Issuu

SPORTS SECTION E

REGATTA

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TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2018

Ayton to headline Jeff Rodgers basketball camp By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE 31st edition of the Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball Camp will be headlined by one of the island nation’s biggest names in basketball who got his start at the event years ago. According to camp director Jeff Rodgers, projected lottery pick DeAndre Ayton will make an appearance at this year’s event, to be hosted June 25 to July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Ayton was most recently named the “Karl Malone Power Forward” of the year ahead of Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III and three other finalists for the award. Ayton was also voted an Associated Press First Team All-American.

He was also the First Team All-American from the NABC, USBWA and Sporting News. Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting 61.6 per cent from the field. He was the first player in the history of the Pac-12 Conference to earn Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the conference tournament in the same season. The two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week rewrote numerous pages in the Arizona Basketball record book. Ayton is already projected to be one of the top three picks in the NBA Draft. If he goes with the first pick, he will become just the second Bahamian to be selected No.1 behind Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson, the first foreign-born

DEANDRE AYTON

player taken in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Since 1987 Rodgers has staged the camp which provides an opportunity for the young children to engage in some wholesome sporting activities during the summer months. At the same time, they get to develop their skills. A number of the instructors got their start in the camp as participants. But Rodgers said they went on to develop their skills and they have returned to lend their expertise to the younger players who are following in their footsteps “The camp is really about teaching and confirming in our campers “life skills” such as discipline, respect, concern for one another and the environment, through the medium of basketball. We

want our campers to learn how to manage and navigate life apart from basketball,” he said. “We have been privileged to see over 10,000 boys and girls pass through our camp over these 31 years, this year we anticipate having 350 young people with us who will be supported by outstanding Bahamian coaches.” As per its tradition, the camp will also feature appearances from NBA players and personnel. This year’s expected attendees include Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, Shelvin Mack of the Orlando Magic and NBA icons Mychal “Sweetbells” Thompson, Byron Scott, Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues and others.

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Thompson helps Lady Bears win MEAC title By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net anielle ‘Danie’ Thompson showed why she was recently named the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year. With the MEAC Tennis Championship title on the line, Thompson clinched a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mariam Mitaishvili from Hampton to clinch the final point for the Morgan State Lady Bears as they won the prestigious team award for the first time in more than two decades. As the number one player on the team, Thompson’s triumph gave Morgan State a 4-1 win over their Northern Division rivals Hampton on Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia. The 5-foot, 2-inch senior also teamed up with Alexus Gill to win their doubles match. For her effort, Thompson was named the utstanding Performer and was selected to the All-Tournament team. “I was proud of myself. This is my senior year and I went out with a bang. I said to myself to just leave it all on the court,” she said. “I honestly didn’t know what to expect and how it would be, but I was just waiting for this moment. “Honestly it feels amazing. I’m just speechless. Words can’t describe that feeling once you’ve won. It gave me goosebumps honestly.” In their doubles match, Thompson remembered how they were down 4-5 and on serve at 3-0, she double faulted. “I was extremely nervous, but we both didn’t panic. We were both with each other the

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what really separated Dalhousie from everywhere else. I am looking forward to furthering my academic and athletic career at Dalhousie and I know that with hard work and dedication, we will achieve great heights as a programme.” Burrows stepped into a lead role for the Golden Hawks and was awarded the team’s Rookie of the Year for his performance over the season. Despite a standout year where he averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals, Burrows said he chose to pursue a better opportunity with a new programme. “My coaches, parents and I came to the decision that I wanted to go in a different direction with a new university. I went out and did my research, coaches were contacting me, Dalhousie was one of the schools I went to and I had a great

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DANIELLE THOMPSON, of the Bahamas, shows off the Morgan State team trophy. Thompson clinched a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mariam Mitaishvili from Hampton to clinch the final point for the Morgan State Lady Bears as they won the prestigious team award for the first time in more than two decades.

SHAMAR Burrows signed his letter of intent to join the Dalhousie Tigers last November and

Playoffs, Page 8

Tigers head coach Rick Plato is already looking forward to what the combo guard can bring to the programme. “Shamar is a dynamic and versatile player who will bring maturity, athleticism and a multi-talented skill set that will add depth and scoring punch to next year’s roster,” says Plato on the Tigers’ athletic website. “We are fortunate to have a player who can be effective at both ends of the court. As someone who can play multiple positions, he will be counted upon to make a big impact for us.” Burrows transfers to Dalhousie after his first season of collegiate basketball with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. “The moment I arrived at Dalhousie, I felt at home on the campus and the basketball court,” says Burrows. “The feeling of culture, diversity and fellowship is

