In 1994, Guyana’s senior national men’s basketball team finished second at the Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC), since then there has not been much joy at the tournament for the locals.
However, seasoned campaigner Gordon James is hopeful this year he can play a crucial role in helping the team go the distance when the Championships are held in Suriname from June 2-30.
“My form heading into this tournament would be to exceed expectations. Right now when it comes to basketball, Guyana is hardly rated, if at all. That must change; it’s time,” the power forward told Guyana Times Sport International in a recent interview.
He added, “I played in many different countries, nothing compares to representing my country. So, I am optimistic of success.”
The 38-year-old, who is currently based in Brooklyn, New York, was among the top performers during the 2015 Championships held in Tortola and will have to ‘come of age’ and bring an even greater performance given that Guyana are placed in Group A of the 10-team tournament alongside rivals and hosts Suriname, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“I would bring toughness, leadership, experience, and overall hard work to the team. My feeling of representing Guyana is second to none. I played in Portugal, Japan, Venezuela, Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina and I always felt a great deal of pride representing the name “James” on the back of my jersey. Representing Guyana was bigger than me, it’s about the name on the front of my jersey – [Guyana].”
The locally-based members of the shortlisted team which include his brother, Delroy James, who played an instrumental role to help his Greek side AEK Athens win their first FIBA Basketball Champions League, has commenced training, and according to James, the speed at which they jell will impact their performances.
“With any team cohesion plays a huge part and can be vital for the overall success of that team. However, I think that once everyone is focused and have the same common goal –which is winning, that can be even more important.”
James, who was born in Canje, Berbice and named his daughter after the village, contended that Guyana were an underestimated team.
“My impression is that Guyana is underestimated. Reason being either because as a nation we unconsciously feel we don’t have much to be proud for/of…although I disagree, since I feel sports can change things because the spirit of a team representing its country can display the pride in the people of that nation.”
Additional preparation work for the team will see them travelling to Barbados to face the hosts from June 8 to 10 at the Sir Garfield Sports Complex in Bridgetown.
A stellar showing at the CBC tournament holds great significance, since it will be the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Caribbean Pre-Qualifier and will qualify two teams for the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Qualifiers beginning in September.
