Carib Scope

分类： sports

  • Antigua Yacht Club Sailors Depart for BVI Dinghy Championship

    Antigua Yacht Club Sailors Depart for BVI Dinghy Championship

    Two promising young Optimist-class sailors from Antigua Yacht Club (AYC) — Lluc Agusti and Ruben Van Hest — are set to depart their home base on Wednesday for the British Virgin Islands, where they will compete in the 2026 BVI Dinghy Championship. Hosted by the Royal BVI Yacht Club, the event will run across May 16 and 17 on the waters off Tortola.

    The high-profile regional regatta draws the most talented youth sailing prospects from every corner of the Caribbean, giving up-and-coming competitors a chance to test their skills against peers with similar competitive ambitions. Agusti and Van Hest do not travel to the championship alone: they are accompanied by Karl James MBE, AYC’s head coach and a two-time Olympian who brings decades of elite racing and coaching experience to the team.

    In the weeks leading up to the event, the pair completed an intensive period of tactical preparation on the water in Falmouth Harbour, tailoring their training to the specific conditions they expect to face at the championship. Under James’s guidance, the sailors have focused heavily on mastering boat handling and decision-making in the strong currents and variable, shifting winds that are characteristic of the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the venue where the regatta will be held.

    For the young Antiguan competitors, this championship is far more than just another race on the calendar. It acts as a key benchmark of performance ahead of the full summer regatta circuit, allowing the sailors to gauge their current progress, identify areas for improvement, and build race experience ahead of higher-stakes events later in the season.

  • Sports Council Moves In After Progresso FC Exposes Stadium Conditions

    Sports Council Moves In After Progresso FC Exposes Stadium Conditions

    For more than four years, athletes at Progresso FC have competed under the shadow of inadequate infrastructure at Orange Walk’s People’s Stadium, forced to prepare for competitive matches without access to basic, functional facilities. That changed this week, after the Belize-based football club took its grievances public in a social media post that quickly spread across local online communities, prompting immediate intervention from the national Sports Council.

    In the viral post, Progresso FC detailed a years-long list of unaddressed issues at the public stadium: broken, unusable changing rooms, non-functional bathrooms and shower systems, and players forced to conduct pre-match preparations out in the open rather than in a dedicated team space. The situation became so untenable that players have been forced to travel off-site — even relying on borrowed transportation or finding remote outdoor areas — just to use restroom facilities ahead of games, a stark departure from the basic amenities enjoyed by rival squads across other Belizean districts.

    Within days of the post gaining widespread local attention, the Belize Sports Council deployed contracted construction and maintenance crews to the stadium, and repair work got underway almost immediately. Crews have prioritized urgent upgrades including new bench installations, plumbing repairs, and functional shower systems, fixes that had been stuck in bureaucratic delays for more than four years, according to local reporting.

    Mark Novelo, assistant manager of Progresso FC, spoke publicly about the systemic gap in facility standards that led to the club’s decision to go public. “We compete at a level where every team across comparable leagues in other countries has access to a usable changing room,” Novelo explained. “This isn’t just about comfort — it shapes player mentality and reflects basic professionalism. Having coaches give pre-match talks out on the field, with no dedicated space for the team, doesn’t look or feel professional at a competitive level, especially when every other district in our own country at least has a working changing room.”

    While Novelo and the Progresso FC organization welcomed the long-overdue repair work, they criticized the process that forced the issue into public view before any action was taken. “It is disappointing that it took a viral social media post to get authorities to act on years of requests,” the club’s leadership noted. Even with current repairs underway, Novelo emphasized that far more work remains to bring the entire People’s Stadium up to an acceptable competitive standard. Beyond the home team changing room, the facility still needs full upgrades to the referee changing room, perimeter fencing, spectator bleachers, and other core infrastructure.

    Novelo issued a public appeal for community support to help complete the full scope of repairs, calling on local residents and businesses to contribute time, materials, or labor wherever possible. He also expressed gratitude to those who have already stepped forward to assist, saying the goal is to finally deliver a facility that meets the basic standards that competitive players in Orange Walk deserve.