SHAMAR BURROWS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE revival of the sport of boxing in Grand Bahama is set to take place July 11-12 with the Commonwealth Boxing Salute, featuring 10 young amateur boxers in five bouts. The event is being hosted by the Bahamas Boxing Commission and the Grand Bahama Port Authority at the St George’s High School Gymnasium in Freeport.  Four Bahamian boxing legends will also be honoured, and a two-day boxing seminar will be held to certify officials who will be able to officiate in boxing anywhere in the world.   Boxing commissioner Fred Sturrup said that they will honour Bahamian boxers who became champions of the entire Commonwealth of nations, including Gomeo Brennan who won the first international boxing title for the Bahamas in 1963, Ray Minus Jr, Steve Larrimore and Jermaine Mackey.   He noted that the twoday seminar for officials is important because while there are Bahamian officials officiating in the sport of soccer and track and field, there is none in the sport of boxing.   “The seminar is to get officials certified in boxing so they can go anywhere and officiate,” he said.   On the evening of July 12, Mr Sturrup said that there would be a black-tie dinner and boxing showcase.   “The boxing will focus on youth development, and we will have five bouts with 10 amateurs from GB. We want to show the world what GB can do,” said the boxing commissioner.   He noted that the Commonwealth Boxing Salute would be a connection of the Commonwealth Sports in the Bahamas again.   “A lot of people would not know that the Commonwealth Sports happens to actually be the very foundation of sports development in The Bahamas. Many years ago during the height of the colonial days, there was the civil service that came over from London who introduced us to cricket, soccer, water polo, and laid the foundation for us to know how to organise sports properly,” he recalled. “So this CBS is the appropriate way that we in GB feel we can connect

Shamar expected ‘to make a big impact for’ Tigers By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BOXING REVIVAL ALL SET FOR GRAND BAHAMA IN JULY

PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 1, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

65TH NATIONAL FAMILY ISLAND REGATTA CLOSING CEREMONY

GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling makes the presentation to Jeff Gale, skipper of the Lonesome Dove, winner of the Governor General’s Cup.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis at the presentation to Stephan Knowles, skipper of the Running Tide, winners of the Prime Minister’s Cup. Photos by Patrick Hanna/BIS

DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest with Class A champions Running Tide, out of Long Island.

CLASS B champions Lonesome Dove, of Hope Town, Abaco.

CLASS C champions Whitty K, out of Long Island.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 1, 2018, PAGE 3

Thompson helps Lady Bears win MEAC title FROM PAGE 1 whole time, trying to pump each other up,” she recalled. “We were able to tie it up at 5-5 and we were able to go up 6-5 and eventually won the match. “That was amazing for us because we were able to get the first point for our team. Then my teammates were able to give at win at five and six so we were up 3-0. When I realised what had happened, I was in the match to determine the outcome for our team.” That was when she had to step it up into another gear. “I was up 5-1 in the second set and before I knew it, it was 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 and I was like ‘oh my God, what is going on?” she asked herself. “The girl was on serve at 30-40 and my coach told me to swing big on my return and when she hit the ball over again, she missed it. “At that moment, I was like ‘oh my God, we did it. It was the best feeling ever, just to know that it was such a huge challenge for me being down to control my nerve and not panic and win. I’m still very speechless that we won.” With the team victory, Morgan State has earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. But they will have to wait until today to find out exactly who, when and where they will play. It’s the first time for Morgan State and Thompson said they are eagerly looking forward to it. “This is a huge opportunity to play some of the top schools out there so I’m just expecting to go out there and play some good tennis, get the experience, get the exposure and we have nothing to lose,” she projected. “We just have to go out there and show that Morgan State University has a great tennis programme and we will put Morgan on the map, so I’m really excited and I know all of the girls are excited as well.” Whatever happens in the NCAA Championships will only be icing on the cake for Thompson. She admitted that she couldn’t ask for a better performance in her final year as a Lady Bear. “It has been a roller coaster ride from red shirting my freshman year to all of the drama that unfolded this year where we lost a few girls and gained one of them back,” she pointed out. “It’s crazy how everything worked out and I honestly wouldn’t change

DANIELLE THOMPSON, third from left, poses with Morgan State coaching staff and team members.

it for anything in the world. To end my senior year like this, I couldn’t ask for a better script. It still hasn’t hit me yet and I’m just so excited for what is happening right now.” Just as they pulled off the team victory, Thompson said the news flashed on the jumbotron at a spring football game at Morgan State and they were told that the crowd went wild in joining in the celebrations. “When we got back on campus, people told us how happy they were for us as they congratulated us,” she stated. “It was just a nice feeling to know that we had all of this support back at school. It just feels so good to be the conference champions.” She added that she could only imagine what it would be like if they succeed in the NCAA Championships. But whether they advance or not, Thompson said it will still be an achievement to celebrate because they have never made it before. The 23-year-old Thompson is the daughter of Gail and Stephen Thompson. She is majoring in hospitality management and will be preparing to represent the Bahamas on the Fed Cup team when they travel to Mexico to play in the Americas Zone II June 18-23.

