03162017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

ON YOUR MARKS...

BASKETBALL

NPBA Playoffs, Page 17

DOMINIQUE COLLIE SIGNS PRO BASEBALL CONTRACT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CARIFTA qualifiers and records broken at 28th High School Track & Field Nationals

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

T

he 28th National High School Track and Field Championships, which promises to be one filled with record-breaking performances, kicked off yesterday at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, who delivered the keynote address during the official opening ceremonies, said they already had a total of 700 athletes who came in from the Family Islands and, although they had some problems accommodating all of them on Tuesday night, they got it sorted out.

The championships, according to Johnson, is a collaboration with the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, which will conclude the weekend with the Test Run on Saturday and Sunday for the third IAAF World Relays here in April.

Johnson also revealed that the ministry will be heading to Moore’s Island, Abaco at the end of the month for the launch of National Sports Academy and he announced that they will be resurfacing the Carl Oliver Track at North Andros with a mondo surface later this year.

The event is being held in honour of former BAAA president and public relations officer Alpheus ‘Hawk’ Finlayson who, in his remarks, reflecting on the history of the sport, uttered the following few words: “I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Also speaking during the ceremony were Timothy Munnings, the Director of Sports at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and Keith Saunders, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Antrinique Winston of North Andros gave the athletes’ oath while the coaches’ oath was done

by Rev Anthony Williams from Moore’s Island. Doris Ramsey gave the officials’ oath.

The championships, which will continue 9am today and wrap up on Friday, is being split into two sessions each day.

The opening day saw a few national high school records broken and some of the athletes attaining the qualifying standards for the CARIFTA Games, scheduled for Curacao over the Easter holiday weekend.

On the field, Daeja Moss, of Queen’s College, had a double dose of victory. She took the under-20 girls’ high jump with a leap of 1.67 metres or 5-feet, 53/4-inches, edging out Doniesha Anderson of St Augustine’s College on fewer knockdowns. They both surpassed the national high school record of 1.63m that was set by Celine Thompson, also from Queen’s College, in 2015. Their performances, however, was just shy of

DOMINIQUE Collie, now a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is the latest Bahamian to sign a professional baseball contract coming on the heels of the retirement of his cousin Antoan Richardson.

Collie, joining Jasrado Chisholm in the organisation, inked his name on the dotted line yesterday at the Leadership Academy in the presence of his family and coaches and members of the Maximum Development Sports Academy (MaxD).

“It feels good. I never thought that this day would ever come,” Collie said.

“I always used to be on the other side of the table watching guys sign and so it’s great to be on the other side doing what I’m doing now.”

Collie, 17, said when asked where he wanted to sign his contract, he felt the only place would be at Leadership Academy with MaxD where he had so many of his friends and teammates present.

On hand to sign the contract was Cesar Geronimo, the director of Latin America Scouting, who welcomed Collie into the Diamondbacks organisation as one of its newest members.

Geronimo said it’s a normal minor league contract that Collie signed, similar

SEE PAGE 18

TEAM BAHAMAS ‘PERFORMED VERY WELL’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Her team-mate Mechael Russell was next with 25.35m (83-02) and Latavia Braynen, of CI Gibson, came third with 23.21m (76-02).

CR Walker also got a 1-2 combo in the boys’ under-20 shot put as Johnie Jean-Jacques won with 14.36m (47-011/2) and team-mate Raynache Sands was second with 13.32m (43-081/2). Patrick Marshall of L.N.Coakley was third with 12.66m (41-061/2).

Back on the track, the 1,500m races were featured on opening day as well. In the boys’ under-16 1,500m, Tabernacle Baptist Academy’s Clayton Henfield held on for the win in 4:41.05 ahead of North Andros High’s Ryan Barr, who did 4:41.08. CH Reeves’ Anton Pratt was third in 4:42.08.

