05212019 SPORTS by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019

Justin Roberts gets Arthur Ashe award By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net rom the University of South Florida to Arizona State University, Justin Roberts has completed his collegiate eligibility by receiving the Southwest region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) made the announcement on Saturday but, when contacted yesterday, Roberts said he was really surprised by the accolade. “This was pretty cool. I didn’t know anything about it so I wasn’t expecting it.” Roberts said. “When my father (Bruno Roberts) told me about it, I was surprised because I hadn’t heard anything about it. “But it’s a cool award to achieve. I appreciate the award. I didn’t expect it, but it’s a cool thing to add to my résumé.” According to the ASU website, Roberts played a huge leadership role on a relatively young ASU men’s tennis squad, representing the only senior on the nine-man roster. The graduate student transferred to Arizona State for his last season and made an immediate impact both on and off the court for coach Matt Hill. The Bahamian played three seasons at the University of South Florida – two of which were under Hill – where he advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA tournament in doubles during his freshman year and notched a top-5 upset also in tandem play. Roberts made the jump to Tempe for his senior season to follow coach Hill, providing valuable leadership along the way. Roberts posted a 10-8 record in singles play in 2019, primarily at the No.3 spot for the Sun Devils. He proved of the utmost importance in the Sun Devils’ second-straight Territorial Cup Series point over Arizona, clinching the victory with his 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 singles win. He and doubles partner Makey Rakotomlala also anchored courts two and three all season long, putting up an

PAGES 4 & 5

FOX AND SEYMOUR GO HEADTO-HEAD IN DOUBLE A By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LUCIUS Fox of the Montgomery Biscuits and Anfernee Seymour of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp went head-to-head in the Double A Southern League to highlight recent activity from Bahamian baseball players in the minor leagues. The Jumbo Shrimp concluded the series with a 5-1 win yesterday, but Biscuits got the edge (3-2) in the five-game series. Fox broke up Jacksonville’s no hitter with the Biscuits’ lone base hit of the game. Seymour had a productive series at the plate, 4-12 through three games. He went 2-3 with an RBI and run scored in game one and 1-3 with one run scored in both games two and three. In 29 games this season, Seymour is hitting .227 with a .546 OPS. He has totalled 17 hits, with five RBI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases. Fox has appeared in 39 games and has hit .178 thus far with a .643 OPS. He totalled 23 hits, six doubles, three triples, two home runs, with 15 RBI, 23 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Fox will now go headto-head with another Bahamian player this week when the Biscuits take on Jazz Chisholm and the Jackson Generals in a fivegame series May 22-26. The Generals concluded a five-game series with the Tennessee Smokies yesterday afternoon. Chisholm went hitless over the first three games of the series before finally reaching safely in game four. His RBI triple in the fourth inning pushed the lead to 3-1. He would score later in the inning on a sac fly and the Generals went on to win 7-1. Chisholm recently moved up to the No.55 prospect in

SEE PAGE 3

MMA

TENNIS ace Justin Roberts has received the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award - Southwest region.

SEE PAGE 3

Ricardo Smith to run for president of the NPBA By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net OVER the weekend, Ricardo Smith unveiled his plans and slate of officers who intend to run with him when he contests for the office of president of the New Providence Basketball Association this weekend. Smith, a former executive of a semi-pro basketball league, will be vying for president against incumbent first vice president James Price when the elections take place 10am Saturday at the Ministry of Education’s training room. Smith and Price will be put to replace Eugene Horton, who opted not to seek another fouryear term as president after he was recently elected as the first vice president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

“A number of persons spoke to me about the state of basketball in New Providence and they believe that I can do something to improve it,” Smith said. “So after long consideration, meditation and prayer, I decided to give it a go. “But in order to achieve this major undertaking, I had to go deep into the personnel for persons who have the skills set and the time to devote to the sport so that I can achieve my objective.” Smith’s ‘One Team, One Dream’ slate of officers include Steven ‘Stretch’ Culmer as first vice president, Mario Pickstock, second vice president, Uriel Adderley, third vice president, Michael Demeritte, fourth vice president, Jemique Sands-Taylor, secretary, Requel Sands, assistant secretary, Carla Jackson, treasurer, Dwayne McGregor, Commissioner, Attorney Domek

Rolle, Assistant Commissioner and Marcellus Hall, public relations officer. In putting together his team, Smith said he tried to find a competent group of men and women who have the ability to take basketball to the next level. During their term in office, if elected, Smith said they intend to pursue the following:

RICARDO SMITH has unveiled his plans and slate of officers who intend to run with him when he contests for the office of president of the New Providence Basketball Association this weekend.

