分类： sports

Jamaica’s national basketball team suffered a devastating collapse in their historic home FIBA World Cup qualifier, surrendering a nine-point lead in the final quarter to fall 96-99 to The Bahamas on Thursday. The electrifying match at a packed National Indoor Sports Centre marked Jamaica’s first-ever hosting of major international basketball, making the last-minute defeat particularly painful for players and fans alike.

Head Coach Rick Turner expressed profound disappointment following the dramatic reversal, characterizing the loss as ‘an incredible missed opportunity’ for Jamaican basketball. Despite strong performances from Chase Audige (27 points) and Kofi Cockburn (18 points, 12 rebounds), Jamaica couldn’t maintain their 80-71 advantage with under 12 minutes remaining. The Bahamas mounted a stunning comeback led by Franco Miller’s 32-point performance, seizing control in the final three minutes.

The defeat carries significant implications for Group B standings in the Americas qualifiers. Jamaica now sits second with five points, requiring a victory against group leaders Canada (6 points) on Sunday to secure automatic advancement to the final round. The Bahamas improved to four points and could potentially overtake Jamaica with a strong performance against Puerto Rico.

Coach Turner identified concerning psychological factors behind the collapse, noting his team lacked the ‘bunker mentality’ and communication that characterized their previous successful outings. ‘We played with a togetherness that allows us to overcome mistakes,’ Turner reflected, ‘and that just wasn’t there tonight.’

Bahamas Head Coach Moses Johnson acknowledged the historic significance of the event for Jamaican basketball while praising his team’s resilience in a ‘tough environment.’ Johnson noted the game featured 15 lead changes and could have gone either way, ultimately crediting his players for making crucial plays down the stretch.

The result sets up a critical final group stage match against world No. 5 Canada, with Jamaica’s World Cup aspirations hanging in the balance. Coach Turner emphasized the need to rediscover their underdog identity before facing one of international basketball’s powerhouse programs.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Grace Kennedy Limited has reinforced its commitment to nurturing athletic excellence at the foundational level through its sponsorship of the 2026 All-Star Jamaica Youth Football Event. The tournament, orchestrated by Football Society at the American International School of Kingston (AISK), featured the nation’s most promising under-12 football talents from leading preparatory and primary schools.

This elite exhibition, designed to identify and develop future stars, assembled Form A and B All-Star teams in both educational divisions. Selection was merit-based, drawing from the top performers of the competitive season, to provide a superior platform for skill enhancement, mentorship, and increased visibility within the sport.

Grace’s support was channeled through its non-alcoholic energy malt drink, Mighty Malt, via a combination of financial backing and in-kind contributions. The brand’s presence allowed young athletes and attendees to sample the product, a premium beverage enriched with Vitamins B6, B12, and biotin, nutrients scientifically recognized for supporting energy metabolism and overall wellness.

Kristina Hill, Beverage Brand Manager at Grace Foods and Services, articulated the company’s overarching mission. ‘Our investment in grassroots sports is a strategic pillar of our Good Moves philosophy. It extends far beyond the pitch, aiming to build discipline, teamwork, and confidence in young people, thereby creating tangible pathways for holistic development,’ Hill stated. She emphasized that such events allow the brand to contribute substantively to the athletic and personal journey of youth.

Now in its third iteration, the All-Star event is a key component of Grace’s expanding ecosystem of youth football initiatives. This includes the brand’s title sponsorship of the Victory Cup, the Caribbean’s largest youth football tournament, which provides critical funding for coaching, mentorship, and competitive structures over the past two years.

The on-field action at the 2026 showcase delivered thrilling competition. The day commenced with the Prep B team clinching a narrow 3-2 win over the Primary B squad in a high-energy opener. The subsequent match featured a tightly contested battle where the Primary A team secured a 2-1 victory against the Prep A side, demonstrating the remarkable depth of emerging talent across age groups.

Event creator Leighton Davis highlighted the indispensable role of corporate partnerships. ‘Private sector support from entities like Grace is fundamental to the sustainability and quality of our youth programs. It empowers us to offer these exceptional young athletes the high-caliber experiences and developmental pathways they deserve,’ Davis remarked.

With significant attendance from athletes, coaches, and spectators, the event underscored the critical importance of structured investment in Jamaica’s sporting grassroots—a domain where Grace Mighty Malt is steadily amplifying its influential and active role.

