Guyana starts 2026 season with Nations Cup Basketball tournament

The Nations Cup Basketball tournament tipped off in Suriname on Saturday evening with Guyana taking on French Guiana before taking on hosts Suriname on Sunday, February 1.
For the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), the Nations Cup serves as the launchpad for preparations ahead of this year’s Men’s Caribbean Championship and the start of an intensive 2026 calendar.
The team will be led by Head Coach Adrian Hooper, with Marlon Rodrigues serving as his assistant, while Warren Wilson has been named team manager.

Squad Composition and Transition Phase
The selected roster reflects a deliberate balance between experience and emerging talent. The squad includes Domair Gladstone, Zian Grey, Nikkoli Smith, Travis Belgrave, Shelroy Thomas, Oquacey Shortt, Kimmol Grimmond, Akil Hughes, Domitre Rankin, Jermaine Slater and Daniel Benjamin.
According to Hooper, the mix of players signals a transition phase for the national programme, combining seasoned internationals with younger athletes who impressed during the One Guyana Premier League basketball tournament.
“We have senior players who understand the demands of international basketball, and we’re also bringing in younger players who have earned their opportunity. Their performances locally showed they are ready to take this next step,” Hooper noted.

Preparation Challenges
Preparation for the tournament has not been without difficulty. Hooper acknowledged that the availability of several key players affected the team’s build-up, but he expressed confidence in the group selected to represent the country.
“While we didn’t have everyone we would have liked in camp, the players here have worked hard, and I believe this team can give a good account of itself,” he said.
Hooper also highlighted the challenge posed by French Guiana, noting that Guyana has limited senior-level experience against them, having mostly faced them in the Inter-Guiana Games, which is primarily a youth tournament.

Broader Federation Vision
GBF President Michael Singh explained that the Nations Cup fits into a wider strategic vision for basketball development in Guyana. With a packed year ahead, the Federation is focused on advancing both the men’s and women’s programmes across multiple competitions.
Singh pointed out that while the men prepare for the Caribbean Championship, the women’s national team is also gearing up for the CentroBasket tournament later this year, building on their runner-up finish at last year’s regional tournament hosted in Guyana.