• Award division one champions a $10,000 cash prize • Open the 2019/20 season live on television • Introduce big game nights to feature each team • Re-introduce the NPBA AllStar weekend • Host gala awards presentation banquet • Introduce new team business manager position

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 21, 2019

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IAAF WORLD RELAYS: MINISTER THANKS THE ATHLETES THE IAAF World Relays is an international relay sporting event hosted by the International Association of Athletic Federations. In 2014, the World Relays was born in Nassau as a trial edition and then again in 2015 and 2017. Due to its success in The Bahamas, the IAAF has officially incorporated the event into its official calendar with the relays now being held every two years. The IAAF Relays now provides athletes with the additional opportunity to compete and qualify for both the World Championships, as well as the Olympic Games. Representing the Government of The Bahamas at the 2019 IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan, Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture Lanisha Rolle led a small delegation consisting of Deputy Permanent Secretary, Darron Turnquest, Director of Sports, Timothy Munnings

MINISTER of Youth, Sports & Culture Lanisha Rolle (above and top) meets and greets the coaches and athletes. and IAAF Council Woman, Pauline Davis-Thompson in an effort to visibly demonstrate The Bahamas’ support for the athletes. Participating in only two relays, the 4x400m and 4x200m, the team of athletes consisting of Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Ojay Ferguson, Stephen Newbold, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias, Teray Smith, Andre Newbold, Rico Moultrie and Anthony Adderley, courageously sought to challenge the world and represent the country with pride.

Injury, unfortunately, is a part of sport and Steven Gardiner experienced inflammation of an existing injury, which ultimately prevented his participation and that of the men’s 4x400m team. The 4x200m relay team placed second in their heat, advancing to the finals with a season’s best time of 1:22.40. As fate would have it, a dropped baton ultimately ruined the opportunity to contend for a medal. The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture extends its

MINISTER of Youth, Sports & Culture Lanisha Rolle led a small delegation - Deputy Permanent Secretary, Darron Turnquest, Director of Sports, Timothy Munnings and IAAF Council Woman, Pauline Davis-Thompson - seen here with Lord Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF. appreciation to the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, its athletes and team officials for their efforts toward this event. Though the results may not have been what was desired or expected, it will serve as a learning opportunity to regroup and make

the necessary adjustments before IAAF World Championships in Qatar later this year in September and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, both events in which The Bahamas has established a history of success. The health of each of our athletes remains of primary

concern. In this regard I wish the speedy recovery of Stevie and any other athlete who may be nursing an injury. May the Lord continue to bless our athletes and may He continue to bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

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Tuesday, May 21, 2019, PAGE 3

Justin Roberts gets Arthur Ashe award FROM PAGE 1 11-8 record as a pair. After exhausting his eligibility at the conclusion of the 2019 season last month, Roberts plans to play a slate of professional tennis over the summer and then return to Tempe in the fall to train and complete his master’s degree in sports law and business. He will represent the first Sun Devil men’s tennis player since reinstatement to earn his degree as he plans to graduate in December 2019. Roberts said he read up about the award and he’s honoured to have been the recipient. “It’s good to know that you are being rewarded for something that you are doing off the court,” stated Roberts, who still has one more semester to complete his academic eligibility. Roberts, 23, is now heading to Europe for five weeks where he will play in a series of professional tournaments before he returns around June 24 to play in Argentina and the United States and then the Pan American Games and another tournament in South America to complete his summer. “Now that I’m completed by college eligibility, I just want to go out there and see what I can do as a professional player,” Roberts said. “I will finish up school and play some pro tournaments. I can take the money now.” Looking back at his collegiate career, Roberts said he went in FSU at the age of 17 and he was able to gain the experience to bloom as a youngster on and off the court. “It was a good experience and I am glad that I had the opportunity to go through the college ranks,” he said. “If I had to do it all again,

JUSTIN Roberts has received the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award - Southwest region. I would because it was five wonderful years of my life.” As for the pro ranks, Roberts said it’s his goal to become one of the top 100 players to emerge on the circuit and perform in front of the television at the major international tournaments.