    This report is based on a transcribed evening television broadcast from Belize, with original statements rendered in standard English spelling for clarity.

  • Fred Evans: The Quiet Force Behind Champions

    Fred Evans: The Quiet Force Behind Champions

    At the sun-dappled Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize, the crack of starting pistols and the soft thud of spikes on cinder hide a remarkable secret: the most influential figure in the facility’s track and field program operates in total silence. At 80 years old, head coach Fred Evans has not let complete hearing loss stop him from molding champions, competing at the highest levels of masters athletics, and building a cross-generational legacy that spans more than half a century of Belizean sports.

    Most octogenarians have long retired from active athletics and stepped back from full-time coaching, but Evans maintains a pace that would exhaust athletes half his age. Earlier this year, he claimed a gold medal in triple jump at an international masters competition, a win that left younger competitors stunned. For Evans, the victory was never about personal glory – it was about walking the walk he demands from his trainees. “If I want my athletes to win gold, then I, as the coach, also have to do my best and win a gold,” he explained of his mindset.

    Evans’ journey into silence began in the mid-1990s, when a progressive ear disorder gradually eroded his hearing, eventually leaving him completely deaf with no benefit from hearing aids. What could have been a devastating end to a decades-long coaching career instead became a redefinition of connection between athlete and coach. Over the years, Evans and his team have developed their own nuanced communication system: quick text exchanges on mobile devices, custom charades for common concepts, and a wordless understanding built through years of working side by side on the track.

    “During the years, it became really easy. We use technology by typing to him on the phone or our own way of charades or communication, for example, this means tomorrow or later on,” explained Nyasha Harris, one of Evans’ star trainees who has chased national records and personal bests under his guidance.

    Beyond technique and strategy, Evans’ influence runs deep into the fabric of his athletes’ lives. The small, irregular stipend he receives from the Belize Athletics Association rarely makes it into his own bank account; instead, he redirects it to cover track spikes, sports drinks, and training gear for young athletes from low-income backgrounds who could not otherwise afford to compete. For the Belize athletics community, he is more than a coach – he is a living repository of knowledge. Kimberly Casimiro, General Secretary of the Belize Athletics Association, summed up his reputation by calling him “the AI of track and field” – the go-to expert for any question about the sport’s rules, technique, or history.

    His mentorship has now touched multiple generations of Belizean athletes. Dylan Jones, who now competes alongside Evans in masters athletics, first learned the fundamentals of track and field from Evans as a young student decades ago. For Audra Andrews, a former gold medalist who trained with Evans before he lost his hearing, that legacy has come full circle: today, he trains her daughter Willia, instilling the same values of discipline and resilience that carried Andrews to the podium.

    “It’s a complete full circle. As we can see, he has trained generations upon generations. I’m telling my daughter, ‘You’re gonna get one of the best,’ ’cause I remember Mr. Evans, and all those gold medals that you see I have, I went out represented Belize as well in these type of events, and it was Mr. Evans who was my trainer,” Andrews said.

    Even with his hearing gone and eight decades behind him, Evans has no intention of slowing down. He holds multiple track and field records across Central America, and continues to compete and coach full time. For Evans, the difference between merely existing and truly living comes down to progress – progress for his athletes, progress for the sport he loves, and personal progress that keeps him showing up to the track every single day.

    “I am alive. To progress is to live. No progress is to exist, and that’s the difference between living. I don’t know when I will die, and I’m not in a hurry to die. But at the same time, I need to live,” he said. As the sun sets over the triple jump pit at Marion Jones, Evans is not looking back on the legacy he has already built – he is focused on the next generation of champions waiting to take their mark.

