On Monday, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) officially announced the national squad for the 2024 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, which will take place from December 12 to 15 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The prestigious tournament will feature 36 male and female teams from across the Americas, and Guyana is ready to make its mark on the international stage.
Nikkoloi Smith returns to the AmeriCup after representing the country in the 2022 edition in Miami, leading the charge for Team Guyana.
Smith will be joined by his Ravens Basketball Club teammate Dominic Vincente, making his debut on the international 3×3 circuit.
The squad also includes Travis Belgrave of the Eagles Basketball Club and Harold Adams from the Victory Valley Royals in Linden.
Smith, Belgrave and Adams bring valuable international experience, having represented Guyana at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey.
In fact, Smith, Belgrave, Vincente, and Jude Corlette formed Team Renegade, which clinched the championship at the GBF National 3×3 Tournament in July.
GBF Vice President Rawle Toney will serve as the team’s coordinator, providing strategic and logistical support as the squad prepares to face some of the best 3×3 basketball teams in the Americas.
Guyana will tip off its campaign on the opening day of the qualifying round, when it will face the Cayman Islands, Aruba, and Haiti in Group A.
To advance to the main draw, Guyana must top their group, setting up potential showdowns with tournament heavyweights Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
The FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, now in its fourth edition, is the premier 3×3 basketball event in the Americas. It serves as a critical pathway to global tournaments such as the FIBA 3×3 World Cup and the Olympic Games, making it a vital platform for emerging basketball nations like Guyana.
Since debuting in the inaugural 2021 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, Guyana has steadily built its reputation as a formidable competitor from the Caribbean.
Their 2022 campaign in Miami showcased the team’s potential, with players like Delroy James, Gordon James, Shelroy Thomas, and Nikkoloi Smith.
The Guyanese squad impressed in the qualifiers, going undefeated before narrowly missing out on the quarter-finals after nail-biting losses to Canada (17-19) and Mexico (15-16).
Despite the setbacks, Guyana finished 11th out of 17 countries, with a record of three wins and two losses, solidifying their position as one of the Caribbean’s top 3×3 basketball teams.
The 2024 AmeriCup represents more than just a competition for Team Guyana; it is a chance to elevate the nation’s basketball profile, gain international recognition, and inspire a new generation of players back home.
As 3×3 basketball continues to grow in popularity worldwide, Guyana’s participation in this tournament underscores the GBF commitment to developing the sport and positioning itself as a force to be reckoned with in the region.
