-Team now up 2 wins with 1 loss in BVI Basketball Federation 2014 League

Weekend action in the BVI Basketball Federation’s ‘Back on our Feet, Short and Sweet’ League concluded on Sunday June 1, 2014 with yet another win for the Bayside Blazers, 76-66 over the Pure Playaz.

The Blazers raced into a 26 – 15 first quarter lead with Sandy E. Nadal looking in ominous shooting form and then utilized a growing confidence and new found resolute defensive stability to keep the advantage through to half time.

Up by 9 at the break the Blazers withstood a ferocious surge by the Pure Playaz during the third quarter which saw the lead whittle away to just a point, before they themselves mounted a thrilling 4th quarter offensive charge to extend that slender advantage and run out winners by 10 points.

Nadal finished with 29 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Mikey S. Joseph scored 22 points and added 7 rebounds and 4 steals.

For the Playaz Mervin Potter Junior had 27 points with 10 rebounds and Deon Smith 11 points.

The Bayside Blazers is managed and owed by Julian Willock and is sponsored by; BCQS, Hon. Julian Fraser RA, Aaron Rentals Ltd, STO Enterprise Ltd, Caribbean Insurers Ltd., JML Techno Ltd, Peter Island Resort, Digicel BVI, Nagico Insurance, Scrub Island Resort & Spa, A Cut Above Beauty Salon, James Todman Construction Ltd, and International Motors Ltd. The team is coached by Rhennie O. Phipps with assistance from Jason A. Edwin.

In other weekend basketball action…
In the two Junior Division games earlier on Sunday the Spartans and Spartan United recorded wins. The former 89-87 over Fearless and the latter 71-51 over Real Tool.
Hakeem Penn hit a monstrous 31 points and 23 rebounds for the Spartans with Joel Douglas adding 21 and Requan Fahie 16. For Spartans United Karvin Robin notched 21 points with 14 rebounds, Nikita Naval 16 with 19 rebounds and Maliki Thomas 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Real Tool were led by 18 points from Llewelyn Dasent whilst both Franklyn Penn Junior and Kevin Bodkin scored 25 for Fearless.

On Saturday Mad Mix beat the Spurs 102-99 with Mackebo Fahie netting 29 points, Glenal Layne 26 with 11 rebounds, Jasin Rhymer Junior 16 and Deondre Rhymer 10 with 14 rebounds. The Spurs were led by Shakeem Blackmore’s 27 points and 20 rebounds, whilst both Shadim Rubaine and Halford Barzey recorded double doubles and Oscar Herrara finished with 16 points.

Another Level then beat Fearless 90-83 with Noel Maxwell scoring 21 points, Jamari Benjamin and Stephan Adams 21 and Elvette Dore 15. Fearless were led by Deangelo Sampson’s 20 points and 17 from J’Kwon Frett.

The Senior match up on Saturday saw the Kings scrape to a 96-95 win over East with Ray Victor recording 28 points along with 9 rebounds. Jevons Demming added 18 points also with 9 rebounds and Sean Woods 12 points.

For East Killven Smith finished with 22 points, Leslee Smith scored 19 points with 19 rebounds and David Lettsome 16.

Two youth teams left the Territory on Wednesday July 17, 2013 to participate in the Little Lads and Lasses Basketball Tournament in Ponce, Puerto Rico from July 18 – 22, 2013. The Virgin Islands BD Basketball Association had conducted its 4th Annual District League earlier this year and the best players from within that tournament were selected to attend a rigorous training programme with some of the territory’s best Coaches- Trevor “West” Stevens, Keith “88” Malone, Jasin Edwin and Kennedy Bass.

Having been impressed with the skill level, determination and desire to improve displayed by the Squads as well as in the view of the Coaches the ability to compete at higher levels; the Association accepted the invitation to compete at the prestigious tournament. Two squads have been selected, one at U-15 and one at U-17. U-15’s – Danta Vanterpool, Akeem Nibbs, Jasin Rhymer, Terique Wattley, Jomoiri Dagou, Tahj Malone, Gianni Maduro, Rhevaun Sprauve, Stephon Caul, Neville Smith Jr, Hakeem Penn, D’Moi Hodge. Coach: Brian “Bash” Brewley; Asst. Coach; Jasin Edwin, Manager; Bryant Thomas. U-17’s Mackebo Fahie, J’Moi Liburd, Franklyn Penn Jr, Kimron Telemaque, Romain Minott Jr, Glenal Layne, Tyler Cameron Jr, Nathan Rodney, Relando Rodgers, Reiquan Fahie, Colen Corea Jr, Albert Hatchett. Coach:Trevor “West” Stevens, Asst. Coach’s: Keith “88”Malone and Gertrude Thomas, Manager: Kennedy Bass Also travelling with the teams will be Sharlene Hill and Carolann Simmonds as Chaperones.