SHAMAR BURROWS FROM PAGE 1

time, great visit, it was a great experience with the team and the coaching staff,” Burrows said. “I was able to get into my programme, majoring in economics with a minor in commerce. I had colleges and universities all across Canada contacting me and I was happy for that because I had options, but I knew what I was looking for and I was able to find that at Dalhousie.” The 6’3”, 200-pound guard said he intends to improve his game as he sits out this season due to transfer rules but looks to become a perfect fit into the Tigers’ system. The dynamic point guard committed to Wilfrid Laurier out of Ridley College in Ontario, Canada where he led the programme to an unprecedented nationally ranked status. Burrows helped the Tigers to highlight their season by claiming the Canadian Independent Schools Athletic Association championship and ended an impressive run of success by the St Michael’s College Blue. He also helped lead the talented Tigers team to several tournament wins in his senior season, including the Dorland Tournament, Standard Tournament, CAIS Championship, The Can-Am Shootout and the Crusader Classic hosted in Grand Bahama over the winter holiday.

AYTON FROM PAGE 1

The camp’s traditional “Fun Night” will again be another main feature to encourage parental involvement. “Some of the exciting things about our camp is

DANIELLE Thompson (far right in front) shares a special moment with her Morgan State Lady Bears’ teammates.

Geno Bullard, director of NPA, has coached Burrows since the primary school level and said his development as a person and a player makes him a model student athlete who has charted a path for others to follow. “His growth has been amazing to me. To see where he’s at right now, to be in full control of himself as a businessman and to be able to take his career into his own hands has truly been a blessing. He has done tremendous things at NPA, tremendous things at Ridley College and in his year at Laurier. He has put in the necessary steps coaches are looking for so for any coach scouting him they have no doubt of what he can bring to their programme because of the great reviews he has had at every step of his career,” he said. “This is the type of student athlete we should be promoting. He carries himself well, his grade point average is well above 3.0 and we should show athletes like him as an example of what future student athletes should be trying to emulate.” Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dalhousie University is a member of the Atlantic University Sport, a collegiate athletic conference for universities in the region. The AUS, which covers Canada east of Quebec, is one of four such bodies that are members of the country’s governing body for university athletics, U Sports. The other three regional associations coordinating university-level sports in Canada are Ontario University Athletics (OUA), the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA), and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ).

our Annual Fun Night. This is always a very exciting event and time where our parents and guardians, sponsors will have an opportunity to see our campers display the skills they learned during the camp,” Rodgers said. “Afterwards, our instructors and guest NBA players and coaches will

play a game that is always exciting and a must see event.” Registration forms are now available online at www.jeffrodgersbasketballcamp.com and at the Seventh Day Adventist Conference on the Tonique Williams Darling Highway during working days from 9am to 5pm.

BOXING REVIVAL SET FOR GRAND BAHAMA FROM PAGE 1 Commonwealth Sports to what is going on now. And those of us who are sports leaders in GB such as Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee, Terry Goldsmith, Ambrose Gouthro - we feel very much in tune with the potential for sports growth in Grand Bahama.”  Mr Sturrup commended the Grand Bahama Port Authority for supporting the Commonwealth Boxing Salute. He also thanked Mr Keith Barr, principal of St George’s High, for allowing the use of their facilities for the event.   Sarah St George, vice chairman of the GBPA, said they welcome the opportunity to promote sports and youth development, and are pleased to be co-hosting the boxing event and seminar in Freeport.   “The aim is to pay tribute to the traditional sport of boxing and its historical ties with Commonwealth countries. The Bahamas has a rich history in boxing,” she said.   “There have been Bahamian champions such as Gomeo Brennan, Ray Minus Jr, Steve Larrimore, and Jermaine Mackey, and we heard of Sherman ‘The Tank’ Williams, though not a part of the Commonwealth Boxing. And now, GBPA is proud to stand with the boxing authorities to salute these Bahamian boxing legends,” she said.

