By S.Browne. Updated 4:37 p.m., Monday, June 29, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Basketball development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is gathering momentum on two fronts, with a growing youth programme in Bequia and the national men’s team preparing for a high stakes regional assignment in Guyana next month.
At the grassroots level, the Bequia Basketball Association continues to report strong participation in its weekly youth camps at the Clive Tannis Hard Court in Port Elizabeth where young athletes are developing core skills, teamwork and competitive discipline.
The latest session held on Sunday June 28 was highlighted by the presence of visiting Vincentian basketball figures including coach Craiglee Sam, professional player Austin Derrick and FIBA qualified referee Shem Ollivierre. Their involvement added both technical guidance and motivation for the young participants.
Local volunteer coaches Kelan Edwards, Denroy Hutchins, Keithroy Lavia and Jermaine John remain central to the programme’s ongoing development. The Association also highlighted Jermaine John’s progression noting his upcoming involvement at regional level with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Men’s Senior National Team.
Support for the programme has also come through volunteers Diane King and Alana Phillips alongside NBA veteran Adonal Foyle who donated jerseys for the youth players. Continued sponsorship from The Chappy House and Frangipani Hotel has also been acknowledged.
Preparations are now underway for the 24th Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament with camp participants set to be divided into teams to gain competitive match experience. The Association is also preparing to host a referee development workshop aimed at strengthening officiating standards on the island.
On the national stage the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation has finalised preparations for the Men’s Senior National Team’s participation in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre Qualifiers scheduled for July 6 to July 13 2026 in Georgetown Guyana.
The tournament represents a significant return to regional competition for the senior men’s programme marking its first major international outing since 2018. Officials say the team will be targeting progression to the next qualification stage scheduled for November 2026.
Competition will feature ten participating nations split into two groups of five teams with each team playing a round robin schedule within its group. Only the top ranked team from each group will advance to the next phase of qualification significantly raising the stakes of every match.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been drawn in Group B alongside Barbados Grenada Haiti and the Cayman Islands a competitive regional pool expected to test the squad’s depth and consistency. All matches will be staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The national team will arrive in Guyana after a pre tournament training camp in Trinidad and Tobago a necessary step due to the absence of an international standard indoor basketball facility at home.
Federation officials have described the campaign as a collective national effort supported through government funding diaspora contributions corporate sponsorship and community fundraising initiatives.
As Bequia’s youth programme continues to expand and the national team prepares for a decisive regional challenge basketball in St. Vincent and the Grenadines appears to be entering a renewed phase of growth ambition and opportunity.
END
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