Team Barbados preparing for AmeriCup

Team Barbados is ready as can be, despite several challenges in the build up to the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers in Chile.

That’s the word from Head Coach Devan Blair and President of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association Francis Williams as the squad ramps up preparations for the June 22-25 competition.

12 players have made the cut from the original 22 called up for the Senior Men’s team and have been going through their paces for only two weeks now at the Barbados Community College gym.

Their opponents in Group A will be Paraguay, hosts Chile and Ecuador.

In the absence of any recent regional competition, Barbados was selected based on their regional and world ranking.

The top two teams from this group along with the top two from a second group competing in Nicaragua will advance to the qualifying round in February 2024.

The tournament is also being used as a qualifier for the 2026 CAC Games and the 2027 Pan Am Games.

Williams says the trip is costing a whopping $115,000.

Coach Blair has outlined his style of play and will be hoping his team can execute.

Akeem Marsh of Clapham Bulls and Keefe Birkette of Lakers Sports Club are among the experienced locally-based players while the overseas players include UK-based Andre Lockhart and debutant Tanner Thomas of the USA.

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