‘I hope they come loud and proud’

Jamaica senior men’s basketball team coach Rick Turner is ‘hoping’ local basketball supporters come out in their numbers, be at their loudest and help push the team to victory, when national team takes on The Bahamas on February 26 and Canada on March 1, in the FIBA America World Cup qualifiers at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Jamaica surrendered home court advantage during the first window, but went to Puerto Rico and came away with unlikely double win.

However, with home court advantage now restored, Turner hopes the teams get the kind of home support and atmosphere that will inspire the players.

“We are super motivated because it’s the first time a basketball game of this impact will ever be played in Jamaica.

“The opportunity for our guys to play in front of the friends, family and in front of their country is something they take great pride in.

“I know it’s something they are really excited about and our hope is that we have a packed indoor centre, with loud Jamaican fans to help push us to play even better than we have been playing,” he said.

“I don’t have any expectations. I have hopes. I hope we fill the place. I hope they come loud and proud. I hope they be supportive in the best way possible.

“Since we have never done this before. I don’t know what to expect. But I am absolutely hopeful because we have worked really hard and our players have worked really hard to get to this point.”

PEOPLE ON THE GROUND

He noted that there are a lot of people on the ground in Kingston working really hard to put a great event together.

The organising committee, Jamaica basketball president Paulton Gordon, the sports minister Olivia Grange and sponsors, such as the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation.

“Those people have been putting in a lot of work to make this a special event and it will become a special event when people show up,” he stated.

After completing these two games, Jamaica will have a final window, where they play the same two teams in the return fixtures away.

Although Jamaica need just one win to secure their passage to the second round, Turner insists they can take nothing for granted.

“We have four games left in this stage of qualifying, with these two games here coming up and then the games in July.

“If we are able to win one of those, we will advance to the next round of qualifying, in August, which means more home games in Kingston.

“Things are looking positive, but we cannot take anything for granted. We have worked too hard to win two games in Puerto Rico against a great team, then to not come focused and ready to play for these upcoming games. Everything is positive, but we have a lot of work to do,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com