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But according to coach Siroki and the Belize Basketball Federation, no one was cut from the team – the players who weren’t called simply didn’t make it on this selection. And Coach Siroki says all the players are Belizeans.

Kevin Siroki,
“We don’t consider foreigners or locals so every one of the guys, every person that came down here or every person that is on that team has Belizean passports and had to have some Belizean heritage. So everyone of them, their parents, every one of their parents either their father or mother or both their parents have grown up here or are maybe still living here or have aunts or uncles who still have very close linkages to Belize. So as for what I am concerned, there is no local, there is no foreigners – that is what I consider. We have 15 players on the team and so we have to cut it down to 12 before the tournament starts.”

Charles Ellis, Vice President – Basketball Federation
“For us to do good and even win in any international tournament, we need the help of our foreign athletes, foreign Belizean athletes.”

Julian Murrillo, Secretary General - BBF
“The general mood in the room was a sombre mood. As I said before we were quite pleased to see the level of comrade that was developed over the past three weeks or so between all our players. As I said before we are very keen not to differentiate to make sure that we treat everybody the same way. But generally there was a sombre mood. I think people had mixed feelings. Those who made it, there were some surprises from the names that we called. Some people worked very hard and I think they were rewarded for their hard work and dedication. But for those who didn’t make it, there was certainly quite a bit of empathy within the camp for people who didn’t make it.”

Charles Ellis,
“We believe we’ve assembled one of the strongest team ever to represent the country of Belize for this upcoming tournament.”

Two more players face elimination from the squad and that should be made once Sonny Watson and Keenan Jourdan arrive. Their presence is considered critical since both have height which is something lacking in the current squad. Sonny Watson by the way is delayed because of tryouts for the Houston Rockets.

You’ll be able to see the 15 players in action tomorrow night in a scrimmage at the City Center. It starts at 7 pm and entrance is free. Practice sessions will also now be open to the public.

The tournament runs from the 10th to the 14th of August in Cancun. Belize’s first game will be against Nicaragua followed by Guatemala and then Panama.