The games will be streamed live and can be viewed on http://www.prlittlelads.ihigh.com . Puerto Rico Little Lads & Lassies Basketball Inc. is an organization that serves the children of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In recent years they have held a Regional basketball tournament across the island which has grown to now include more than 8,000 participants from 6 to 18 years, representing more than 60 organizations of children’s and youth basketball. Additionally, a Women’s basketball Little Lassies programme for girls from 9 to 19 years has been developed. It involves more than 40 teams, more than 700 participants representing more than 14 child basketball clubs and youth in Puerto Rico. The philosophy of the League has been of great impact for the development of participating children, since it is a requirement that all play at least a game period, this allows all to develop and feel important to their teams, leaders have responsibility to train and work with all their players in each practice and to achieve greater assistance of parents in every game played.

Kleon Penn has been given clearance by the BVI Basketball Federation (BVIBF)
to represent Puerto Rico, giving the player a chance to take his career in
basketball to a new level.

Whilst opening up new doors for Penn who was
born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, such a move does affect the development of the
game in the Biritsh Virgin Islands as a pillar of the senior team will no
longer be available.

However, the move required the full support of BVIBF
President Byron Hodge, which was given to allow the Player to transfer national
allegiance.

Penn grew up and developed on the island of Tortola, learning
to play basketball at a tender age and after completing high school he
fine-tuned his skills at McNeese State University.

In 2007, Penn played
for the first time in Puerto Rico as a member of the British Virgin Islands
National Team and that was when the Directors of the Puerto Rican Federation
knew that Penn was born in Fajardo and reportedly began inquiries into switching sports citizenship.

A few days
ago, the owners of the Humacao/Carolina chieftains/Giants formalized their request to the BVIBF to allow the switch of
Penn as a registered player of the BVI to Puerto Rico and allow him to play for
his new National Team.

“Two or three days ago I talked to executives of
the BVIBF and President Byron Hodge is supporting the transfer to Puerto Rico
one hundred percent, revealed Penn. “It is a personal decision. It was something
that I always thought from the first time that I knew that I could represent
Puerto Rico. It took me four years to make this decision. It is a big step in my
career. It’s something that’s going to help as a player. I will take it to
another level. There were many years analyzing it, until this year I took her,”
continued Penn.

A FIBA rule allows the athletes request for a transfer if
eligible. That was the case of Charlie Villanueva, who represented the United
States in his youth and then asked for a change to play with the Dominican
Republic.

FIBA also ensures that transfers will help the development of
federations. In the case of Penn, the British Virgin Islands program would
suffer since he is a cornerstone in a pool where there is already a shortage of
players with professional experience.

The documentation of the transfer
of Penn has already been submitted by the local Federation, but it was not
possible to get a reaction from the Federal President, Carlos Beltran, to see if
the request will be approved by FIBA.

Penn’s agent doesn’t foresee any
problems, however. I don’t think that there are any problems. Kleon already
spoke with the President of the British Virgin Islands and has their support,”
he said.

Penn discussed his decision with his family and teammates and
said that the majority supported it. “My mom told me that she supported me, she
knows how much I love my island. And my friends also support me and they have
made this easier than I thought, he commented

The Puerto Rico-born Penn
is through his fourth season as a native player in the National Superior
Basketball (BSN), after being selected in the draw for 2010 and has the dream of
reaching the World Championships and Olympics, something that seems within reach
as a member of the national team.

Penn made the decision without any
guarantee from the Federation that he will be selected but Penn will be in the
front running as a replacement to the retiring Daniel Santiago. The other
established player is Peter John Ramos. So Penn looks like a suitable option,
with his solid defensive qualities.

He does have offensive limitations
and is currently averaging 4.8 points with 4.7 rebounds per game with an average
of 19 minutes playing time, but he is the leader of the tournament with 77
blocks (2.4).

“I know that I will have an opportunity to be on the team.
Anything can happen. I’m going to give 100% to make the team. If I don’t, it
will be fine but it is a risk I am taking, Penn said.