The national basketball teams will head to Rhodes with an extra bounce in their step.
The women’s team are defending champions while the men have finished as runners-up on four occasions.
According to National Coach Victor ‘Voot’ O’Garro, the men’s squad will prove they can beat the other international teams.
‘Gold has always eluded us as we’ve always reached the finals. This year we’re going all out for the gold. I am confident that the men have a good shot at the gold.’
The 12th Annual Games will be held in Rhodes, Greece 30 June-6 July. Over 20 island nations will be competing in a wide range of sports from basketball to swimming.
The Cayman national team was scheduled to leave Tuesday 26 June at around 8am. The team was set to travel to Miami then London and then Rhodes. They were expected to arrive Wednesday 27 June at around 10pm Greek time.
Coach O’Garro says that this year’s event will see its share of challenges for both teams.
‘The Cayman Islands has been successful since its introduction to the Games in 1999. We have a total of seven medals with the ladies taking the gold and bronze medals.
‘This year will be one of the toughest years for both the men and the women. We have to take things one step at a time because of the amount of teams.’
This year’s games will see roughly 10-12 teams. They will be split into two zones or groupings.
According to Coach O’Garro, Cayman will need to do well in its group to have a shot at gold.
‘It’s important to be in the top 2 in your zone for a chance at gold. If you aren’t, then you have no chance.’
The Cayman men’s first game will be against Minorca (also called Menorca). The Balearic Island has competed in all the previous Island Games. However, this year will mark the first time the two countries will face each other in basketball.
In spite of the lack of exposure Cayman has to the team, Coach O’Garro is not worried.
‘Minorca is a pro team that competes in the Spainish league. We haven’t seen each other before.
‘I’m happy to play them first. It just proves that this year’s event will make us go from strength to strength.’
This year’s men squad is very similar to the one that went to the previous Games. However, there are a few new faces. Coach O’Garro feels they play a vital part on the team.
‘We have four new comers this year. However the nucleus remains the same. Guys like Colin Anglin, Dwight O’Garro and Antonio Thompson are all experienced performers.
‘The challenging part of the team is at the center position. In games, the bulk of the work is down there. Once the new centers display the experience and knowledge that they have, we’ll definitely do well.’
The Island Games come every two years. For Coach O’Garro, it is a crucial event that keeps basketball in Cayman going strong.
‘The Island Games has been positively impacting local basketball. I also feel it will continue to do so. It gives everyone something to look forward to.
‘If there hadn’t been any Island Games, people would be depressed. To me, the Games keep hope alive.’
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