Ms St George indicated that Commonwealth Sports has been a bedrock for developing and showcasing Bahamian sports heroes. She noted that the GBPA has always been supportive of the various sports genres. “Over the years we have sponsored sports from track and field such as the Olympics indoor and outdoor championships, the World Relays, the Commonwealth Games, the marathon a few weeks ago, the Conchman Triathlon, basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, rugby, tennis, swimming, sailing, and gymnastics. And today I am delighted to announce this new sporting initiative in GB, in partnership with the GB Sports Promotion Association and the Bahamas Boxing Commission,” she said.  MP for Central Grand Bahama Iram Lewis, president of the Grand Bahama Amateur Athletic Association (GBAAA), commended the GBPA for supporting sports and Bahamian athletes.  He said that the country made its mark internationally through the sport of boxing.  Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Michael Pintard said boxing is part of the Bahamas’ history and noted that discussions are going on about hosting more international boxing events in the country.   “We believe we are in the midst of a revival in boxing

in the country. When I had the opportunity to look at the Boxing Commission and give consideration to the person who might help transform boxing in the country, it was a no-brainer to recommend Fred Sturrup as boxing commissioner to lead this charge,” said the minister.   Mr Pintard stated that Mr Sturrup has worked with a number of persons and they expect that some international boxing promoters will come to the Bahamas with major events.   “Discussions have already commenced with Baha Mar and other providers of facilities to begin the process of putting us on the map as an international destination for boxing events,” he said.  Mr Pintard indicated that the government expects to lead the charge in creating a substantial boxing facility in Grand Bahama and New Providence.  He thanked Ms St George and the Port Authority family for committing to work with the government in building a “wide range of facilities” in Grand Bahama, including partnering with government on the construction of a 50-metre swimming pool.  “That would position us to hold international competitions, and have a place for training for both collegiate and high school athletes around the world, and professional athletes,” he said.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 1, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

BLTA: TENNIS EXECUTIVES IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association held its annual general meeting at the National Tennis Centre last week Thursday when Darnette Weir and seven of her slate of officers were elected to serve on the board for the next two years. • Here’s a profile of each member elected to serve: Darnette Weir, President • Four (4) years as General Secretary, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association; • Past Acting Secretary, Tennis Parents Action Committee (TPAC); • 2004 Recipient of the Albania Management and Leadership Academy Award (best part-time Business Division graduate of the 2004 Class of the then College of The Bahamas); • 2004, Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management (with Credit); • 1998 Recipient of the Thomas Evans & Co Award for the highest GPA (Associate’s degree programme in Office Administration at the then College of The Bahamas); • 1998, Associate degree in Office Administration (with Distinction); • 1984 Graduate of C. C. Sweeting Senior High School – (Business Student); • Profession: Human Resources Professional at a leading financial institution; • Tennis mom. Vision “My vision for the BLTA is for all stakeholders (players, parents, coaches, executive board, tennis community, etc.) to assume their rightful place and become actively involved in the affairs of the association to bring about needed change that would change the landscape of tennis in The Bahamas. I sincerely hope for a unified tennis body.” Ceron Rolle, 1st Vice President • Served as 2nd Vice President, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association for the past two years; • Served as Council Member, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association for one year; • Former Junior Tennis Athlete; • Served as National Team Coach for several years; • Graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree, with concentration in Finance & Accounting; • Associate’s degree from Tyler Junior College in Bio-Chemistry; • Profession: Entrepreneur, primary focus: real estate, car rentals and high performance tennis training. Vision “My vision is to reignite enthusiasm within the tennis community and drastically increase the amounts of members the BLTA currently has. There are many talented kids in The Bahamas who can benefit from receiving college scholarships, once they receive the right guidance.”

Terran Rodgers, 2nd Vice President • Served as Council Member of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association for the past two years; • B.A. degree in Architecture from Howard University; • February 2006, an IPMA.D, Certified Project Practitioner; • Graduate of St. Augustine’s College (High School); • Repertoire of sporting involvement includes: played Division 2 College Baseball at Tuskegee University (1988-1992); played Division 1 College Baseball at Howard University (1992-1993); player/coach New Providence Baseball League (1995-2000); Treasurer, New Providence Baseball League (1998-1999); Board Director, Assistant Commissioner and Coach, Junior Baseball League of Nassau (2003-present); Team Manager for 14U18U (2003-present); and 2nd Vice President, Bahamas Baseball Association (2017-present); • Profession: Registered Architect employed by the Ministry of Public Works. • Tennis dad. Vision “My vision is to be a part of a team of persons that can run a consistent and sustainable tennis development programme which can provide Bahamian children from all walks of life with opportunities to participate in recreational and competitive tennis activities while contributing to the social upliftment of our country.” Bjorn Ferguson, Treasurer • 1997 Graduate of St. Anne’s High School; • After which, he enroled in the then College of The Bahamas in the Accounting programme, transferred to St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, completing a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree in Accounting in May 2002; • Bjorn then enlisted in the Royal Bahamas Police Force and completed the Police Training College in 2003; • In September 2010, accepted into the University of the West Indies Law programme; • In May 2013, completed his Bachelor’s of Law degree with (Hons); • In September 2013, accepted into the Eugene Dupuch Law School where he completed the Legal Education Certificate; • In 2015, admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; • Profession: Counsel and Attorney - private practitioner and practices in the areas of civil and criminal law; • Tennis dad. Chilean Burrows, Secretary • Served as Assistant Secretary, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association for the past two years; • Joined the Public Service in March 1992 (26 years);