The girls’ under-16 1,500m saw a 1-2 sweep by Queen’s College as

JIMMY Norius, Paul ‘Mighty Mouse’ Wilson and Alberto Armbrister said it was one of the most impressive team performances they ever experienced over the weekend at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Diamond Cup Caribe in the Dominican Republic.

The trio, accompanied by coach/judge Wellington ‘Cat’ Sears, returned home with three medals on Monday.

Norius said he was so impressed with what he saw.

He was in awe that even after the competition was completed on Saturday, both Wilson and Armbrister went right back in the gym in the hotel to work out. “They performed very well. From the time we left for the airport to our arrival in the Dominican Republic to going to the venue to be on time to compete, these guys were real professional in what they did,” Sears said.

“I only coach Alberto here at Iron Man Gym, but you had Paul from Better Bodies and Jimmy from Club One. But when we went there, it was just one team from the Bahamas.

They all worked together and that was the result that we got.”

Sears said the only problem he experienced was when he was eating his grilled chicken and fries.

He said all three of the competitors had the nerve

SEE PAGE 16

SEE PAGE 18

FAST TRACK: Students compete in the National High School Track and Field Championships yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 16 Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff the CARIFTA-qualifying mark of 1.70m. India Sweeting, also from Queen’s College, was third with 1.52m (4-113/4).

Moss also won the triple jump, but the official result was not available up to press time last night.

SAC got a 1-2 feat in the under-16 boys’ shot put as Joseph Daxon had the best toss of 12.87m (42-023/4), followed by team-mate Terajh Hudson with 12.58m (41031/3). Iverson Beaucharde of TA Thompson was third with 12.12m (39-091/4).

St Anne’s got some spotlight as Acacia Astwood threw the under-18 girls’ discus 34.30m (112-06) for the win over SAC’s Dachye Stubbs, who did 31.45m (103-02) for second. Tianna Carey of Queen’s College was third with 27.78m (91-02).

Carnitra Mackey of Queen’s College emerged as the winner of

the girls’ under-16 javelin with a toss of 31.85m (104-06). Rhema Otabor of Nassau Christian Academy was second with 29.85m (9711) and SAC’s Miranda Tucker got third with 29.27m (96-00).

The boys’ under-18 triple jump was won by Ludendroff Delhomme of Abaco Central High with 13.49m (44-031/4). Devonte Smith of Tabernacle Baptist was second with 13.18m (43-03) and Tristen Hanna of Queen’s College came in third with 13.18m (43-03).

In the girls’ under-18 high jump, M’Kayla White of SAC won with 1.47m (4-093/4). Amina Forbes of St Andrews was second with 1.47m (4-093/4). Tylar Lightbourn of Queen’s College was third with the same height but lost out on more knockdowns.

SAC got another 1-2 finish in the girls’ under-20 discus as Tiffany Hanna won with 32.19m (105-07).

PAGE 16, Thursday, March 16, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

OPENING DAY: NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

RECORDS BROKEN FROM PAGE 15 Sierra Sears crossed the line in 5:41.16, ahead of her team-mate Jodie Ritchie, who did 5:51.17. CH Reeves’ Nicola Smith was third in 5:57.53.

Winning the girls’ under-18 1,500m was Allyson Taylor in 5:47.53. Arianna Prophet of RM Bailey was second in 5:59.68. Jasmine Turnquest of CC Sweeting got third in 6:02.00.

And in the boys’ under-18 1,500m, Grand Bahama’s Bryant Lowe took the lead on the second lap of the three and three-quarter lap race and was able to secure the win in 4:28.76 for Sunland Baptist. In the process, Lowe shattered the national high school record of 4:33.31 that was set by Ronald Kemp of Galilee in 2015.

Ryan Bethel of St Augustine’s College had to settle for second after taking the early lead in 4:30.01. Another Grand Bahamian, Travis Joseph, representing Bishop Michael Eldon, was third in 4:32.25. The race saw Nathan Burrows of Queen’s College turn in a gutsy performance as he literally limped around the final two laps with an injury to finish 20th in 8:01.52.

