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2010 Centrobasket Championship Draw to be held on April 7
SAN JUAN (2010 Centrobasket Championship) – FIBA-Americas and the Dominican Basketball Federation announced that the 2010 Centrobasket Championship Draw will be held on Wednesday, April 7 at 12:30 pm at the Dominican Olympic Committee in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

In the draw the ten participating countries will be divided into two groups of five teams each. The ten participating countries are: Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and US Virgin Islands. The classification of Belize depends on the appeal result sent to Lausanne, Switzerland about the eligibility of some of their players that were in the 2009 COCABA Championship. If Belize loses the appeal, the next team that will qualify is Costa Rica.

The teams will be drawn into couples. Both teams will be drawn into the group that they will go, the first one out goes to Group A and the second to Group B. The couple where Dominican Republic is will be left for last because the host can select the group that they want to play. After the draw the schedule will be announced.


The couples are: Puerto Rico-US Virgin Islands, Jamaica-Mexico, British Virgin Islands-Belize, Trinidad & Tobago-Panama, Cuba-Dominican Republic.

This tournament is scheduled to be played on July 5-11 at Palacio de los Deportes Virgilio Travieso Soto in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In the Preliminary Round each team plays against the other four in their group (July 5-9). The top two teams per group continue their participation and the other six teams go home. The four teams still alive will play in the semifinal (1A vs. 2B, 1B vs. 2A) on July 10. The winners in the semifinal go for the Gold and losers for the Bronze medal on July 11.

The 2010 Centrobasket Championship qualifies the top four teams for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship (Pre-Olympic), the top eight for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and the top three for the 2011 Pan-American Games scheduled for Guadalajara, Mexico.

The draw can be seen live on www.fibaamericas.com.
Quebradillas signs Damon Jones

Mar 29, 2010  by Rafael Otero
Piratas de Quebradillas officially announced today that they are signing the ex NBA player Damon Jones (192-G-76, Agency: 610 Sports Management college: Houston) as their newest import. A journeyman throughout his career, Jones has never played for the same team for more than one season except for 2005-2008, when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his career, he has played for ten different teams in the NBA. Jones finished the season with the Bucks last year after completing three years of a four-year, $16 million dollar deal signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005. Actually that 2005 season was his best season were he averaged 11.6ppg and finished ranked third in three-point field goals made (225) and 5th in the in three-point field goal percentage (43.2%). In his last full season at the NBA Jones played in 68 regular season games (three starts) for the Cavaliers in 2008. He averaged 6.4 points and 1.9 assists and shot 41.7% from three-point range. Jones had a season-high 27 points on a season-high seven three-point field goal against Washington. He was sent via trade to the Milwaukee Bucks and play briefly to eventually signed a one year deal with Lega A Italian Club Napoli where he averages 13.3 points per game, along with just over 2.5 rebounds and assists respectively, in 36 minutes of action. Jones, ranks 64th all time in three-point field goals made (938) in NBA history will substitute Walker Rusell who was released yesterday by the team. The currently sub champs also made another move as their import spot since they release PF Lee Nailon to make a room for Shawn Redhage (203-F-81, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Arizona St.) who was a big part of Piratas success last year and just came out as a Champion in Australia with his team Perth Wildcats. 'El Cano' will play Monday versus Mayaguez, who are still looking for their first victory, and Jones is expected to debut Wednesday in Ponce. Quebradillas is playing for 3-5 ranked 9th currently at the BSN 2010 season. This signing was possible due to the strong connects of 610 Sports Management in Puerto Rico including the collaboration with SuperProPotential Sports Agency, a 100% Puertorrican made product, who is arguably the fastest growing Sports Agency in Latin American and all the Caribbean region. Stay tuned to continue to hear updates in all Basketball related matters of the Region!

