Team Jamaica

Team Jamaica has best showing ever! Doing it with more than a few of our best players not here is even more amazing. But it was not enough to qualify for next summers Tournament of Americas. What a week. After going 1-1 in the first two games we played our best game of the tournament beating US Virgin Islands and taking control of second place in our group. One step closer to making Jamaican Basketball history by qualifying for the Tournament of Americas. The team was dealt a big blow when Roy Hibbert hurt his knee in the first game and had to go back to the States to get an MRI. It turned out not to be that bad, but he was done for the tournament. Losing a 7'0" NBA center is tough to overcome. We did just that, winning the next two games but it really took it's toll when we played a very physical team from Panama in the third game in three days. Losing the Panama game put us in a tie with them for second place in our group but because they beat us (4pts) they won the tie breaker, qualifying for next year's Tournament of Americas and the right to play Puerto Rico in the medal rounds. Which is an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

It's heartbreaking. Being so close to doing something that no team in Jamaica has EVER done. We seemed to just run out of gas at the end. It really hits home how important it is playing for your country when you see the tears of grown men who have given their all on the court in a dead silent locker room. Sports can bring such adrenaline highs and such gut wrenching lows. But life goes on. The players will go home and look for their next team. they will being playing basketball all over the world, China, Germany, Mexico just to name a few of the places these players will call home for the next 8 month season.

And coach Mo? I will be getting on an early morning flight to Orlando then getting in my SUV and make that 2o hour drive back to McAllen, Texas. Then I get 2 days to do my laundry and catch my breath before I get on a flight to London and join the British National team for 6 weeks.