ON TRACK: Students from across the Bahamas compete in the National High School Track and Field Championships yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 16, 2017, PAGE 17

Regulators sweep defending champions Stingers 102-97 THE New Providence Basketball Association will crown a new champion after Mr Ship It Freight completed a two-game sweep of the defending champions PJ’s Stingers in their bestof-three first round playoffs at AF Adderley Gym last night.

In a keenly contested match-up that went right down to the wire, the Regulators prevailed with a 10297 victory.

The Stingers now await the winner between the Commonwealth Bank Giants and the Pirates in the semi-finals.

The Giants held a 1-0 lead going into game two of their series, which was also played last night. However, no scores were available up to press time.

The Stingers, in a gallant effort to stay alive against the Regulators, had taken a 93-93 lead with two minutes and 15 seconds left on a free throw from Dominic Bridgewater.

But the Regulators went up 96-93 with 1:32 on three consecutive free throws from Brian Bain. Refusing to go away that quickly, PJ’s came back for a 95-85 deficit on a basket from Devon

TWO-GAME SWEEP: Mr Ship It Freight Regulators completed a two-game sweep of the defending champions PJ’s Stingers in their best-of-three first round playoffs last night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Ferguson on the next play.

Again Mr Ship It Freight pulled away 98-95 on Eugene Bain’s jumper. But the Stingers cut it back to one (98-97) on Ishmael Curtis’ jumper with 51 seconds left. The Regulators surged ahead 100-97 on Dion McPhee’s tip-in with 27

NBA CAPSULES TRAIL BLAZERS 110, SPURS 106 SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 36 points and the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 110-106 last night, spoiling LaMarcus Aldridge’s return from a health scare.

C.J. McCollum added 26 points for the Trail Blazers, who were coming off a 23-point loss in New Orleans on Tuesday.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

seconds. After both Bridgewater and Randy Williams missed on a pair of baskets, Mr Ship It Freight sealed the deal on another basket from McPhee with eight seconds to go.

The lead switched a couple of times after the Regulators opened the first

Aldridge had 19 points and seven rebounds after missing two games with a minor heart arrhythmia. He was cleared Wednesday morning and does not have any playing restrictions. Aldridge finished 9 for 24 from the field and played 32 minutes. He made his first two attempts, a 17foot jumper and a 21-footer, drawing loud cheers from the sold-out crowd.

Kawhi Leonard had 34 points to lead San Antonio (52-15), which had won 11 of 12 entering the game but fell one game behind Golden State for the league’s best record.

HEAT 120, PELICANS 112 MIAMI (AP) — Goran Dragic played through a black eye and bloodied mouth to score 33 points, and Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 17 rebounds in Miami’s victory over New Orleans.

Wayne Ellington scored 19 for the Heat, who made 16 3-pointers and have won 18 consecutive games when connecting at least 10 times from beyond the arc. Dion Waiters added 14, and James Johnson and Tyler Johnson had 10 apiece for Miami.

The Heat (33-35) won for the 22nd time in 27 games and are 14-1 in their last 15 at home. Anthony Davis scored 27 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 19 for the Pelicans. E’Twaun Moore had 18 off the bench.

PACERS 98, HORNETS 77 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Paul George made six 3-pointers and finished with 39 points to lead Indiana past Charlotte.

Jeff Teague added eight points, eight rebounds and 11 assists, Myles Turner had six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and Monta Ellis scored 16 points for the Pacers.

Leading 50-47 in the third quarter, Indiana used a 15-0 run to extend the lead and ultimately shut the door on Charlotte.

Frank Kaminsky led Charlotte with 20 points.

MAVERICKS 112, WIZARDS 107 WASHINGTON (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, Harrison Barnes finished with 22 and Dallas boosted its slim playoff hopes with a win over Washington.

Nicolas Brussino scored eight of his 11 points off the bench in the fourth for the Mavericks, who began the night 3 1/2 games behind Denver for the final postseason spot in the Western Conference. Portland was positioned between Denver and Dallas.