  • Kickstart Rush thrash Gall Hill to move into third

    Kickstart Rush thrash Gall Hill to move into third

    As the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Premier League enters its final stretch, title hopefuls Kickstart Rush have reignited their bid for a coveted top-three finish after a dominant 4-0 win over Eyre’s Meat Shop Pride of Gall Hill in a rescheduled Thursday fixture at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey. The three points propelled Kickstart up the table into third place with a total of 30 points, shifting previous third-place side Brittons Hill United down to fourth on 29 points, with Ellerton trailing just one point behind in fifth. Gall Hill, currently competing in just their second season back in the top flight, remain stuck in seventh position on 16 points after a second consecutive defeat.

    After a tightly contested first half, Jaylan Gilkes broke the deadlock for Kickstart in the 41st minute, sending the Wildey-based side into halftime with a narrow lead. The team turned up the pressure after the break, putting on a rampant attacking display that delivered three more goals to seal the emphatic rout. Nathan Skeete doubled the advantage in the 57th minute, Jamarco Johnson extended the lead further 11 minutes later, and Romario Drakes put the finishing touches on the win with a fourth goal in the 85th minute.

    In the late nightcap fixture, UWI Blackbirds notched their second straight victory with a dramatic 2-1 win over already-relegated Wotton, decided by a stunning last-minute counterattack goal. Wotton, who cannot avoid dropping down to Division One for the next season, drew first blood in the 52nd minute through a finish from Amari Small, and held their lead until Shaine Hermas leveled the score for UWI in the 74th minute.

    Deep into fifth minute of stoppage time, with Wotton still pushing for what would be just their third win of a difficult season, goalkeeper Raheem Agard pushed forward to join his teammates for a late corner kick. While pressing for a late winner, Wotton surrendered possession, and the ball broke to Teon Cadogan inside his own half. With the Wotton goalkeeper well out of position, Cadogan struck a spectacular long-range effort that found the empty net to secure all three points for UWI. The win lifts UWI to sixth place in the table on 19 points, capping an inconsistent season for the side that has been disrupted by multiple key player departures.

    The penultimate matchweek of the season kicks off this Sunday at Wildey, with the tight title race remaining the main focus. Defending champions Weymouth Wales currently sit atop the table on 34 points, holding just a one-point lead over second-place Paradise on 33 points. Kickstart Rush (30 points) and Brittons Hill United (29 points) round out the top four, all still vying for the valuable top-three finish.

    Sunday’s opening fixture will see Kickstart face relegation-bound St Andrew Lions at 4 p.m., with the side desperate to secure another three crucial points to hold their third-place spot. If Kickstart drops points, Brittons Hill will get the chance to reclaim third when they face Wotton at 6 p.m. Despite already being confirmed for relegation, Wotton has shown no willingness to roll over, leaving Brittons Hill bracing for a surprisingly tricky encounter.

    The final match of the day will pit league leaders Weymouth Wales against UWI Blackbirds at 8 p.m. Wales know that three more wins will be enough to retain their Premier League crown. Both sides have navigated constant matchday squad changes throughout the season due to a mix of injuries and player departures, but Wales enter the fixture as clear favorites.

    Adding extra complexity to the title race, a bush fire in the Wildey area last Sunday forced multiple match postponements. Weymouth Wales will now face Kickstart Rush in a later rescheduled fixture, while second-place Paradise will also have a critical postponed clash with Brittons Hill to come, keeping the race for both the title and top-three spots wide open.

  • Official list of Grenadiers called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Official list of Grenadiers called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    For the first time in the nation’s modern history, Haiti has secured a spot at the FIFA World Cup, and on May 16, 2026, French head coach Sébastien Migné officially named the 26 players that will carry the hopes and pride of more than 12 million Haitians onto the global stage of the 2026 tournament.

