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Female basketball coach vows to retain Carib title

Published:Wednesday | June 3, 2015 | 1:09 PMShayne Fairman
Jermaine Barnaby
Head coach Timothy Eatman (left) in conversation with national female basketballers Jennifer George (right) and Shenneika Smith during the announcement of the Jamaica Senior Women’s squad for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation tournament at the Alhambra Inn last Thursday. The tournament starts in the British Virgin Islands on June 8.

Veteran American college basketball coach, Timothy Eatman, who led 'Lady Jamrockerz' to regional supremacy at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation tournament last year, is vowing to put in twice the work this year to have his charges retain that title.

Eatman's team has its work cut out, though, and has 'no time for complacency', he told The Gleaner.

"The theme that we are representing every day is to become a championship team," he observed.

"We are in the pool with the host country so we can't get off the plane with jet lag, we have to play BVI (hosts British Virgin Islands) and bring our 'A' game as we step off that plane," he underlined.

Hard at work

Speaking at a recent press briefing at the Alhambra Inn to name the national women's basketball squad, Eatman said the girls are working very hard.

"Jamaica just needs to see us, just come out and see our training camp and see how hard these youngsters play," Eatman said, noting team Jamaica will be looking to win gold and establish a 'solid foundation' towards qualifying for the 2020 Olympics.

Also at the press briefing were Jamaica Basketball Association president Dr Mark Broomfield, vice-president Kino Johnson, the coaching staff, and members of the basketball squad.

Team Jamaica will leave the island on Saturday for the British Virgin Islands. They will bow into action on June 8 against Barbados before facing Guyana the following day. Jamaica will face hosts BVI at 9 p.m. on June 10 while the semi-final round will commence on June 11, and the finals on June 12.