Wizards guard John Wall had 26 points and 11 assists despite briefly leaving the game in the second quarter with a sprained left foot. Bradley Beal added 24 points as Washington dropped back-to-back games

quarter with a slim 23-22 lead. The Stingers bounced back to go up 42-41 at the half. The Regulators again went ahead 75-70 at the end of the third. Both teams switched the lead in the fourth before the Regulators went on to pull off the win.

For the Stingers, Randy Williams finished with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Bridgewater had 19 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals, Devon Ferguson had 10 points, Vernon Stubbs 12 points, five rebounds and five assists and Ishmael Curtis had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Bain, in 32 minutes, pumped in a game high 34 points with 15 rebounds, McPhee had 15 points, four rebounds and four steals, Renaldo Baillou had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals, Gameliel Rose also had 12 points with six rebounds and three assists and Miguel Mackey had just five points, but dished out 10 assists and got six steals in the win.

for the second time since its previous loss to Dallas on Jan. 3.

CELTICS 117, TIMBERWOLVES 104 BOSTON (AP) — Isaiah Thomas scored 27 points to lead Boston past Minnesota.

Al Horford added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Celtics, who earned their 11th straight home win over Minnesota. Boston also increased its lead to 1 1/2 games over the Washington Wizards for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

Ricky Rubio had a season-high 23 points to lead the Timberwolves, who dropped to just 10-21 on the road this season.

Boston led by eight entering the fourth quarter, but outscored Minnesota 32-27 in the final 12 minutes.

ROCKETS 139, LAKERS 100 HOUSTON (AP) — Lou Williams scored 30 points against his former team and James Harden had his 17th triple-double of the season to lead Houston over Los Angeles.

Harden had 18 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as Houston handed the Lakers their 11th loss in 12 games.

Williams broke out of a recent shooting slump against his ex-teammates. Houston sent Corey Brewer and a first-round draft pick to Los Angeles in a trade for Williams three weeks ago.

Williams went 7 for 9 from beyond the arc and made his first seven field goal attempts, including four straight 3-pointers.

Brewer, meanwhile, had four points in 21 minutes. Julius Randle had 32 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers.

GRIZZLIES 98, BULLS 91 CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Conley and Marc Gasol each scored 27 points to lead Memphis past Chicago.

Conley and Gasol scored 18 of the team’s 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies held off the Bulls, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Memphis, which had lost five straight before winning Monday, earned its second straight win.

The Bulls were without Dwyane Wade down the stretch after he injured his right elbow with 8:34 remaining. He did not return. Rajon Rondo scored 17 points to lead Chicago.

JAZZ 97, PISTONS 83 DETROIT (AP) — Gordon Hayward scored 25 points and George Hill added 17 and Utah beat Detroit.

Hayward added eight rebounds and six assists, while Rudy Gobert had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

Utah won for the sixth time in seven games, but a late rally by Detroit forced Quin Snyder to use his starters late with a game tonight in Cleveland.

Aron Baynes had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Detroit, which lost for the second straight night and is in danger of falling back out of playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons lost 128-96 in Cleveland on Tuesday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PAGE 18, Thursday, March 16, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Monaco beats Manchester City 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals

DJOKOVIC’S 19-MATCH WIN STREAK ENDS

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s 19-match winning streak at the BNP Paribas Open ended in a 6-4, 7-6 (3) fourth-round upset loss to Nick Kyrgios yesterday.

It was Kyrgios’ second win over the world’s second-ranked player in two weeks, having beaten Djokovic in straight sets at Acapulco on March 2.

Djokovic was bidding for a fourth consecutive title at the desert tournament, having won a total of five in his career.

But he unravelled with 25 unforced errors, including a forehand service return on Kyrgios’ second match point.

Kyrgios advanced to the quarter-finals, where he will face Roger Federer, who defeated Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 last night.