    This historic qualification marked a watershed moment for Haitian football, capping a dramatic qualifying campaign that saw the Grenadiers battle through tough Concacaf competition to earn their place at the expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted this year by Canada, the United States and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

    Migné’s final squad features players plying their trade across 12 different top leagues around the world, a reflection of the growing global footprint of Haitian football. Three goalkeepers made the cut: Johnny Placide of France’s SC Bastia, Alexandre Pierre of FC Sochaux (France), and Josué Duverger from Germany’s FC Cosmos Koblenz. The defensive line includes seven players: Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO, France), Wilguens Pauguain (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs, USA), Martin Experience (AS Nancy-Lorraine, France), JK Duverne (KAA Gent, Netherlands), Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito, Ecuador), Hannes Delcroix (FC Lugano, Switzerland), and Keeto Thermoncy (BSC Young Boys II, Switzerland).

    In midfield, the squad brings together Leverton Pierre (FC Vizela, Portugal), Carl-Fred Sainthe (El Paso Locomotive FC, USA), Jean-Jacques Danley (Philadelphia Union, USA), Jeanricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton Wanderers, United Kingdom), Pierre Woodenski (Violette AC, Haiti), and Dominique Simon (FC Tatran Prešov, Slovakia). Woodenski’s inclusion draws particular attention: he is the only player currently competing in Haiti’s domestic national league to earn a spot in the World Cup squad. Nine attackers round out the roster: Louicius Deedson (FC Dallas, USA), Ruben Providence (Almere City FC, Netherlands), Josué Casimir (AJ Auxerre, France), Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC, Canada), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland AFC, England), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal FC, Iran), Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor, Türkiye), Yassin Fortune (FC Vizela, Portugal), and Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros TC, Hungary).

    Ahead of their World Cup opener, the 83rd-ranked Grenadiers will wrap up their preparation with two high-profile international friendlies in Florida. On June 2, they will face 85th-ranked New Zealand at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium, followed by a June 5 clash against 53rd-ranked Peru at Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium. These matches follow two prior warm-up outings: a narrow 0-1 loss to 44th-ranked Tunisia, and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against 75th-ranked Iceland that showcased the team’s growing cohesion.

    Haiti has been drawn into Group C for the 2026 tournament, with three high-stakes matches scheduled across host cities in the United States. The Grenadiers will kick off their historic World Cup campaign on June 13 at Boston Stadium, facing Scotland – a side that returns to the World Cup after a 28-year drought, qualifying in dramatic fashion. Four days later on June 19, Haiti will take on five-time World Cup champions Brazil at Philadelphia Stadium, a legendary side that remains the only nation to have featured in every edition of the tournament. The group stage will conclude on June 24 at Atlanta Stadium, where Haiti will face Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists and one of the top ranked teams in African football.

    Haiti’s Minister of Youth and Sports Pythagore Dumas has welcomed the squad announcement, praising the inclusion of the domestic-based Woodenski as a testament to the growing strength of local Haitian football. Echoing the resilient spirit of the Haitian nation, Dumas emphasized that the team would not be satisfied with just participating in the global elite. “We will play this competition with our heads held high, just as our heroes did at Vertières in 1803, striving to push our limits as far as possible in this global event,” he said in a statement. The minister called on all Haitians, at home and abroad, to rally behind the Grenadiers, attend matches in large numbers, and share the unique passion of Haitian football across the world, noting that this public support will give the team extra energy to deliver strong performances on the pitch.

  • West Indies Women begin final prep ahead of T20 World Cup

    West Indies Women begin final prep ahead of T20 World Cup

    West Indies Women’s cricket team has touched down in Newport, Wales, kicking off a 10-day high-performance preparatory camp that marks a key milestone on their road to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosted in England. Organized by Cricket West Indies (CWI), the camp running from May 14 to 23 will set the stage for the team ahead of a crucial tri-nation T20 series against Ireland and Pakistan, a contest designed to give the squad competitive match experience in conditions nearly identical to those they will face at the upcoming global tournament.

    Over the course of the 10-day training block, the 16-member selected squad will fine-tune every dimension of their game through a packed schedule: intensive technical skill sessions, strategic tactical planning drills, realistic match simulations, targeted fitness conditioning, and collaborative team-building activities. This preparation comes as the Maroon Warriors prepare for their return to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup main draw, a moment the squad has worked toward for months.

