Saint Lucia Basketball Federation President, Leslie Collymore recently highlighted the continuous hard work being put in by the players, coaches, 3×3 coordinators and technical teams towards the goal of producing world class youth basketball players.
Collymore asserted that: “Given the crippling effect of the pandemic on all socio-economic sectors-in particular sports- I am extremely pleased and proud of what we have been able to achieve for our players, our Federation and most importantly for our country. A true testimony to the hard work of all members of the basketball fraternity.”
His praise has not been short-lived as the faith put forward by all stakeholders continue to bear fruit and as a result, Saint Lucia is poised to be well represented at the FIBA Americup 3×3 tournament November 12-14, 2021.
After a round of behind closed-door qualifiers (due to COVID-19 protocols) which saw some of the island’s best ball players battle against each other, the Big Ballerz team consisting of Marcian Calderon, Lanse Prospere, Shamoir Jn Baptiste and Keegan Preville, in a nail biter defeated Bonneterre Blazers’ Troy Louison, Andre Louison, Pakel Gumbs and Joel Solomon, 15-14.
The Big Ballerz team will now amplify their training sessions in preparation for the stiff competition at the 2021 Inaugural FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup which will be hosted in Miami this coming November along with the runner up team Bonneterre Blazers.
The island will also be represented at the Jr Pan Am Games with a cadre of talented, young female and male basketballers seeking to bring home the 3×3 Basketball Championship.
Earlier this year, the Saint Lucia U23 Females qualified for the 2021 Junior Panam Games for 3×3 basketball which will take place in Cali, Colombia in November 2021. Since then, the teams have been training extensively and anticipation of a stellar performance is rife among the camp.