Puerto Rico's BSN Import's Update

By Rafael Otero |3/13/10
A very competitive and adrenaline-full start for BSN tournament in Puerto Rico. Imports wise, this has been a very awkward season since the majority of the high level international players are still playing overseas. In the mean time, all teams had tried their best to acquire the best talent available. Couple of NBA names, some familiar faces and a good sophomore class that includes also a couple of ex NBA'ers in DerMarr Johnson (206-G-80, college: Cincinnati, last year with Humacao) and Lee Nailon (204-F-75, college: TCU, last season import's leading scorer). Although always has been considered a very competitive league, the BSN can be catalogue as one of the highest level leagues outside of the NBA right now. This year's Regular season started march 4th and will go thru may 28, with the Playoffs in all June. So far, import's performance has been not spectacular but solid with a couple of unachievers as well. In Bayamon, the current champs wait no longer to substitute his first import releasing 7'2 Frans Steyn (218-C-82, college: SW Baptist) due to his poor performance. Also Humacao Caciques said good bye to Major Wingate (208-C-83, college: Tennessee) to bring american John Millsap (198-F-82, college: UTSA), older brother of NBA Utah Jazz PF Paul Millsap (201-F-85, college: Louisiana Tech), who had a good season in Mexico. Ponce Leones changed their first import Larry Turner (210-C-82, college: Tennessee St.) for DeAngelo Collins (206-F-82) who was playing in China and was the leading rebounder there with almost 18rpg. He will be team up with the sharpshooter DerMarr Johnson as Ponces imports. Santurce Cangrejeros first announced ex Cleveland Cavs F Ira Newble (199-F-75, college: Miami, OH) but eventually signed Marqis Gainous (206-F-76, college: TCU) to fulfill their only import's space. Guaynabo has done well so far with his NBA duo of Anthony Walker (204-F-75, played in China last season) and Marcus Fizer (203-F-78, college: Iowa St. NBA with Bulls). Fizer, a familiar face in PR and ex champion with Capitanes Arecibo, missed the 2nd game in Isabela with harmstring issues but is clear to play tonight at Home when his team receives Ponce in an undefeated teams matchup. Other players that are currently playing as imports in Puerto Rico as we speak includes: Blake Walker (196-G/F-82, college: Portland St.) and LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82, college: Cumberlands) (San German), DeMarco Johnson (204-F-75, college: Charlotte) and Robert "Tractor" Traylor  (204-F/C-77, college: Michigan) (Bayamon), Cuntney Sims (211-C-83, college: Michigan) (Arecibo), Davin Green (201-G/F-82, college: Hampton) and Shaun Pruitt (made this season opening day roster with Golden State Warriors in NBA then cut, Isabela), Michael Gale (193-G-82, college: Centenary) will be joined soon by James Maye (Mayaguez), James Mays (206-F-86, college: Clemson) and John Millsap (humacao), Lee Nailon and Walker Russell (183-G-82, college: Jacksonville St.) (Quebradillas). Stay tuned cause is always "refuerzos" changes in PR.

FIBA and FIBA-Americas to help basketball in Haiti
Luis A. Modestti Ortiz | FIBA America
PORT AU PRINCE – FIBA Americas Secretary General, Mr. Alberto Garcia, and the Treasurer of the Dominican Basketball Federation (FEDOMBAL), Mr. Rafael Uribe, traveled to Port Au Prince, Haiti to evaluate the damage caused by the earthquake that happened on January 12, 2010 and they were received by the Haitian Basketball Federation President (HBF), Mr. Guy Joachim and other authorities. The place of the meeting was in the Dominican Embassy in Port Au Prince where they were received personally by Mr. Homero Cabral who is the Ambassador.
The visitors made a tour of the streets of the city that were in ruins and visited the building where the Federation used to be and it was completely destroyed. During the earthquake the building collapsed and three employees of the Federation died.
Later on they went to the Gym that was property of the Federation. The gymnasium could be refurbished but before that they need to do a study by terrain experts to see if the refurbishing  is convenient in that area.
Mr. Garcia said "this is depressing, one thing is to see it on television and the news and other thing is being here. This earthquake has been devastating. This is like one huge ruin and it is terrible what the people are going thru. There is no help to resolve this disaster right now."
In relation to the help by FIBA, Garcia said, "there is no facility in this country where you can play basketball, there are no schools standing, no hospitals, the situation here is very difficult and I expect the World to do something to help the families that are on the streets."
"I will make a report for the next FIBA Central Bureau meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 17-18," he added.
The HBF gave Garcia a letter to help reestablish basketball in the nation which includes the construction of a new Gym, because the one that was in use does not have the minimum requirements to hold a basketball game. This gym was build on September 22, 1989, does not have boards, hardwood and any other instrument to have a game. They think that the gym could hold up to 8,000 fans. Mr. Garcia said "this gym didn't hold a basketball game before the earthquake. There are no boards with rims since a very long time. We are going to do something about it but it is not an 8,000 people gym."
"The people of the Federation are soliciting help to build a Gym in Port Au Prince and for five other cities in the interior, but I think that they need other things that we can help and will be more useful for the situation.
There are thousands of children on the streets and have no secure space to make physical and recreational activities. I think that we can do many things to give them the possibility but any action to be done here will be complex."
During the tour the authorities of Haitian basketball and FIBA Americas proposed to create a mechanism so the help arrives via the Dominican Basketball Federation in coordination with the Haitian Government.
SKABA BASKETBALL SEASON SCHEDULED FOR A MID APRIL START I Junior League’s kick off in early March….. East Basseterre League in 2 weeks

