On Tuesday night, the best Belizean basketball team that's been assembled since the year 2000 will take the court at the City Center against the Mexican national team. It's a game of huge implications. First the Belizeans have to outdo the Mexicans to earn a seeding in an upcoming regional tournament, which will then determine who goes to the Pan Am Games to face hemispheric powerhouses such as the USA and Puerto Rico.
Indeed, it's Belize's first bite at the cherry since 1998 when a national team led by Milton Palacio emerged victorious in the CARICOM games. There's a lot on the line and today one of the most formidable players to put on a jersey with the Belize flag on it arrived in Belize. He is deadly three point shooter from Texas University Kenton Paulino. Paulino was here over the Easter for a family reunion in Punta Gorda, but this time, he says it's all business.
Kenton Paulino, National Basketball Team
"I am feeling good. Last time I came out here it was more for family reasons. Now I am here to take care of business, get physical, so hopefully we'll get great fan support in trying to beat Mexico. I think we'll be okay because I don't think anybody on this team is selfish. You know we'll pay team ball. We have about three to four days before the game to practice and we'll try to get to know each other and I think we'll be alright. I really don't know too much about Mexico so all I know is that we're just going to go out there and compete and trying to see the best outcome."
The first game against Mexico is on Tuesday night at the City Center and in a special television event, Channel 7 and Channel 5 will be teaming up to broadcast it live.