    Buoyed by a semi-final finish at the 2024 edition of the tournament, the team enters this preparation phase with clear ambition. Players and coaching staff alike note that the side has grown dramatically over the past two years, adding depth to their roster, sharpening their competitive edge, and boosting collective confidence after two years of high-level international play. The ultimate goal for the side is to repeat the historic triumph the team claimed 10 years ago, when they lifted the 2016 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy.

    CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe emphasized the strategic logic behind scheduling both the training camp in Wales and the subsequent tri-series in Ireland, noting that the location and timing offer unique advantages for the team. “The opportunity to train in the United Kingdom and then also get the experience of playing competitive matches in Ireland in similar conditions immediately prior to the start of the June 5th tournament is invaluable,” Bascombe explained. “This period will be utilised to help the squad gel, cement gameplans and remain connected. We are looking forward to a great showing by several key veterans and the emergence of our future stars on the back of this extended preparation.”

    This Wales camp is the latest step in a structured, long-term preparation pathway mapped out by CWI and team management, which has already included challenging white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Australia earlier in 2026. Following the conclusion of the camp, the team will travel to Ireland for the tri-nation series, kicking off their campaign against the host side on May 28 before wrapping up their group stage fixtures against Pakistan on June 3. Immediately after the tri-series, the squad will head to England for the World Cup, where they will play their opening tournament match against New Zealand on June 13.

    Final trimmed squads for both the tri-nation series and the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be announced by CWI at a later date. The 16-member group currently in Wales for the preparatory camp is: Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Hayley Matthews, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack and Stafanie Taylor.

  • Former cycling champion passes away

    Former cycling champion passes away

    Barbados’ cycling and heritage preservation communities are united in grief this week after the passing of legendary former national cycling champion Colin “Top Cat” Alleyne, who died peacefully last Saturday morning following a brief struggle with cancer. He was 72 years old.

    A longtime resident of Fairfield, Black Rock, Alleyne leaves behind a dual legacy that spans both competitive sport and cultural heritage preservation. During his decorated cycling career in the 1970s and 1980s, Alleyne earned widespread acclaim for putting Barbadian cycling on the global map, representing the small island nation at regional competitions across the Caribbean and as far as continental Europe. In honor of his extraordinary contributions to sports in Barbados, he was awarded the Barbados Service Medal (BSM), a distinction recognizing outstanding service to the country.

    Beyond the race track, Alleyne built a second respected career as one of Barbados’ most renowned master coral stone masons and heritage craftsmen. A man of deep faith, he continued to serve his country long after he retired from competitive cycling, sharing his craft with new generations through work with the Commonwealth Heritage Forum and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, where he taught traditional heritage stone masonry techniques to aspiring tradespeople.

    Among his most notable restoration projects was the 2023 rehabilitation of the historic old railway bridge connecting Bulkeley and Carmichael in the parish of St. George. Funded by the Peter Moore Barbados Trust, the restored structure now bears Alleyne’s name in permanent recognition of his work. Most recently, in 2025, he completed the full restoration of the far larger Blackman’s Egg and Molasses Bridge in St. Joseph, a landmark originally constructed in the 1680s that holds significant historical value for the island. He also completed hundreds of custom commissioned pieces for commercial clients, hotels and private villas across Barbados, including hand-polished coral stone furniture that can still be seen across the island today.

    Speaking on behalf of Alleyne’s family, his niece Sonia A. Alleyne remembered her uncle as a constant source of inspiration and encouragement for young cyclists just starting their competitive careers, many of whom he mentored over decades. “Alleyne was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and a role model to many. He will be deeply missed. At 72, the master craftsman has downed his tools, the champion will cycle no more, but Top Cat’s legacy of excellence will live on,” she said.

