The Bahamas’ senior men’s national basketball team is off to Puerto Rico with one goal in mind – finish off the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) AmeriCup 2022 Qualifiers with a spot in the top 12 who will play in the regional final in September of 2022.
To do that, the country must earn at least a split against the United States and Puerto Rico this weekend. The Bahamas will play the United States this Friday and Puerto Rico on Saturday. Both games are set for the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Named to The Bahamas’ team for this final window are Nashad Mackey, Dominick Bridgewater, Michael Carey, Arron Levarity, David Nesbitt, D’Shon Taylor, Godfrey Rolle, Jaron Cornish, Kentwan Smith, Mychel Thompson, Travis Munnings and Tavario Miller. Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) President Mario Bowleg is the head coach of the team, stepping in for Golden State Warriors’ Assistant Coach Chris DeMarco this weekend. He will be assisted by Steve Barnes, Perry Thompson and Moses Johnson. Elvardo Kemp is the team manager, Eugena Patton travels as the team’s physiotherapist and John-Marc Nutt will handle the public relations of the team.
This weekend’s games are collectively the third and final window of the qualifying process for FIBA’s biggest tournament for the Americas region. Bowleg is confident that they will get the job done.
“It’s a very good team and we’re prepared to go out there and compete based on the talent that we have,” said Bowleg yesterday. “I think we definitely have a shot of qualifying. When you look at the team, there are some pieces here who were not a part of the last window and that will help a lot. There are players here who have played very well for us in the past. We’re just going to stick with the game plan and do our best to advance. We have a good shot.”
During the last window in Indianapolis, Indiana, The Bahamas was blasted by the United States and lost a close game to Puerto Rico in which they were shut out 15-0 in the final five and a half minutes of the game. They were without the services of players such as Munnings, Miller, Nesbitt, Bridgewater and Carey. Bowleg feels their presence alone, for this final leg, will provide a significant boost for the team in its hopes of qualifying.
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