“This was a dream of mine from a young boy growing up and so I am glad that now that I’m done with playing college, I can go on and fulfill my dream of being a professional tennis player,” said Roberts, who began playing tennis at the age of seven.

Fox and Seymour go head-to-head in Double A FROM PAGE 1 MLB Pipeline’s top 100. In his Double A debut this season (37 games), Chisholm is hitting .164 with a .725 OPS, slugging .440 with a league leading 10 home runs, 19 RBI, 22 hits, three doubles, two triples, 19 RBI and four stolen bases. Chavez Young is back with the Dunedin Blue Jays and back to his production in the starting lineup. Young was placed on the temporarily active list on April 29 as to return home following the death of his mother. Young returned to the team on May 11 and went hitless in his first four games back with the club. He went 2-4 and drove in the team’s lone RBI in the

SHOWN (l-r) are Lucius Fox, Jazz Chisholm and Anfernee Seymour in action. top of the 9th inning in a 3-1 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers. He also doubled in the top of the fourth inning. He followed with a 1-4 night and scored one run in the Blue Jays’ 3-2 win.

Young progressed to Single A-Advanced in the offseason. Through 28 games he hit .193 with a with 21 hits, three doubles, one home run, seven RBI, seven stolen bases and 13 runs scored.

Ricardo Smith to run for president of the NPBA FROM PAGE 1 • Make monthly financial statements for all teams mandatory • Introduce plans for two league fundraisers • Secure sponsor for team refreshments during games • Roll-out new league marketing plan and half-time entertainment schedule • Open new NPBA office • Introduce a new 40-and-older league • Introduce new Project Phoenix summer programme • Introduce new all-division two teams for travel and exposure Smith said while he has engaged the services of

Hall to run their marketing programme and Carla Jackson to operate the financial affairs, he’s even more thrilled that Pickstock Demeritte has consented to be in charge of their vibrant youth programme. “We have a solid team and a very good programme in place and so we just have to get the fans more involved in coming out and being a part of it,” Smith said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, but we are prepared to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.” With the introduction of a business manager, Smith said that person will be responsible for the day-today operation of the league, which will make it so much easier for the executive officers to carry out their function.

“We are moving into a new direction and a very purposeful direction,” he said. “For far too long, only those persons who work around the table and officiate the games have benefitted. “We intend to make it so attractive that the players will be able to benefit from what we do as well by providing more incentives for them as they play the game. We have to show the players a lot of our appreciation.” Although he called it a very “comprehensive programme,” Smith said it’s achievable and so he’s asking for the voting delegates to put a tick towards his team to make the dream a reality. Smith’s team and the programme were launched at the Hilton hotel on Friday.

Shard Munroe hit his third home run of the season in game two of the series with the South Bend Cubs. Munroe’s three run home run in the fourth inning was the go-ahead score to give

the Dragons a 4-1 win over the Cubs on Saturday night. It concluded his sevengame hit streak. Munroe is in his first full campaign with the Dragons after ending 2018 with Class A - Midwest League club.

Through 34 games, Munroe is hitting .243 with a .376 OBP, an OPS of .806, slugging .430 with 26 hits, three doubles, four triples, three homeruns, 14 RBI and four stolen bases.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 21, 2019

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PAN-AMERICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS OF AMATEUR MMA

MEXICAN fighters won five of the 10 contested gold-medal matches to close out the competition. Several Bahamian fighters also took to the cage during the competition but finished short of the medal round. Amateur MMA competitors from all IMMAF-WMMAA competed in six categories for women and 10 categories for men. Participating countries included the Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, France, the Czech Republic, the US and Jamaica. The event was hosted by Empire Mixed Martial Arts Bahamas and, in addition to medals for the top three finishers, fighters also competed for IMMAF World Amateur MMA ranking points.

