Guyana down Bahamas as FIBA Caribbean Championship opens

For the first time since 2022, the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship is being contested, and in no better place than the Land of Many Waters.
The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), after a welcomed “spruce up” in recent weeks, played host to the event which saw teams from Guyana, Jamaica, The Bahamas, the Virgin Islands and Suriname assembling for a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday evening.
While there, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr reiterated the Government’s plan to make Guyana the mecca of sport in the Caribbean.
“We are your friend and your trusted partner when it comes to hosting these events. We want to make Guyana the mecca of sport in this region, and we are on our way to doing that with the construction of many facilities across the country. And that gives everybody an opportunity to see so much of our country, which we like to boast about,” Ramson Jr shared.

The Sport Minister went on to express, “A lot is happening all around, and that is why President Irfaan Ali has created this vision, making Guyana this destination for world-class events. I’ve seen how this facility has transformed over the last few years, and it’s because of that investment that we get the opportunity to host these games.”
On the other hand, FIBA Americas First Vice President Patrick Haynes charged the players to compete well, sharing a glimpse of what is at stake.
Haynes encouraged, “In this competition, it’s the first of many qualifiers. The top three teams will be qualifying for the CentroBasket Women’s Championship in 2026, and that is a direct qualifier for the 2027 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. That ultimately will take you into a qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. So, this is where the buck starts. So, you have to compete to your best if you want to live your dream being an Olympian or having an Olympic medal.”
In the on-court action, Guyana pulled off their first victory of the competition, defeating The Bahamas 102-75. Guyana had a strong start, putting up 32 points in the first quarter as compared to The Bahamas’ 25. The local side’s defences got better as the game progressed, limiting their opponents to 15, 17 and 18 points in the remaining quarters, whilst posting 16, 28 and 26 points in quarters two through four.
Amisha Ramlall was the standout scorer, netting 33 points, followed by 22 from Ruth Adams and 13 from Arshia Ramlall. Both Ashna Ramlall and Joy Brown contributed 12 points each.
Brown led in the assists column, racking up 10 alongside two steals.
Also on the winning side on Wednesday were Jamaica, who defeated Suriname 86-47.
Leading the charge for the Jamaicans was Tiffany Reynolds, who poured in a game-high 26 points while adding nine rebounds and five assists in a near triple-double performance.
Jessica Fairweather provided steady support in an all-round team effort that showcased Jamaica’s depth and dominance on both ends of the floor.
Jamaica wasted no time asserting themselves, blitzing Suriname 37-8 by the end of the first quarter. Their fast-paced transition play, crisp passing, and suffocating defence left the Surinamese reeling.
By halftime, Jamaica had extended their advantage to 50-24, though Suriname battled valiantly to keep the score-line respectable.
Still, the ladies from the Land of Wood and Water showed no mercy, outscoring Suriname 73-32 heading into the final period before cruising comfortably to the finish.
Sasha Dixon (12 points) and Christina Bryan (10 points) also hit double figures for Jamaica, capping off a balanced offensive display.
For Suriname, Shakya Peroti stood tall as her team’s lone bright spot, finishing with 14 points in a losing effort.
The Guyana ladies were scheduled to be back in action on Thursday night, taking on the Virgin Islands. They will have a rest day today, after which they will battle Suriname on Saturday, November 15, from 20:30h. Also on Saturday, Jamaica take on the Virgin Islands from 16:30h.