The last time the Turks and Caicos Islands competed in the Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC)-the predecessor to today’s FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers-was in 2004.
That pioneering team, consisted of Murrick Neal Campbell, Jarrett Dion Forbes, Mervin Michael Forbes, Marcusson Lewellelyn Lightbourn, Levard Sinclair Missick, Alvarado Parker, Trevor Saunders, Lamar Eldrek Skippings, Ira Lawrence Taylor, Michael Sydney Taylor, Stanley Edward Taylor, Toriono Delano Williams, Deanza Macmardo Wilson, and Kano Canard Wilson.
Although they finished 0-4, placing 7th overall, they laid the foundation for everything we are witnessing today.
22 years later, history has come full circle.
Led by Head Coach Slavoljub “Lale” Gorunovic and Assistant Coach Mervin Forbes-himself a member of that 2004 team-the current squad of Travante Garland, RJ Lacossade, Dylan Morris, Omarii Harvey, Levard Missick Jr., Jessey Maximin, Dwaine Simmons, Alvarado Parker, Mike Estimond, Carlens Louis, and Justin Forbes wrote their own chapter.
RTC spoke with Head Coach “Lale” upon their return.
We also spoke with Assistant Coach Mervin Forbes, who is a very integral part of youth basketball in the TCI and was a memeber of this squad 22 years ago.
Team Captain, Alvarado Parker, who first represented the country as an 18-year-old in 2004, has returned more than two decades later to once again wear the national jersey.
RTC also spoke with President of the Basketball Federation Trevor Cooke to find out why it is important for Turks and Caicos to compete at events such as this one.
The Turks and Caicos Islands men’s national basketball team finished with a historic 3–1 record at the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Georgetown, Guyana.
Despite their impressive winning record, they did not advance to the second round. A point-differential tiebreaker in Group A favored Antigua and Barbuda, who claimed the lone qualifying spot.
Turks and Caicos played four games in the group stage:
Guyana – Won – 68–55 – Dylan Morris (9 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast)
Dominica – Won – 81–64 – Ethan Taylor (17 pts, 8 reb)
Bermuda – Won – 76–61 – Jessy Maximin (12 pts, 18 reb)
Antigua & Barbuda – Lost – 57–86 – Ethan Taylor (25 pts, 8 reb)
Congratulations Team TCI on a job well done.
The country is proud of you. This is only the beginning!
