Vincent and Williams

Jamaica's basketball appears set to regain its elite status in the Caribbean after many years.

The Jamaicans lived up to expectations by capturing the 2009 Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC), held in the Tortola, British Virgin islands (BVI) recently.

The Jamaican squad qualified for the 2010 Centrobasket Tournament with a semi-final victory over Cuba, were pushed to the limit by the hosts before coming away with a rewarding 65-61 victory.

The Jamaicans began their campaign with a confident team but received a major setback in their first game, going down 76-88 to Trinidad and Tobago. However, they rebounded in the second preliminary round clipping the Bahamas 77-73.

crucial win

That was the crucial win for Jamaica, who went on to defeat Barbados 74-96 in the third round. Jamaica then outplayed Cuba 98-93 in the semi-final round and advanced to the final.

Jamaica, under Coach Sam Vincent, was ready from the outset. After centre Samardo Samuels opened the scoring, the trio of Weyinmi Efejuku, Kimani Ffriend, and Samardo Samuels, who had been proving to be a nightmare for rival teams all week long, went to work.

Samardo Samuels top-scored for the winners with 17 points, while Weyinmi Efejuku netted 16. Kimani Ffriend collected 11 points and 10 rebounds to triumph with the team. Kennedy Bass finished the night with 19 points and Halstead Charles Chiverton had 12.

testament of character

At a reception held in their honour on Tuesday evening, following their arrival to the island on Monday, recently elected president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA), Ajani Williams, said the team displayed the true testament of character.

"One of the interesting things I have noticed about most basketball teams throughout my career as a player when you have 12 or 15 guys you usually have a couple of guys doing their own thing. But this is the first time I have been a part of a team that everyone did stuff together and they all liked each other," Williams said.

He lauded Vincent for pulling some serious punches after the team went down in their first round. "Our goal is to make it to the 2012 Olympic Games and it is important that the team remain on track and focused toward that goal," he said.

Coach Vincent said in his response that many people shared the same concern after the team's first loss but stated that the team never really lost confidence.

"I think we went into the tournament overconfident because of the talent level we have on our team. And I think after we lost that first game we regrouped and decided to play hard, work hard and really give a hundred and ten percent," Vincent said.

The team, he said, really bonded afterwards as they continued their primary focus, which was winning all the games.

"From that point on we had an early morning practice; eyes were red, the guys were groggy but when we got on the court we ran hard, we performed and did what we had to do," he said.

He said for the rest of the tournament as soon as they stepped on the court they were determined to do the best they could.

"Everybody's focus is to get to the 2012 Olympics and make Jamaica proud. So in moving forward, the work, time and dedication that it takes, the contact with the players and to stay in touch, to make sure the guys are prepared and to give it the best effort that we can to get to the Olympics in 2012 is all we are going to be about," Vincent said.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, who held the reception in their honour, said she had every confidence that the team would have made Jamaica proud.

great things to come

"When I met the guys I knew they were going to come back with the trophy," Grange said. "When you lost the first game, I said they are just warming up ... this is the beginning of some great things to come," she said.

The team is also coached by former NBA player Paul Mokeski. The team was led by guard Chaz Carr and centre Kimani Ffriend. The other players who made the team were Michael Rogers, Mike Coburn, Weyinmi Efejuku, Damion Staple, Ricardo Alliman, Adrian Forbes, Samardo Samuels and Christopher Walker.

Jamaica topped the 2006 CBC Championship but finished sixth in the Centrobasket that same year.

Members of the Jamaica basketball squad and sponsors (from left): Chaz Carr, Andre Smith, Rohan Garwood - area manager for KFC, Ricardo Alliman, Christopher Walker, Kymani Friend, Rohan Halsal - marketing coordinator, Mike Rodger, Samardo Samuels, Sam Vincent - head coach and Paul Mokeski - assistant coach. - Contributed