• In August 2003, joined the staff of the Scholarship & Educational Loan Division as Educational Loan and Scholarship Officer; • In January 2006, promoted to the position of Senior Educational Loan and Scholarship Officer; • In 2017, promoted to the office of First Assistant Secretary, and along with that promotion came the responsibility of serving as Acting Administrator in the Scholarship & Educational Loan Division; • Holds a Bachelor’s degree as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration, graduating (magna cum laude) from Florida International University; • Graduate, St. Anne’s High School; • Tennis mom. Vision: “I want to see tennis grow and develop in The Bahamas to become a mainstream sport.” Nadine Seymour-Munroe, Assistant Secretary • Pursued her Associate’s degree in Arts from the then College of The Bahamas; • Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1997; • At RISD she was awarded the Florence Leif Award for most outstanding graduate in painting; • She further attained her Masters degree in Art Education, conferred with honours; • Recipient of awards from: the Lyford Cay Scholars Association, Chris Blackwell, RISD Scholarship Award and the Central Bank of The Bahamas Grand Prize in 1994 and scholarship; • Selected to represent The Bahamas in Paris for Latin American and Caribbean Artist International Exhibition 1999; • Has been in the field of education for more than 20 years; • Experience in gallery management – was gallery Director in Rhode Island; • Has been in the field of education for more than 20 years; • Has exhibited in the Bahamas, Europe and the United States for many years; • External Examiner for the Education Department at the University of the Bahamas; • Owner and Founder of 31 Studios and Gallery; • CEO of Creative Designs by Munroe’s Landscaping and the Garden Depot. • Has been working in ministry along with her spouse for more than 20 years – presently at Believers Embassy International; • Tennis mom. Vision: “My vision for the association is to see improvement with its operational standard and to operate in excellence at an international standard. I also wish to see more funding interjected into the BLTA from Government and private donations that will, in the long run, assist our players and improve our facilities.”

DARNETTE WEIR

CERON ROLLE

TERRAN RODGERS

BJORN FERGUSON

CHILEAN BURROWS

SEYMOUR-MUNROE

TIMOTHY DAMES

BRENT JOHNSON

PHILIP MAJOR JR

PERRY NEWTON JR

MARVIN ROLLE

WESLEY ROLLE

Timothy Dames, Assistant Treasurer • Has served as a Board Member, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association for 4 years; • Owner, Tim’s Refrigeration (Nassau) and Lank Sharks’ Hotel; • Avid supporter of Davis Cup Teams – has travelled several times to support Teams; • Sponsor of Annual Tim’s Refrigeration Doubles Tournament held in Eleuthera; • BLTA Member over 20 years. Vision: “My vision is for the association in the next two (2) years to be financially stable. Also, I would like the BLTA to have better structured programmes and to improve our position as it relates to the international ranking of our tennis athletes so that we can make a difference in the region.” Brent Johnson, Council Member • An entrepreneur for the past twenty (20) years; • At heart, he is the consummate athlete, having been competitive in Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Track & Field and Tennis; • Locally, Brent has been actively playing Tennis for about thirty (30) years; • He has been involved with The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Executive Board for the past three (3) years, serving as the Treasurer and Council Member; • An integral part of the formation and operation of Junior Aces. Junior Aces is a match play group that began December 2017; • Tennis dad. Vision: “My vision is I would love to see the sport of tennis introduced to a broader base of Bahamians, over all age groups.”

Philip Major Jr, Council Member • Started playing tennis at the age of 5; • Represented The Bahamas at many junior national tournaments; • Represented The Bahamas on 3 Davis Cup Teams, first at the age of 16; • An Open National Men’s Finalist, BLTA; • 2016 Rising Star Tennis Nominee – Ministry of Youth; • Central American Caribbean Games & Pan American Games Team Member; • Pro Circuit athlete; • 3 Main Draw appearances on the pro circuit. Vision: “My vision is to see younger kids involved in tennis, introduced in urban areas and also to have senior tennis players throughout The Bahamas come together and to have clean and competitive fun more often.” Perry Newton Jr, Council Member • Obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor in Computer Science from Pensacola Christian College; • Shortly after, began his professional career at Cable Bahamas then ventured into the world of entrepreneurship; • Served as Treasurer, Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association from 2016-2018; • Board Director of the National Tennis Centre from 2014-2018; • Appointed as Public Relations Officer of the BLTA in 2015. Vision: “My vision is for career paths to be opened in tennis for players, coaches, officials and administrators and tennis facilities throughout The Bahamas.”