Joining Kyrgios in the quarterfinals were No. 4 seed Kei Nishikori, who defeated Donald Young 6-2, 6-4; No. 21 Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat qualifier Dusan Lajovic; and No. 27 Pablo Cuevas, who outlasted 11th-seeded David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

MONACO (AP) — Midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko’s thumping header sent Monaco through to the Champions League quarter-finals as the home side beat Manchester City 3-1 yesterday to progress on the away goals rule in another pulsating match between two attack-minded sides.

City fought back from 2-0 down and was momentarily in control after midfielder Leroy Sane’s 71st-minute goal. But six minutes later Bakayoko rose imperiously to meet Thomas Lemar’s curling free kick and restore the two-goal margin Monaco needed as the contest finished 6-6 on aggregate.

“If you analyse the two games, Monaco deserved to go through. I think over the two games we played better than City,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said.

“Even in the first leg, City had a bit of luck.”

City coach Pep Guardiola lamented the fact that his side had failed to compete in the first half.

“At this level, you have to play more than 45 minutes.

We only played for 45 minutes,” Guardiola said. “The gap between the first and the second halves is there.

You ask me why? It’s the same question I am asking myself.”

Trailing 5-3 from the first leg of their Round of 16 match, Monaco made the perfect start. Confirming his reputation as a rising star of European football, 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe scored from close range in the eighth minute for his 11th goal in 11 games.

Brazilian midfielder Fabinho made it 2-0 in the 29th with a crisp shot from near the penalty spot after excellent work by left back Benjamin Mendy.

Three weeks ago, City had rallied from 3-2 down with three goals in the last 20 minutes and Pep Guardiola’s side needed another comeback on the French

MONACO’s Tiemoue Bakayoko celebrates his side side’s 3rd goal during yesterday’s Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Manchester City at the Louis II stadium in Monaco.

(AP Photo/Claude Paris) Riviera.

City played much better in the second half, with Sane scoring after top scorer Sergio Aguero had missed good chances.

The fleet-footed Sane was one of City’s best players in the first leg and came alive after the break, smashing the ball into the roof of the net after Danijel Subasic’s save from Raheem Sterling’s low shot fell right into his path.

That gave City hope.

But it was not enough, and Monaco’s players rushed to the centre circle to mob each other as the final whistle blew. Their lap of honour was richly deserved, especially considering the side’s goal tally now

PRO BASEBALL FROM PAGE 15

to what is given to all of their young players with the option of going to college, if Collie so desires.

“It’s a contract for him to start learning professional baseball.

We’re going to develop him. It will be a couple of years, but we will start him with rookie ball and then he will go on and play in the other leagues,” Geronimo said.

“It might take one, two or three years in rookie ball, but eventually they go on from there.”

Geronimo, however, said Collie certainly possesses the skills to play at the next level.

“He will develop. He’s just a kid.

He still needs to get strengthened,” he pointed out. “But when he gets his man’s strength, he will mature into a very good ball player.”

Geronimo said he hopes to be back because MaxD has developed some very good players and they are hoping that they can get a few more like Chisholm and Collie into their system.

Last year, Collie said he was hoping to fulfil his dream, but he

BODYBUILDERS FROM PAGE 15

to stare him down, but he reminded them that he wasn’t the one competing.

“Other than that, they were an excellent group of persons to work with,” Sears said.

In just his second year in the sport, Sears said Armbrister came out of his off-season training and performed exceptionally well.

Armbrister, one of seven competitors in the men’s physique short class, got a silver medal. Ronald Diaz of the Dominican Republic won the gold and Rodrigo Oscos of Mexico got the bronze.

“I think my performance was very good,” said the soft spoken Armbrister. “If I had to do it all over again, I know I would go back and win another medal. I just have to work a little more on my overall conditioning. But this is my offseason, so I think I did very well.”

Armbrister applauded the other

stands at 126 this season.

“We deserve to qualify over the two games,” Bakayoko said. “We’re very proud, we deserve it.”

In the night’s other match, Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen to advance 4-2 on aggregate. The other teams in Friday’s draw are holders Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Leicester.