Basseterre, St.Kitts (February 6th 2010)
The SKABA basketball executive met on Thursday evening at the offices of the SKNAAA to discuss plans for the upcoming 2010 Basketball season.
Matters discussed included the start of the 2010 season which was set and finalized at March 6th for the junior divisions and 4 weeks later on April 11th with the official opening and the start of the Premier and “A” Divisions. The female division start date will be announced at a later date .
The junior division age limit remains the same at 19 and under which means that no one attaining the age of 20 during this year of the season will be allowed to play in the junior division.
The SKABA management informed teams that the first general meeting for 2010 will be held on Thursday February 11th at the Warner Park Stadium conference room.
The Executive also indicated that referees/coaches clinic will be held prior to the official start of the league. The clinics will be mandatory for all persons who are interested in coaching teams for the 2010 season. According to an official of the association this will be a keenly monitored aspect of the preparations leading up to the start of the league as it is felt that every coach should be at least SKABA certified in order to ensure a league of a very high standard. Strict dress codes will also be introduced the official stated.
The SKABA Executive also announced 2010 as the year that will be dedicated to the revilisation and resurrection of its National Teams.
“The national senior and junior teams have been somewhat dormant over the last 2-3 years and we felt that it is essential for the development of our basketball that both teams be revitalized and re-energized,” said SKABA General Secretary Wallis Wilkin
The revilization programme also comes in light of the fact that the SKABA has been invited by a number of other associations to take part in a number of regional Junior and Senior Tournaments, most notably a Caribbean Basketball Tournament which is being organized and hosted by the Trinidad Basketball Association.
“We are excited about the so called revitalization of our National teams,” said SKABA Gen Sec Wallis Wilkin. “There are a number of players based locally and overseas who we are confident can compete at the highest level regionally and we will certainly be anxious to showcase those players in the upcoming tournaments,” Wilkin continued.
The SKABA General Secretary also indicated that the association is now accepting applications for the posts of Technical Director and or Coach for the National Senior and Junior teams. The technical director and or Coach will be responsible for developing the preparation programme for the national teams for the tournaments which will take place in the latter half of 2010.
 The 2010 season is expected to be full of much interest as Horsfords Ghetto Roots will be trying hard to repeat as SKABA champions in the same dominant fashion as they did in the finals last season where they swept the Rams Hitters. Ghetto Roots still boasts the leagues top players in Rymal “Bally” Browne and Levi “By-By” Fyfeild. St.Pauls and Hitters will likely be the next 2 teams that may provide the stiffest challenge to Ghetto Roots Premier Division dominance.
In related news the Ghetto Roots Basketball Club has announced the start date of it’s inaugural “Out of Season” East Basseterre Basketball League. The start date of the projected 4 week community league is February 20th 2010. According to one of the organizers of the league the tournament is expected to featured 8 teams including 3 specially invited teams and 5 East Basseterre and Ghetto Roots Basketball Club based teams. Further details on the league can be obtained from Wallis Wilkin@662-5152 and Teneille Lapsey @664-8322.

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