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The Belize National Men’s basketball selection departs for Cancun Mexico on Sunday to play the 2009 Cocaba Championship. Your last chance to see them in action is tonight – in a few minutes, actually. The star studded team is holding its final open practice sessions at the City Center at 7:00. The Vice President of the Basketball Federation is Charles Ellis and he invited Belizeans to come to the practice while also discussing the last minute jitters for this untested team of promise.

Charles Ellis, Vice President – BBF
“Yes we are encouraging all Belizeans to come out tonight to see our national team in their last inter-squad scrimmage before leaving for Cancun come Sunday.”

Jules Vasquez,
“The team just came together in the last week really, all the elements, how are they gelling right now?”

Charles Ellis,
“Well everybody looks good. Everybody is of high spirits. We are playing well together. The team is hype and they are looking forward towards the tournament.”

Jules Vasquez,
“I know the team is departing on Sunday, I know there are so many last minute logistics that you all have to deal with. But what is your central and greatest source of apprehension?”

Charles Ellis,
“Well we haven’t had the team battle tested so that’s something that we’re apprehensive about but we still feel okay with the scrimmages that we have seen the team playing and we hope that would have been enough when tournament time comes next week.”

Jules Vasquez,
“I know that we added Keenan Jourdan, how important is his input and will he be able to hold the fort as a big forward?”

Charles Ellis,
“Very very important. Keenan has experienced all his life playing against men bigger than himself in Puerto Rico and all over the world really and so his being part of the team is very instrumental.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Are you concern that they will focus on him and try to foul him out?”

Charles Ellis,
“Well that is always a focus and we have to learn to play smart and to try to keep him in the game.”

Jules Vasquez,
“The scrimmage tonight, it is open to the public, anyone can attend?”

Charles Ellis,
“It is open to the public, its free and we are encouraging families to come out, catch a last glimpse of the team, sign autographs after the scrimmage and it should be a fun time.”

And while the team is ready for blast-off, reports to our newsroom are that all is not well in Basketball-land as the organizers of the tournament in Mexico have reportedly mounted a last minute challenge to the nationality of a number of the Belizean players.

It’s patently bogus because section 23 of the constitution makes it clear that they are all Belizeans by virtue of descent – since every player on the team has at least one Belizean parent. But the FIBA organizers – who may be not too happy with the threat of an unusually talented Belizean roster – have taken a different interpretation of the constitution. We understand that last hour efforts are being made at this time to have the constitutional position officially clarified by government’s legal advisor.

Regardless of what happens, the team departs for Cancun on Sunday on Maya Airlines and the matter of who makes it unto the roster will be settled – or unsettled - by Sunday night.