Guyana drawn in Group A as FIBA Men’s Caribbean C’ship returns to Georgetown

Guyana will compete in Group A of the upcoming FIBA Men’s Caribbean Championship, set for July 8-12 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, as the regional tournament makes a long-awaited return after a seven-year hiatus.

The draw places Guyana alongside Dominica, Turks and Caicos Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and Bermuda in what is expected to be a competitive group.

Meanwhile, Group B features Haiti, Grenada, Cayman Islands, Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, completing the 10-team line-up for the championship.

The tournament, organised under FIBA, will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing every opponent in its group once.

At the conclusion of group play, only the top team from each group will advance to the next stage of the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers, raising the stakes for all participating nations.

For Guyana, hosting the championship represents a significant moment in the country’s basketball history.

It will mark the first time since 1994 that Guyana has hosted the prestigious regional competition, while also rekindling memories of 1981 when Guyana hosted the inaugural edition of the tournament.

The return of the championship signals renewed momentum for the sport locally, with stakeholders eager to capitalise on the opportunity to showcase Guyana on the regional stage.

Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) President Michael Singh expressed confidence in the federation’s readiness to deliver a high-quality event.

He noted that preparations are well advanced, with systems being put in place to ensure a smooth and professionally executed tournament.

Singh also described the draw as favourable for the home side, but stressed that expectations extend beyond merely advancing.

According to the GBF president, Guyana’s ambition is to secure a top-two finish to progress in the AmeriCup pathway while simultaneously contending for the championship title on home soil.

Beyond the competition itself, Singh underscored the broader significance of the event, calling on corporate Guyana to support the initiative.

He highlighted that strong private sector backing will be vital, not only for the successful staging of the tournament but also for maximising its economic and promotional impact.

On the government side, Singh pointed to ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, confirming active engagement with Sport Ministers Charles Ramson Jr. and Steven Jacobs.