The FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers got underway for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in spectacular fashion on Wednesday, as the national squad secured a convincing 85-66 victory over Grenada at Georgetown Guyana’s Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
From start to finish, Team SVG demonstrated steady, focused play on both offense and defense, picking up their first win of the tournament and marking a promising opening to their Group B campaign. The team’s balanced performance left them well-placed in the group standings ahead of their remaining qualifying matches.
The undoubted standout of the opening match was first-time tournament rookie Shad Thomas, who delivered a masterful all-around display to anchor his side’s win. Thomas wrapped up his senior tournament debut with an impressive stat line: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, recording a double-double to lead all scorers in the contest. Beyond his offensive production, Thomas disrupted Grenada’s attack all game long, proving equally impactful on the defensive end of the floor and bringing constant energy that lifted his entire team.
This opening win puts St. Vincent and the Grenadines in a strong early position as they push to secure one of the available qualification spots for the 2029 FIBA AmeriCup main tournament. The squad will now quickly shift their focus to their second Group B fixture, where they are set to face the Cayman Islands this Friday. The game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. local time at the same venue, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.