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The much touted Belize national basketball team will open the COCABA championship in Cancun in a week. On Friday night they held their first practice that was open to public – we got a look at the team.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
It was their first practice that was open to the public and while the team smoothly worked through some sets, when the practice game started it was apparent that this team hadn’t practiced with each other enough to gel as a unit. But on the upside, it’s also clear that the team is talented: they have plenty of shooters and slashers and scorers, but the team lacks size. The only legit big man is seven footer Dakin Braddick and he’s recovering form knee injuries and at times looked less than sharp.

Veterans Milton Palacio and Marlon Garnett say this team needs two things: size and identity.

Milton Palacio, National Team
“It was good, the run was good. Definitely we are trying to keep it to two quarters so it won’t get messy for the fans, just so they can come out and see and support us a little bit. We are a young team, we’re a small team but we’re going to run a little bit, we’re going to get out and we’re going to play hard and I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Marlon Garnett, National Team
“Right now our biggest need is to get us some big guys. Hopefully Sonny and Keenan are going to make it this week to give us a better chance. Obviously we have the talent but talent is always the solution. I think if we can find a way to put the talent together with the right chemistry, kind of get some principles that we want to do on defense, try to form some kind of identity; I know in the past Belize has been a running gunning game but sometimes in basketball if you have a night where you are not shooting as well, that can work against you.”

For these three professionals – it’s important that the team find success because they’ve committed to a process that does require sacrifice.

Jules Vasquez,
“How much of a sacrifice is this for you guys: a) you can’t risk injury and you’re playing for free?”

Marlon Garnett,
“I am glad you mentioned that because that was one of my major concerns, not the money; I told them I would come for free but at least to be insured or covered just in case you get hurt but something happened where they weren’t able to get coverage for just the one month that we would be here practicing and playing games. Some may look at that as a sacrifice, some may say well it is your job and you’re supposed to do it. But it’s a sacrifice because it is a risk. We’re out here, this is our livelihood, this is our job. Once we leave here we still have to go play but if we are injured we can’t go play other places so for myself I know it is a sacrifice.”

Milton Palacio,
“You know we want to go hard but the court isn’t great but we are trying to make the best of what it is but you know, I had a couple slips and I am just trying to pace myself because I don’t want to get hurt or have to slip and something happens before I leave so I am trying not to get hurt but definitely we will try and compete with these guys and let them know that we can compete every night.”

And they say they’re happy to do it in an effort to build basketball.

Alex Carcamo, National Team
“You guys got to realize we are all Belizeans. I represent us to the fullest when I am overseas. I am over there in the Belize headband, my Belizean wristbands, that’s what I do, and it is good for these young guys to learn from us.”

Marlon Garnett,
“This is an important tournament for the process, the steps to put Belize on the map for one and for two to try to help these young guys to build basketball here in Belize back up so it won’t just be a one or two year thing, this can be a thing that continues on for years and years to come.”

Since Friday night, six foot eight inch Keenan Jordan came in to join the team. He is expected to help even out the size deficiency. He also has experience playing in Mexico and facing members of the Mexican national team. The team’s management is still holding out for Sonny Watson who is six foot 11.