It will be Belize versus Mexico on the basketball court inside the City Center on Tuesday night. The two game series is round one of the Central American championships and a win puts Belize closer to a spot in the championships of the Americas. That is why Belize is taking no chances and as we did in 1998, we are flying in the big guns, namely Belizean American players. Among the biggest and baddest of those guns is Darwin Carter who played on the 1998 gold medal winning CARICOM team. He arrived in Belize today alongside LeBoise Gladden. Gladden is an American born Belizean and comes from a family of ballers. We met Darwin and LeBoise this afternoon. Both say they may not live here physically, but are ready to defend Belize's pride.
Darwin Carter, National Basketball Team
"It always feels great to come home and represent your country. I know we are not here living here but it's also our home and we are always proud to come home and play and represent our country to the fullest."
LeBoise Gladden, National Basketball Team
"It's a high honor. I am happy to represent you guys. Not just for me but for everybody out here, you know my family and stuff. Its just real good you know, I have a chance to support them and do something positive."
Keith Swift,
I asked Kenton Paulino a couple weeks ago if he considers himself a Belizean. Do you?
LeBoise Gladden,
"Yes, yes I do."
Keith Swift,
How comfortable will you be playing with this team?
LeBoise Gladden,
"I feel it'll be comfortable because once its basketball we'll all get along, its just like a big family; we're just playing basketball, out there having fun, and we'll mesh together and everything will be okay."
Darwin Carter,
"Of course it's a younger crowd and we still have some veterans like Keith and Shabba and Bovell so just a few more added to the team won't make a big difference. We'll be able to adjust. I am not really concerned about Mexico. As long as we take care of what we have to take care of, we'll get the job done."
Kevin Siroke, National Team Coach
"We had Richard Troyer come in yesterday. We got two other guys today and we got Kenton Paulino coming in tomorrow and Sonny Watson and Englebert Cherrington coming on Saturday so that'll complete the six Belizean Americans and so we're excited."
Kenton Paulino of the University of Texas Longhorns who we introduced you to two weeks ago arrives in the country tomorrow. National team coach Kevin Siroke says the team begins practice tomorrow and he hopes to have 7 practice sessions before Tuesday's big game.
