Plaisance’s profilic scorer Nikkoloi Smith (with ball) drives down the lane against two defenders
The Youth Basketball Guyana initiative was solidified as a timely and important project in Guyana after Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony emphatically endorsed the initiative at its launching, on Saturday, January 29th, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
“It has been a long time since he have been waiting for something like this, and I want to say that (members of) this organisation can be assured that they will have the full support of the ministry and the government,” Anthony said to a member of the media who posed the question.
“I am very confident that this will be taking youth basketball to the next level,” Anthony added.
Anthony stated that he has worked with Street Solutions, the pioneers of the YBG initiative, in recent years, such as during the National Schools Basketball Festival and other projects, and this new initiative was “the next logical step in developing youth basketball”.
According to Anthony, the nexus between YBG and the Sport Ministry is that they both intend to focus on developing sports at the school and community levels; and for this reason, the ministry views YBG as its partner.
Anthony also said that the Sport Ministry has already invested Gy$20 million towards constructing multi-purpose facilities around Guyana, and YBG can play an important role in helping to utilise the facilities.
“In partnership with Youth Basketball, I think we can make better use of these courts,” Anthony said.
What made the organization gain favour with the minister was the fact that it plans to target the coaching and skills’ development of athletes from about eight years old all the way up to adulthood. Anthony called this “a laudable thing,” which most sport associations have been overlooking in Guyana. He referred to YBG as a pioneer organisation with youth development as its primary focus, and he challenged other sports associations to adopt YBG’s model.
“On the ministry’s side, we want to facilitate by helping to get infrastructure to give them the enabling environment to help develop the game,” Minister Anthony added.
In the featured game of the evening, the YBG Elite Team defeated Georgetown Masters 42-34, while Plaisance blew away President’s College 63-34, Guyana Education Trust College crushed Bishops High 54-17, and Marian Academy trounced St Rose’s High 54-13. School of the Nations defeated Queen’s College 35-15, while University of Guyana edged Marian Academy 43-41.
YBG Elite, who led 24-17 at half-time, were led by former junior national guard Shelroy Thomas and Akeem Kanhai, who scored 12 and eight points respectively. Former national captain Lugard Mohan led the game in scoring with 13 points, while aspiring Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) president David Carto added 11 for the team of veteran basketball players.
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