SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025
Bahamas Rugby Union to host JA By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
T
he Bahamas Rugby Union is preparing to host the Jamaican national team in a friendly but competitive match 4pm Saturday at the Winton Rugby Pitch. Over the weekend, following a joint practice between players from New Providence and Grand Bahama, the BRU selected 18 of their 23-member team. According to head coach Stephen Thompson, the remaining five players will be selected by Wednesday and it will be based on their fitness level. Although the regular season for the BRU ended at the end of April, Thompson said the players have been working out in practices on Tuesdays,
THE BAHAMAS Rugby Union is preparing to host the Jamaican national team in a friendly but competitive match 4pm Saturday at the Winton Rugby Pitch. Thursdays and Saturdays, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday for the camp to accommodate eight players who came in from Grand Bahama. “We don’t have as many players as we’ve had in the past because of the break in the action here,” Thompson lamented. “But we have an active youth programme and we’re trying to integrate some of them into our men’s programme.”
Thompson, however, said they have had a good, solid core of players coming out to practice and he feels they have selected a very strong team to take on Jamaica. Selected so far are Odel Armbrister, Daquan Blyden, Jethro Bullard, Kevin Charlton, Kevin Deveaux, Kwmae Garland, Mark Hammerton, Jordan Isaacs, Josh Purcell, Kyle Rolle, Travis Sherman,
Taj Smith, Alex Storr, Luke Thompson, Adam Waterhouse and Alonzo Williams. Charlton, one of the players from Grand Bahama, said the Bahamian fans, and even those from Jamaica, can come out and watch a very good and entertaining game on Saturday, starting at 4pm at the Winton rugby pitch. “It’s going to be a lot of energy,” he said. “Looking
at what we have to work with, we will have a decent team, a nice young team. We are coming out to compete. “I know the guys from Jamaica. They are always playing rugby. But they’re coming to Nassau and we’re looking to avenge our loss to them the last time we played them.” With an active, vibrant programme in Grand
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BASKETBALL SMILES’ 3-DAY CAMP BEGINS By Jonathan Burrows
NBA FINALS GAME 5: PACERS VS THUNDER – PAGE 8
DOZENS of young athletes gathered yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium for the annual Basketball Smiles camp, where players sharpened their skills, learned from experienced coaches, and built lasting friendships both on and off the court. The three-day camp, marking its 26th anniversary, kicked off Monday
welcoming boys and girls aged 12-17 from all over the island. The non-profit camp is organised and was founded by world-renowned basketball coach Sam Nichols. With the help of 12 assistant coaches, the camp is focused on developing core basketball fundamentals - including shooting, dribbling, defence, and teamwork through hands-on drills and daily
YOUNG participants enjoy shooting drills during the camp. Photo: Jonathan Burrows scrimmages. The female group began at 9:30am and the males began at
Bahamas shines at Pony 12U Caribbean and Latin American Baseball Zone Championships TEAM Bahamas’ 12U baseball team, with head coach James Clarke, team administrator Terran Rodgers and coaches Donovan Cox, Temico Smith and Norman Bastian III, is making waves. The team players are Waiden Bain, Ethan Burnside, Bosfield Butler III, Jaycob Clarke, Josiah Filterman, Geralle Gabriel II, Isaac Richardson, Reid Ingraham, Liam Smith, Jaden Liberal, Tyler Smith, Ganno Newball, Xavier Thompson, Xavier Petit and Carmelo Wallace. The team set off on June 6 to represent The Bahamas in the Pony World Series Qualifier in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. Game 1, which was pitched by Liam Smith and Jaycob Clarke, against El Salvador saw The Bahamas with a decisive win of 21-0. Game 2, pitched by Geralle Gabriel 11, Jaden Liberal, Xavier Petit and Josiah Filterman, saw a close, highly competitive game to the end where Team Bahamas lost to the Dominican champions 7-6. Game 3, pitched by Carmelo Wallace, saw The Bahamas emerging victorious with a 9-4 win
OLYMPIC ROWER ROB GIBSON: ‘I THINK WE’VE GROWN THE SPORT IN BAHAMAS’
1pm, ending at 4pm. Both
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THERE’S a saying that “all good things must come to an end” and for Canadian Olympic rower Rob Gibson the past four years experience here in The Bahamas will be an unforgettable one. Gibson, who won a silver medal in 2012 in the middle of his three appearances at the Olympics, will be returning to his homeland of Canada after serving here as the director for rowing at the Windsor High School. “I didn’t fully understand what I was getting myself involved in when I came down. And when I look at where we were in September of 2020, August of 2020, 2021 versus June of 2025, I’m quite proud of all that’s been accomplished between Windsor Rowing and the Nassau Rowing Club. We’ve made great strides forward,” Gibson said. “I think we’ve grown the sport in The Bahamas, which is what I’m most proud of. And we’ve helped build the community here. So yeah, I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished here together with the Nassau Rowing Club.” Now with a family to focus on, Gibson said it’s time for him to return home where he plans to get back into one of his old jobs either as a firefighter or real estate sales agent. “I’ve got a baby. So my wife and I, we just want to go home and be closer to our families and just sort of
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25TH KEVIN JOHNSON BASKETBALL CAMP RUNS FROM JUNE 23 TO JULY 11 By Miguel Fernander NOW in its 25th year, the Kevin Johnson Basketball Camp continues to be the foundational experience for young athletes, emphasising not just basketball but life values such as discipline, education and faith. Running from June 23 to July 11 at CI Gibson High School Gymnasium with operation daily from 9am to 1 pm, the camp is open to boys and girls between the ages of five and 19 years. The cost for the full three
weeks is $120 per camper. Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, a respected figure in Bahamian basketball, remains committed to the core mission of the camp. “Putting God first, prioritising education, and using basketball as a vehicle for opportunities, including scholarships,” said Johnson, who also serves as the basketball coach for the CI Gibson Rattlers’ senior boys and girls basketball teams.
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THE SPORTS June CALENDAR
TEAM Bahamas’ players are ready to represent the island nation at the Pony 12U Caribbean and Latin American Baseball Zone Championships. over Panama. And Game a decisive 10-2 win over where they faced the 4, which was pitched by Ecuador. Dominican host team Xavier Petit and closed out After the first round where they fought a valiant by Ethan Burnside, saw of games, The Bahamas The Bahamas prevail with qualified for the semifinals SEE PAGE E7
CHARITY GOLF INVITATIONAL THE Pilot Club International is scheduled to hold a XCharity Golf Invitational Fundraiser on Friday, June 20 at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island. The event will get started with a shotgun start at 8am, followed by the awards luncheon. The donation is $1,000 per foursome. For more information.
interested persons can call 557-9049. BASKETBALL MHB CAMP THE Marvin Henfield Basketball Summer Basketball Camp is scheduled to run from June 23 to July 11 for players aged 6-17 years old. The camp will be held in the gym in the back of the old Coca-Cola
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