Radamel Falcao, who scored twice for Monaco in the first leg, failed a late fitness test on a hip injury.

He was hardly needed on Wednesday.

French striker Valere Germain took his place, linking up in a 4-3-3 flanked

was told by the scouts that he was undersized and not big enough to play with the other guys. But he gave a lot of credit to Sands, Burrows Jr and Cartwright, who got him in the gym 3-4 times a day working and drinking a lot of protein shake.

“Now I’m bigger and a lot stronger and that is why I think I got this opportunity today,” said Collie, the southpaw who stands at six feet and weighs about 160 pounds.

Collie joined Freedom Farm at the age of three under Senator Greg Burrows. After he spent a brief time attending high school in the United States, he returned home and joined MaxD where he was groomed for his transition to the professional ranks.

“I love the game of baseball.

I always loved it since I could remember. My Grammy (Rogan Huyler) was the first one who told me to play baseball. She used to go in the backyard playing with me,” he said.

“I don’t think, if it wasn’t for him and Antoan of course, I would be playing baseball. Antoan was the one who always told me, when I used to go watch him play, that I just need to stay focused and never members of the team for pulling him along when he needed the extra motivation as novice in the sport. He said his performance will definitely inspire him to get ready for the rest of the year, including the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Mexico in September.

Wilson, competing against four other competitors, picked up the bronze in the men’s bodybuilding lightweight category. Hemradj Mulai of Aruba won the gold and Rafaelin Maria Mora from the Dominican Republic got the silver.

“I am very pleased. After taking a whole year, I thought I was going to be a little disappointed, but I was pleased because for me to come back and compete against so many veteran competitors and win a bronze medal, I can’t ask for anything more.

“My birthday went along and I had to push myself for the show.

But I’m a perfectionist and I knew I wasn’t going to go there and compete if I wasn’t ready. The level of competition was still as high as I

by Bernardo Silva and Mbappe - who tormented City’s defence with his blistering pace and trickery.

There was a touch of destiny about Monaco’s win.

Monaco has been in an almost identical position before, overturning a 4-2 loss away to Real Madrid in the first leg to reach the semi-finals in 2004 — the year it reached the final.

That was one of the best nights in the club’s history, and the fans wanted another one. The compact Stade Louis II, with its capacity of 18,500, is one of the quieter stadiums in France and is rarely full — even with Monaco top of the league.

But it was this time, as fans decked in red and

white chanted “Le stade avec vous” (The stadium’s with you) from the offset.

Guardiola had sounded almost like a Monaco season-ticket holder on the eve of the game, speaking with gushing admiration about how he feared Monaco’s attack, and saying it was impossible to stop a team that was so prolific.

He was right.

With seven minutes played, Germain won the ball in midfield and released Mbappe, whose touch took him clean through. But in an effort to pick his spot cleanly he telegraphed his shot and goalkeeper Willy Caballero stood up well to make a fine save.

A minute later, Mbappe

was celebrating.

Mendy’s cross was blocked with a sliding tackle by centre half John Stones, the loose ball fell to Silva and his drilled pass was tucked away. The second seemed inevitable when it came, with the impressive Lemar starting the move.

By this point, Guardiola was already pacing up and down, all gesticulation and pointed fingers, his side barely able to get into Monaco’s half, let alone shoot on target. Jardim stood perfectly still, hands behind his back like an army general watching his battle plans unfurl to perfection.

“If we wanted to qualify we had to be fresh, close them down all over the pitch and not let them get on the ball,” Jardim said.

“That’s what we did.”

give up on your dream.”

On April 15, Collie is scheduled to report to the Diamondbacks’ spring training in the Dominican Republic where he will determine where he will eventually get to play during the upcoming season.

His mother, Keejo Forbes, said she’s excited for her son because he’s finally going to get to live out his lifetime dream.

“From he was four years old and you asked him what he’s going to be when he grows up, he would say a professional baseball player,” she stated. “He’s worked hard and I’m sure he’s going to make us proud.