Photos by Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

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Tuesday, May 21, 2019, PAGE 5

PAN-AMERICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS OF AMATEUR MMA

ON THE REPLAY: Mixed martial arts fighters in action on Saturday during the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) Unified Pan-American Open Championships of Amateur MMA at the Kendal Isaacs Gym. Bahamians Marcel Amann and Christian Miller claimed historic silver medals for the Bahamas in the tournament finale. In the heavyweight division, Amann lost to Jonathan Muamba of Mexico via knockout, seven seconds into the first round. Amann advanced to the final with a first round TKO over Victor Diaz of Mexico in the semi-final, 27 seconds into the second round. In the light heavyweight division, Miller lost to Lashawn Sladden of Trinidad And Tobago via knockout, 2:20 in the second round.

Photos by Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

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Tuesday, May 21, 2019, PAGE 7

SEMENYA TO RACE IN 3,000 IN WAKE OF NEW TESTOSTERONE LIMITS STANFORD, California (AP) — Caster Semenya will compete in the 3,000 metres at the Prefontaine Classic next month, a distance that doesn’t fall under track and field’s new rules for testosterone limits. The two-time Olympic 800-metre champion from South Africa said after her 800 win at the Doha Diamond League earlier this month that she won’t submit to new testosterone regulations in track. The new rules that just went into effect require Semenya and other female athletes with high levels of natural testosterone to medically lower them to be eligible to compete in events ranging from 400 meters to the mile. Semenya must lower her testosterone levels if she wants to defend her 800 title at world championships in Doha, Qatar, this fall. The 28-year-old Semenya will race in the 3,000 on June 30 at Stanford. The Pre Classic is usually held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, but the venue is under construction.

CASTER SEMENYA, of South Africa, crosses the finish line to win the women’s 800 metres for Africa at the IAAF track and field Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on September 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Sunshine, breezy and pleasant

Mostly sunny, breezy and pleasant

High: 85°

Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 73°

High: 84° Low: 73°

High: 84° Low: 74°

AccuWeather RealFeel

95° F

79° F

93°-74° F

90°-72° F

87°-72° F

89°-75° F

ORLANDO

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

ABACO

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

6-12 knots

WEST PALM BEACH High: 87° F/31° C Low: 74° F/23° C

3-6 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

FREEPORT

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 71° F/22° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

3-6 knots

KEY WEST

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 70° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 72° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.75” Year to date ............................................... 10.64” Normal year to date ..................................... 7.69”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

4-8 knots

3-6 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

10:24 a.m. 10:48 p.m.

2.4 3.0

4:33 a.m. -0.2 4:26 p.m. -0.2

Wednesday 11:10 a.m. 11:33 p.m.

2.2 2.8

5:20 a.m. -0.1 5:11 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

11:58 a.m. -----

2.1 -----

6:06 a.m. 5:58 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Friday

12:20 a.m. 12:49 p.m.

2.7 2.1

6:54 a.m. 6:48 p.m.

0.3 0.5

Saturday

1:09 a.m. 1:42 p.m.

2.5 2.0

7:44 a.m. 7:42 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Sunday

2:00 a.m. 2:38 p.m.

2.4 2.1

8:34 a.m. 8:40 p.m.

0.5 0.7

Monday

2:52 a.m. 3:33 p.m.

2.3 2.2

9:24 a.m. 9:39 p.m.

0.5 0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:23 a.m. 7:50 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

10:40 p.m. 8:42 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 26

Jun. 3

Jun. 10

Jun. 17

CAT ISLAND

uV inDex toDay

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

3-6 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4-8 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS E at 3-6 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots E at 4-8 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 3-6 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 4-8 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots E at 4-8 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 3-6 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots E at 3-6 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 81° F 79° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 82° F 80° F 80° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 21, 2019

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