Two years ago Sandi Jiminez suffered misery at the hands of the Wolves.
His squad, team Colombia, was knocked out of the semi-finals to end their first year in basketball’s top flight. Now Jiminez, 32, is part of the Wolves and looking for his second straight national championship with the side.
The Santo Domingo native, who has been in Cayman seven years, states it has been an interesting journey in local basketball.
“I’ve been playing basketball here for seven years,” Jiminez said. “The last two I’ve been with Wolves and I was with Colombia for two seasons after playing for Canadian team Billy Bones and the Philippines. Colombia and Wolves are so different. Colombia did not have many good players. I had to work hard and play good with no help.
“On the Wolves there’s not that problem. If I struggle (Vanrick) Felix comes in as the point guard. On offence Butcher (Gary McLaughlin) or Dwight (O’Garro) can step up. I’m happy to play with Wolves, it’s a great team.
“I feel great playing for another title. When you’re a player in the finals it’s something different. It’s something you can’t explain to people. You have to be there to understand why it’s great.”
Jiminez guides the Wolves, looking for their third consecutive championship, against the Dominos Warriors in the division one finals. Game one of the best-of-five series is Thursday 2 June at 6pm at the Arts and Recreation Centre and pits the top two teams in the 2011 Cayman Islands Basketball Association’s national men’s league. It’s also a re-match of last year’s finals, which the Wolves won in four games.
Jiminez states though the teams are different the result should be the same.
“It’s necessary to beat them. That’s what happened last year, even though they were a good team. We beat them last year and I see no problem beating them now. We are prepared for anything. Our team is a team; it’s not about one player. It’s hard to beat us because we play with heart.
“The philosophies are different and their team is much improved with new players. But I think we can beat them again because our team works together. I know some games I’ve been good and others not so good. I will try to play better in the finals. I started training from Sunday evening to play in the final. I think I will play better this year.”
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