  • Charles to flex for Saint Lucia at Boyce Classic in Barbados

    Charles to flex for Saint Lucia at Boyce Classic in Barbados

    The Eastern Caribbean’s most high-profile annual professional bodybuilding event is just days away, and one Saint Lucian athlete is preparing to carry his nation’s hopes onto the international stage. Experienced regional competitor Kirby Charles, who represents Mango Moon Gym in local domestic competitions, has been selected as the sole competitor from the island nation for the 2026 Roger Boyce Classic and IFBB Pro World Cup, hosted this weekend at the Garfield Sobers Complex in Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados.

    Charles is no stranger to elite regional competition, boasting a decorated competitive career spanning more than two decades at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships. His medal collection first grew in 2002, when he took home a bronze medal. He added a silver medal to his haul in 2024, and repeated that silver performance when the CAC Championships were hosted on his home soil in Saint Lucia, taking second place in the Men’s Physique Senior Tall division. In 2023, he finished just outside the medal positions with a fourth-place showing.

    In an official statement announcing Charles’ participation, the Saint Lucia Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (SLABBFA) confirmed that he will be the only athlete from Saint Lucia competing across all divisions at the Barbados-hosted tournament. The association noted that the event, which gathers top-ranked physique and fitness athletes from across the Caribbean and beyond, fills a critical role in regional sports development: it gives emerging and established local talent a space to measure their skill against high-level international competitors while earning valuable global exposure for their work.

    SLABBFA president Eugene Gabriel emphasized that Charles’ invitation to compete at the prestigious tournament signals a positive shift in the standard of bodybuilding and fitness training across Saint Lucia. Gabriel framed the opportunity as more than just a single athlete’s participation in a major event, noting that it stands as proof of the relentless work ethic and commitment that Saint Lucian athletes bring to their sport. “Kirby’s presence at the Roger Boyce Classic reinforces SLABBFA’s commitment to nurturing and showcasing Saint Lucian talent on an international platform,” Gabriel added.

  • SMC, Soufriere go clear in U16 school basketball

    SMC, Soufriere go clear in U16 school basketball

    The race for top honors in Saint Lucia’s national Secondary Schools Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Tournament heated up on Thursday, May 14, as four competitive matchups unfolded at the Beausejour Gymnasium. By the end of the matchday, two schools had cemented their standing at the top of their respective groups, with St Mary’s College (SMC) locking down firm control of Group A and Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School (SCSS) climbing into first place in Group B.

    In the most lopsided matchup of the day, SMC delivered a dominant 49-13 victory over Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS), powered by an outstanding all-around performance from standout forward Daelan Magloire. Magloire put on a shooting clinic, sinking 24 points from 17 attempts, while also anchoring his team’s defense and rebounding with five boards and five steals. Supporting Magloire’s standout outing, Ernel “EJ” Mason chipped in 10 points and six rebounds, while Jayden Isaac added four points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds for SMC. The St Mary’s squad dominated the glass all game, holding a substantial 32-17 rebounding advantage over Leon Hess. For the losing side, Frederick Tiris turned in a solid effort, leading LHCSS with seven points and five rebounds.

    The second Group A matchup of the day was a far tighter, defense-focused contest, which saw Choiseul Secondary secure their first victory of the tournament with a 26-20 win over Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS). Choiseul’s win was built on shared effort on the boards and aggressive perimeter defense: Christiano Nestor led the team’s scoring with 10 points and added 12 rebounds, while Gael Issac pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds, one of four Choiseul players that finished with at least nine rebounds. Rennel Joseph anchored the team’s full-court pressure, recording an impressive 14 steals. Despite the loss, VFCSS guard Tommy Kharis turned in one of the most historic individual performances of the matchday, notching a rare triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 steals. The result marked VFCSS’s second defeat of the group stage.

    Over in Group B, Soufriere Comprehensive pulled off a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to down Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS) 35-30, shutting out their opponents entirely in the final 10 minutes of play to claim the win and the group’s top spot. Kyree Clovis and Trenton Henry led Soufriere’s comeback effort, with each player scoring 13 points. Henry also turned in a dominant rebounding performance, collecting 18 boards to control the paint for SCSS. For CCSS, forward David Chandler put together a complete all-around stat line, leading his team with 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, five steals, three assists and five blocks, but his effort was not enough to hold off Soufriere’s late surge.