Marvin Rolle, Council Member • A veteran tennis athlete with a lot of international experience; • Represented The Bahamas on the Davis Cup team 15 times; • Served as Player/Captain for six (6) years; • Is one of two certified Level 2 ITF tennis coaches in The Bahamas; • Coaching for the past seven (7) years at Ocean Club, Paradise Island, as well as various private communities around New Providence; • Served as Team Coach for many junior national teams. Vision: “My vision is I believe the BLTA has the ability to produce worldclass players in the near future.” Wesley Rolle • Past President (20052007) of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association; • Former educator - taught in Bimini, Eleuthera, Exuma and New Providence; • Graduated from the University of Tampa with a B.A. degree in English; • Participated in USTA and USPTR Professional seminars in U.S.A. • Served as Tennis Director in New York for three summers; • Coached Damata High School Boys’ Team in Maryland, U.S.A. • In 2002 was named “Coach of the Year” for the School’s Conference; • Has been very instrumental in reviving Senior Development initiatives; • Facility Manager, the National Tennis Centre. Vision: “My vision for the BLTA is for continued growth of tennis throughout The Bahamas.”

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Tuesday, May 1, 2018, PAGE 5

We are the champions!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: A pair of new national champions emerged from the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Bunny Levarity National Round Robin and featured a title split between New Providence and Grand Bahama. The Commonwealth Bank Giants (shown above), of the New Providence Basketball Association, won the Division I title while the Coca Cola Reach Out Saints protected home court in Grand Bahama with the Division II title at the Jack Hayward Gymnasium in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN DONATION FIT FOR U-15 JBLN ALL-STARS WITH summer approaching like a fast pitch, Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN) teams are wearing thin their cleats and catching gloves in days filled with the heat of competition. Players practice in anticipation as the end of the season this month will see the emergence of an all-star team. “The regular season officially starts the first week of January and ends the last week of May, right before summer,” JBLN Commissioner Jeff Albury said. “But then we start ‘travel ball.’ We go to all sorts of tournaments in the summer – in places like Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. We take the best of the best and create an all-star team. It’s great exposure for the kids – both physically, in terms of sporting, and culturally.” While it’s too early to forecast the all-star team,

Albury said the selection process has started and any player can attest that a top-notch performance on the field is aided by having top-notch equipment. Some of the athletes of JBLN can look forward to new equipment and uniforms thanks to a recent donation from CIBC FirstCaribbean. The donation from CIBC FirstCaribbean, according to Albury, will help purchase uniforms and equipment for the 15-andunder age group. “It’s phenomenal how the sport is growing. We (JBLN) started out playing baseball on a soccer pitch, and now through donations and corporate Bahamas we’ve built a whole complex where we play baseball on Wednesday and Friday nights, all day Saturdays, and Sunday afternoons. We have over 500 boys and girls playing this year, composing 39 teams, and it started

out with about four or five teams,” he said. “At one time baseball was the number one sport in the country, but unfortunately it started deteriorating, now there are three leagues in Grand Bahama, three in Nassau, two in Eleuthera, and two in Abaco. So it’s something that we just keep working at. “The progress we’ve made is immense thanks to corporate Bahamas and organisations like CIBC FirstCaribbean. CIBC FirstCaribbean has been sponsoring JBLN for many years. It’s a very longstanding partnership and the progress the sport has made is phenomenal.” Albury added that they have been doing this programme for 29 years and it’s a wonderful thing for the social aspect of the country. “It keeps kids out of trouble and teaches them skills that last a lifetime. We not

only do baseball, we teach life and making friends,” he said. “It also encourages kids to get off the Xbox and laptops and instead go outside and get some physical activity. It’s all-around good for their health.” With little more than a month left in the season,

time is expected to “fly by,” and before the all-star team makes their international debut, first they’ll compete nationally. “I can’t forecast the allstar team this year, but the selection process is starting because we go to the Nationals in June in

Grand Bahama,” Albury said. “The Bahamas Baseball Federation puts on this annual tournament where all of the different age groups from all of the islands get together and compete, and it’s a great time of competition and fun.”

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BECOME A REGULAR DONOR CIBC FirstCaribbean treasurer Beulah Arthur presents JBLN assistant secretary Jodell Roberts with a sponsorship cheque.