AHMEDABAD, India (CMC) — Facing elimination from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, West Indies captain Shai Hope has emphasized the critical need for improved execution ahead of Sunday’s decisive match against tournament hosts India. The Caribbean squad’s comprehensive nine-wicket defeat to South Africa on Thursday has placed their semi-final aspirations in jeopardy, transforming their upcoming encounter into a must-win scenario.

The mathematical reality became clear following India’s commanding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe, which secured South Africa’s progression to the final four. The winner of Sunday’s West Indies-India showdown at Eden Gardens will claim the remaining semi-final berth from the group.

During his post-match assessment, Hope reframed the challenge philosophically: “I wouldn’t characterize this as a difficult road; rather, this is precisely how tournament cricket is meant to unfold. The Super Eight stage exists to separate the elite teams, and we must demonstrate we belong among them.”

The captain identified execution failures as the primary culprit in Thursday’s defeat, particularly noting the team’s disastrous Powerplay performance that left them reeling at 83 for seven. While eventually recovering to post 176 for eight, Hope estimated the squad fell “40, 50, even 60 runs short” given the favorable batting conditions.

Despite the collapse, Hope defended his top-order batsmen’s aggressive approach, arguing their strategy remained sound despite questionable shot selection. “There’s no singular correct method in T20 cricket,” he explained. “The ideal scenario would feature openers batting through the innings, but reality often demands adaptation. We must credit the lower order for rallying to a competitive total from dire circumstances.”

Hope concluded with determination: “We must rapidly rectify our performance gaps and deliver our premium cricket precisely when it matters most. Our destiny remains within our control.”

The 49th edition of the Gibson/McCook Relays, held at the National Stadium on Saturday, transformed into a spectacular showcase of athletic excellence, featuring a cascade of broken records and world-leading performances. The event solidified its status as a critical early-season indicator of track and field prowess, with both established stars and emerging talents delivering extraordinary results.

In a highly anticipated sprint showdown, Jonielle Smith continued her dominance over Jamaican rival Tina Clayton, securing a razor-thin victory in the women’s 60m with a time of 7.07 seconds. Smith, who had previously bested both Clayton twins at a Stockholm indoor meet in January, demonstrated remarkable composure by recovering from a sluggish start to clinch the win on the line. Clayton followed closely at 7.08 seconds, with Levanya Williams earning third place and a personal best of 7.13 seconds.

The men’s 60m witnessed an explosive performance from Kishane Thompson, who blazed to a lifetime best of 6.46 seconds—the world’s second-fastest time this year—despite a false start interruption. Thompson outpaced Bryan Levell, who also achieved a personal best of 6.47 seconds, while Ackeem Blake claimed third with a season’s best of 6.48 seconds after being reinstated following a disqualification.

Five meet records were shattered and one was equalled, highlighting the event’s exceptionally competitive nature. A formidable women’s 4x100m quartet comprising Shericka Jackson, Jodean Williams, Tina Clayton, and Jonielle Smith demolished the previous record with a blistering 42.92 seconds, surpassing both the former meet record of 43.05 and the existing world lead of 43.40 set by an Australian squad just a week prior.

World Indoor Championships bronze medalist Raymond Richards elevated the men’s high jump standard by clearing 2.26m, a season’s best that narrowly exceeded the previous record of 2.25m. In middle-distance action, St Jago High’s Kenyan-born runner Ryan Achau delivered a stunning performance in the Men’s 1500m Open, obliterating the previous record with a personal best of 3:49.73—a significant improvement over his prior benchmark of 3:59.40 set earlier this month.

Kingston College and Edwin Allen emerged as dominant forces in the high school relays. Kingston College’s Class 1 4x200m team set a new record of 1:23.30, while Wolmer’s Boys’ Class 3 squad also rewrote the record books with 1:30.26 seconds. Edwin Allen High captured five relay titles, including three of the four 4x100m events.

Additional standout performances included Deandre Watkins matching the meet record in the men’s 400m Open with 45.50 seconds, and UTech’s Shana Kaye Anderson stunning spectators by winning the women’s 400m in a personal best of 51.40 seconds—the fastest outdoor time by a Jamaican woman this year. The men’s 4x100m was won by SprinTech in 38.39 seconds, eclipsing the previous world lead, while Racers TC secured victory in the men’s 4x400m relay anchored by 2023 World Champion Antonio Watson.