The confidence of the men’s national basketball team is at an all-time high, as they are yet to lose a match-up in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Guyana’s Kevon Wiggins
It was a battle of the undefeated teams on Wednesday evening, as Guyana met Suriname at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal to contest an age-old rivalry once again. With Guyana looking to maintain their successful streak and Suriname seeking to go 4-0 in the competition, both teams were out for blood and couldn’t seem to get out of each other’s way in the first few minutes of the match-up.
Petty squabbles aside, players on the Guyanese side were determined to make their mark in the neighbouring country. With a jam-packed crowd, the game got off to a slow start, with both teams lacking in their shot accuracy. With the quarter ending 10-12 in favour of Suriname, the Guyanese boys had to go back to the drawing board to reassess their game plan.
Whatever was said to the team by Guyanese Coach Junior Hercules during their break seemed to be a game changer for them as they returned to the game with improved accuracy and defence.
The second quarter proved to be better for the local team as they surged to a 12-point lead thanks to several exciting shots from 17-year-old Kevon Wiggins. With crucial contributions from Shaine Webster, Anthony Moe, Travis Belgrave, and Orlon Glasgow and Captain Stanton Rose setting up successful plays, Guyana were able to maintain their lead, although Suriname came close on several occasions. At the end of the first half, 39-27 was the score, which set the tempo for how the remainder of the game would play out.
Guyana’s Stanton Rose (number 11) gears up for a free throw
Wiggins continued in excellent fashion, often silencing the Surinamese-dominated crowd with his superb three pointers, as Guyana continued to dominate the encounter despite the height and age advantage that the experienced Suriname team possessed.
Guyana cruised to victory owing to several failed attempts by the home side and a number of clean blocks on the part of the Guyanese defence. The final score was 83-72, as Guyana celebrated yet another hard-fought victory.