CHESS FEDERATION TO HOST INVITATIONAL TRAINING SEMINAR FOR TOP JUNIOR PLAYERS THE Bahamas Chess Federation (BCF) is scheduled to host an Invitational Training Seminar for the top junior chess players in the island nation May 5-6. United States chess grandmaster Renier Gonzalez has been invited to personally train the winners of the Bahamas Junior Chess Championship 2018. The sessions will cover game analysis, positional analysis, basic endgames

and self-study techniques. In addition to the top junior players, the BCF has invited active school and community clubs to take part in the event. Representatives from six primary and high schools, two urban clubs and three community clubs are poised to benefit from the sessions. The goal of the training programme is to increase the strength, knowledge, and experience of the

country’s junior players, as the BCF prepares them for fierce regional competition. Those trained will be primed to share the knowledge gained with their club and school colleagues. The event is graciously sponsored by the Lindroth Development Company Ltd. and the New Providence Development Company Ltd and will be held at the Centerville Medical Centre.

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 1, 2018, PAGE 7

Madrid wary of Champs League home setbacks in Bayern visit By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Despite a 2-1 victory at Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, Real Madrid is worried. Madrid hosts Bayern in the second leg today, but the European champion has struggled in decisive matches at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and is wary of more surprises. “We have to think about the good things that we did in the first leg in Munich and learn from the match against Juventus at home,” said backup Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, referring to the 3-1 loss in the quarter-finals. “If we put all that together and stay focused, we can make history by reaching another final.” Against Juventus, Madrid won 3-0 in Italy in the first leg. There was a festive atmosphere for the second leg, which was supposed to be a mere formality. But Madrid was surprised by

Juventus, conceding twice in the first half and once after halftime. The 12-time champions escaped an embarrassing home elimination thanks only to a controversial late penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo. “What we have to do is go out and try to win the match,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “That’s going to be our goal. We are not going to think too much about anything else. We will try to score as quickly as possible and win the match.” Madrid also relinquished its lead against Bayern in the quarter-finals last season, when it also won 2-1 in Munich in the first leg. A week later, Bayern sent the match into extra time. Ronaldo, who got both goals in the first leg and one in regulation in the second, scored twice in extra time to complete a hat trick and save Madrid from elimination. “I don’t know how significant the first-leg advantage will be. We know what happened against Juventus and

BAYERN Munich players attend a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. Bayern Munich is slated to play a Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match against Real Madrid today. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) all three goals came when the Madrid defence failed to clear routine crosses into the area. Bayern paid attention to Madrid’s recent struggles. “Real Madrid has shown that it can be vulnerable even when playing at home,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said through a translator. “They are not invincible despite what many people may think.” The defence could be a problem for Madrid again

against Bayern last year,” Zidane said. “We will need a huge performance. We will need to play like never before this year to be able to advance. We are prepared and we are going to give it all we’ve got to make it to the final.” Sloppy defence was key to those struggles by Madrid at home. Madrid didn’t play poorly but couldn’t stop its opponents on the few chances they created. Against Juventus,

today as right back Dani Carvajal is out injured and Zidane has few options to replace him. Youngster Achraf Hakimi is Carvajal’s immediate substitute but he has not impressed. Nacho Fernandez, a central defender who has played at right back on other occasions, is coming off an injury and it’s not clear if he will be fully fit to play. Zidane said he may consider using forward Lucas

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Some sun with a couple of showers

Mostly cloudy with brief showers

Variably cloudy with a few showers

A morning shower; partly sunny

Partly sunny with a brief shower

High: 86°

Low: 73°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 86° Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 72°

AccuWeather RealFeel

91° F

73° F

88°-74° F

91°-71° F

90°-70° F

92°-76° F

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 67° F/19° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

ABACO

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 72° F/22° C

10-20 knots

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

10-20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

W S

WEST PALM BEACH

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 69° F/21° C

MIAMI

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 83° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 70° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 86° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 75° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 11.04” Normal year to date ..................................... 6.23”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

KEY WEST

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

uV inDex toDay

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

9:33 a.m. 9:55 p.m.

Low

Ht.(ft.)

2.5 3.0

3:39 a.m. -0.3 3:38 p.m. -0.3

Wednesday 10:14 a.m. 10:36 p.m.

2.4 2.9

4:21 a.m. -0.2 4:17 p.m. -0.1

Thursday

10:55 a.m. 11:17 p.m.

2.3 2.8

5:04 a.m. 4:57 p.m.

0.0 0.0

Friday

11:38 a.m. -----

2.1 -----

5:47 a.m. 5:39 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Saturday

12:00 a.m. 12:24 p.m.

2.6 2.0

6:32 a.m. 6:24 p.m.

