FIBA)

Jamaica’s Kofi Cockburn (airborne) completes a lay-up over Puerto Rico’s Jordan Cintron during the first-round FIBA Americas World Cup qualifier in San Juan on Friday, November 28, 2025. Jamaica won 92-90. (Photo: FIBA)

Jamaica Basketball Association President Paulton Gordon.