The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net    

THE Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) officially announced the 13-man roster set to represent the country in the third and final window of the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers starting next Thursday at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium. 

The host team will play the first game against Cuba in Group D on Thursday, February 20 at 8:30pm.

In the following game Team Bahamas will take on the USA on Sunday, February 23 at 7:10pm.

The Bahamas will be represented by Lathaniel Bastian, Eron Gordon, Domnick Bridgewater, Sammy Hunter, Dylan Musgrove, Jaraun “Kino” Burrows, Kenny Isnord, Godfrey Rolle III, Garvin Clarke Jr, Franco Miller Jr, Kentwan Smith, Radshad Davis and Tavario Miller Sr.

The coaching staff includes John Lucas III, Mychel Thompson Jr, Addison Walters and Jordan Walker. 

The supporting staff consists of general manager Lynden Rose Jr, manager Kellen Hutchinson, head of delegation Rodney Wilson and physiotherapist Henry Park.

Moses Johnson, first vice president of the BBF, is expecting the players on the roster to work well together thanks to their experiences together in previous windows.

“All of these guys are main cogs of our regular windows and there is continuity there. At least 8-9 of these guys have played continuously in these windows so there is some continuity and synergy,” he said.

The Bahamas currently sits at the bottom of Group D with a 1-3 win/loss record. The team secured its first and only victory of the qualifiers in the first window of competition against Puerto Rico last year. The team defeated Puerto Rico 88-77 in that matchup while playing with then National Basketball Association (NBA) free agent Kai Jones.

Since then, The Bahamas has picked up three consecutive losses, including two against Cuba and the USA, in the second window of competition. The host team dropped their game against Cuba 76-62 and fell 91-74 against the USA last November.

Johnson expressed the importance of the remaining two games.

“For us every game is a key game especially when it comes down to these final windows. When you would’ve had a team beat you in a previous window and you are moving into a next one now you put yourself in a bind having to go ahead and avenge the loss. 

“We have to do that in this window as we would’ve lost to these two teams previously so we look forward to avenging those losses and coming out on top and giving ourselves the best chance to qualify for the AmeriCup,” Johnson said.

Team Bahamas will be relying on the energy of the home crowd to take them over the hump next week.

The USA leads the Group D standings with a 3-1 record. Cuba is third in the group with a 2-2 record.

Dereck Smith, a member of the BBF, expressed the need for Bahamians to come out and support the players next week.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step and this is our first step…it is very important that we as Bahamians take this opportunity to come out and support. We are asking the public to please come out and support us. This is where the journey begins and there is nothing like that home court advantage. The fans make a difference. We are just asking for your support,” he said.

The basketball action will extend to fans as well. There will be a halfcourt shot competition with a prize of $500 on night one. If no participants are successful, the prize money will double for the following game.

There will also be a raffle for fans in attendance.

Tickets can still be purchased online at www.nsa-bahamas.com