0.3 0.4

Sunday

12:46 a.m. 1:14 p.m.

2.5 2.0

7:20 a.m. 7:14 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Monday

1:36 a.m. 2:09 p.m.

2.4 2.0

8:12 a.m. 8:10 p.m.

0.5 0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:34 a.m. 7:40 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

9:20 p.m. 7:52 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 7

May 15

May 21

May 29

CAT ISLAND

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

10-20 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Vazquez in defence, as he did after Carvajal had to leave the first leg because of his injury. Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, who used to play as a right back, could also end up on the flank. “It could be an option,” Ramos said. “I can adapt. It wouldn’t be a problem for me.” Madrid is also certain to be without midfielder Isco, who did not recover from a shoulder sprain sustained in the first leg in Germany. Madrid is trying to win a third straight European title, and fourth in five seasons. The last team to reach three straight finals was Juventus from 1996-98. Bayern, a five-time European champion, is looking to return to the final after four seasons. “We need to be more efficient than in the first leg,” Heynckes said. “We have scored lots of goals all season and I hope we can show the efficiency that usually characterises our game.”

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

10-20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 77° F/25° C

8-16 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots

WAVES 4-7 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-7 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-8 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 4-7 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 81° F 81° F 75° F 75° F 80° F 80° F 75° F 75° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 79° F 79° F 81° F 81° F 77° F 77° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years. NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

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PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 1, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Celtics get 117-101 victory over 76ers, take 1-0 lead By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Terry Rozier scored 29 points and first-year Celtics forward Jayson Tatum scored 28 to outplay redshirt rookie Ben Simmons and lead the Boston Celtics to a 117-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals last night. With much of the attention focused on Philadelphia young guns Simmons and Joel Embiid, Boston’s youth movement of Tatum and Rozier led the way. Rozier, in his third year, added eight rebounds and six assists, and Al Horford had 26 points and seven rebounds for Boston. Embiid scored 31 points with 13 rebounds for Philadelphia. Simmons, the likely rookie of the year, scored 18 with seven boards and six assists. Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston. The Celtics are hoping to have guard Jaylen Brown back from a hamstring injury he sustained in the first-round series against Milwaukee. He had been “very doubtful” for the second-round opener and was ruled out about a half hour before the tipoff, adding to injury woes that had already cost Boston Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. Playing point guard in place of Irving, Rozier was a star for Boston in Game 7 against Milwaukee and he came out hot again against the Sixers. He had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter and was 7 for 9 from 3-point range overall, BOSTON Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) celebrates his three-point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter of Game 1 of their secondround playoff series last night. TOP RIGHT - 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) drives against Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye. (AP Photos/Elise Amendola) overshadowing the lottery picks accumulated by Philadelphia during The Process. The first overall pick in the 2016 draft who sat out all of last year with an injury, Simmons was heckled by the Boston crowd with chants of “Not a Rookie!” In the fourth quarter, as Tatum stepped to the free throw line to protect a double-digit lead, the chant turned to “He’s a Rookie!” Tatum was Boston’s first pick last year — third overall — after swapping the No. 1 pick to the Sixers and grabbing a 2018 first-rounder as well. Philadelphia picked Markelle Fultz; he did not play on Monday night. It was 33-all with just over seven minutes left in the half when the Celtics ran off 10 points in a row. Horford had four of the five baskets and assisted on the other. Boston led 87-70 in the final minute of the third quarter when Philadelphia scored

nine straight points to make it a nine-point game. After Simmons made a layup to make it 97-88, Horford hit a 3 from the top of the key with 5:30 left and it was never within single digits again. OLD SCHOOL FEEL Sixers coach Brett Brown is familiar with the Philadelphia and Boston matchups of the 1980s, having grown up in South Portland, Maine. Though he knows other teams in the East remain relevant, he thinks there is enough young talent on the current 76ers and Celtics rosters to give the rivalry a rebirth. “I hope so,” Brown said. “I personally grew up with this rivalry, just right on your doorstep and just a big part of your basketball life as a young kid. It sure seems like both programmes are heading into the right direction.”

TIP-INS Sixers: With six days off since eliminating the Heat in five games, the Sixers missed 15 of their first 20 shots. ... Simmons grew frustrated near the end of the game when Shane Larkin wrapped him up under the basket. The Celtics guard gave him a bear hug from behind to prevent him from shooting, and Simmons pushed his hands away. ... Embiid again wore the mask he has needed since missing 10 straight games — including the first two of the playoffs. Celtics: Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell was in the crowd.... Smart missed his first five shots. ... The Celtics put T-shirts on every seat that said “BEAT PHILA.” The “L-A” were in bold, a nod to the longtime rivalry with the Lakers.