“I’m just so glad that he was able to get into the MaxD programme.

It’s so awesome in many ways on and off the field. He’s matured and he’s grown, so a lot of credit goes out to them, especially Geron, who has taken him in like his son.”

Sands, one of the coordinators for MaxD, said it was a long road for Collie, but they are delighted that he has finally reached this pinnacle in his life.

“He held his own. He worked his butt to get to where he is today,” Sands said. “It’s a positive thing for MaxD. It shows that young men are signing professional contracts at this time. I think it’s a good thing for the country and it’s a good way for us to look into from government straight down to the leagues.”

Sands said he considers Collie to be like a son to him because he has been instrumental in his development since he was 10 years old and he has been a member of MaxD for the past four years.

“He’s still a 17-year-old kid, who

swings left hand and plays very good defence outfield,” Sands said.

“The sky is the limit for him as he gets older and he matures. He will be something one day as he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his cousin Antoan.”

Chisholm is currently in spring training in Arizona and Sands said he’s hoping that one day if they remain in the Diamondbacks organisation, they will eventually become team-mates either in the minor or the major league.

“The ones who are there, I’m definitely going to try and catch them up even though they have a head start on me,” he pointed out.

“For the guys behind me, they have it. I guess I will be running away from them soon.

“And to Jasrado Chisholm, one of my close friends on the Diamondbacks, I’m definitely going to try and catch up with him so we can play side by side. I talked with him last night and he told me to keep my head up because I still have a long way to go.”

Chisholm, 19, signed his pro contract in 2015 with Lucius Fox Jr and Larry Alcime Jr. He is currently in the Pioneer League with the Diamondbacks organisation where he plays as a shortstop.

remembered because the guy who won, me and him normally go back and forth. So I was pleased.”

Wilson said he just has to get a little “tighter” for CAC and work more on his “tanning” so that he can be in a position to contend for the gold, just as he did when the championships was held here in 2015.

“We had a very high success rate as a team,” Wilson said of the team’s performance. “We knew the kind of competition we were going up against, so for us to do what we did, we did very well and represented the Bahamas.”

If they had carried some of the female competitors with them, Wilson said they were confident that they could have secured their pro cards because of how well they competed.

Norius, the veteran of the crew, captured the silver medal in the men’s bodybuilding. Patrick Coicou, of Haiti, beat him out for the gold. Seven competitors participated in the category. Jean Laventure Spely, also from Haiti, picked

up the bronze.

It was the second competition for Norius, who competed in the Joe Weilder’s Mr Olympia Amateur South America in February in Medellin, Colombia. During that competition, Norius moved into the physique segment where he placed fifth.

“Physically I was about 80 per cent ready for the competition,” Norius said. “Prior to competing in those two meets, I was going through a lot personally with my family. So I think the competition in Colombia really boosted my confidence and when I got a chance to go to the Dominican Republic, I knew I could do it again.”

Norius said he was so happy when he heard both judges and competitors tell him “welcome back” to bodybuilding after he tried his hand at the physique competition.

“Sometimes you have to try your hand at other things,” he said.

“But bodybuilding is my first love and I always want to be versatile, jumping from bodybuilding to

men’s physique to men’s classic. I just want to prove my versatility in the sport.”

Norius said he was happy to compete in the Dominican Republic, having had both Wilson and Armbrister on the sidelines helping him out. He said the presence of Sears also made a difference because he was able to point out some things that they couldn’t see.

“We became stronger as a team and I think that was what made a difference in the way we performed so well at the championships,” Norius said.

The competitors are now preparing for the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s National Bodybuilding Championships on July 29 in New Providence. Prior to the nationals, some of the local competitors are expected to compete in the Florida Grand Prix on May 6 in West Palm Beach and the Southern States Championship on July 7.

The CAC Championships is set for September 8 to October 1 in Mexico.

DOMINIQUE COLLIE with his mother Keejo Forbes.