    In the final matchup of the day, Entrepot Secondary Secondary (ESS) claimed their first win of the tournament with a tense 16-14 victory over Beanefield Comprehensive. The low-scoring contest went back and forth all game, with the teams tied at 12 and again at 14 in the final minutes before Entrepot closed out the win. Azaria Leon led the way for ESS, scoring 10 points to go with three rebounds and four steals, while Jaiden Gregg added eight points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to secure the close victory.

    The ongoing Under-16 tournament is organized by Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Youth Development and Sports, as part of the department’s ongoing effort to develop young athletic talent across the island’s secondary school system.

  • Dominica U23 3×3 basketball team heads to British Virgin Islands for inaugural ANOCES championship

    Dominica U23 3×3 basketball team heads to British Virgin Islands for inaugural ANOCES championship

    A new chapter of Caribbean youth basketball is about to open, and Dominica’s under-23 3×3 national basketball team has already set off for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to compete in the first ever ANOCES U23 3×3 Championship. This groundbreaking tournament marks a key milestone for 3×3 basketball development across the Caribbean region, bringing together emerging young talent from across the area.

    The departure of the Dominican delegation was officially confirmed in a press statement issued by the Dominica Amateur Basketball Association (DABA). The association noted that the team left the island brimming with ambition and excitement, ready to carry the pride of Dominica onto the regional competition court. For the entire Caribbean basketball community, this event is far more than just a tournament – it is a transformative moment designed to highlight the region’s most promising rising players, strengthen cross-island sporting bonds, and accelerate the expansion of 3×3 basketball across the Caribbean.

    In the lead-up to the first tip-off, DABA extended formal greetings and well wishes to all competing teams, event officials, organizing committees, and institutional partners that have contributed to making this historic tournament a reality. The association also took the opportunity to recognize the key leaders who turned the idea of the championship into a real event. First, it highlighted the outsized contributions of Velly, General Secretary of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC), praising his unwavering commitment and strategic leadership that shepherded the championship from planning to execution.

    DABA also singled out the President of the St. Kitts Basketball Association, identifying him as the core visionary and driving force behind the entire ANOCES 3×3 initiative. According to the association, his persistent efforts and long-term vision for regional basketball have consistently pushed the sport to grow and advance across every corner of the Caribbean.

    Beyond regional leaders, DABA expressed sincere gratitude to two key host and supporting institutions. First, the association thanked the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee and the tournament’s Local Organizing Committee for their extensive preparation work and warm hospitality extended to all participating delegations. It also offered public recognition to the Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC), which has covered the full cost of Dominica’s team participation in the championship. DABA emphasized that ongoing support from the DOC remains an indispensable foundation for Dominican athletes, opening doors for them to compete at elite regional and international tournaments that would otherwise be out of reach.

    DABA’s leadership, including the association’s president, also celebrated the hard work and dedication of Dominica’s own athletes and coaching staff, who have put in months of rigorous preparation ahead of the competition. Officials stressed that events like this inaugural ANOCES championship offer irreplaceable value for young athletes, exposing them to high-level competitive play and creating long-term development opportunities that will serve them throughout their sporting careers.

    The full Dominican delegation for the championship includes four competing players: Karim Daniel, Andel Olivacee, Yawani Regis, and Rene Williams. Yannick Regis will take on the role of head coach for the team, while Yehudi John will serve as a tournament official representing Dominica.

    “As the competition begins, may this inaugural championship foster unity, sportsmanship, friendship, and excellence both on and off the court,” the association shared in its closing statement. DABA ended its announcement by extending warm wishes to Team Dominica, hoping the delegation will gain a rewarding, successful and memorable experience competing in the British Virgin Islands.