Issuu

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2026

YOUTH OLYMPICS - PAGE 4

Ministry launches National Sports Month !"#6%$&('&$# !7))%3+ (0489:5#+./012#)5./0150 !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,) THE Ministry of Youth and Sports is looking to create more opportunities for its next generation of athletes through international partnerships, scholarships and coach development, as it officially launches National Sports Month 2026. A major highlight of the launch was the announcement of the Bahamas UK Sports Academy, an initiative designed to strengthen sporting ties between the two countries while providing young Bahamians with additional pathways to develop their talents. The academy will offer scholarships for youth in The Bahamas and the United Kingdom, training opportunities for coaches and seed funding to help establish sporting programmes, particularly throughout the Family Islands. The initiative builds on an existing sporting

relationship between the two countries, which has included activities in sailing, boxing, rugby, football and tennis, as well as participation at the Commonwealth Games. The British High Commission will serve as a founding strategic partner, while Governor General Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt has agreed to become the academy’s patron. The academy is expected to open its grant application process next year, with the initiative also encouraging Bahamian businesses, churches and families to contribute to the development of youth sports. November’s National Sports Month will feature a series of activities recognising the achievements of Bahamian athletes while encouraging greater participation in sports and healthy lifestyles. The programme will begin with a national church service at Life Worship Centre, followed by a month-long spotlight on athletes through various media and social media platforms.

123245678%98:%#);8/+.84<%$)'81/$*%8=%&>,?0 National Jersey Day will invite members of the public to wear national colours or the jerseys of their favourite Bahamian athletes, while the National Sports Awards will take place on Saturday, November 7, at Margaritaville.

The awards will recognise athletes across all levels, from youth competitors to senior performers. The ministry will also partner with the Ministry of Health for an initiative at Rawson Square on November 11, where members of

the public will have access to health checks, including blood pressure screenings. Another major component of the month will be the establishment of the first Sports Minister Hall of Fame, which will recognise former ministers for their contributions to sports development during their respective terms in office. The ministry will also host a House of Assembly visit for National Youth Assembly inductees on November 18, ahead of their official induction ceremony on November 19. On Thanksgiving Day, the ministry will partner with the University of Miami to stage an all-day basketball clinic for girls from primary through senior high school. The clinic will provide an opportunity for participants to develop their basketball skills, while also featuring a showcase component that could open doors for further recruitment opportunities. A community food distribution initiative will also form part of the day’s activities.

Additional activities throughout November will include Wacky Sports Day and an in-house staff sporting competition at the Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium. The month follows a busy October for the ministry, which recently concluded National Youth Month with a series of events celebrating young Bahamians. Those activities included the National Youth March, the opening of the National Youth Assembly, Youth Visibility Day and the King’s Youth Rally. The latter brought together more than 2,500 students and chaperones to welcome His Majesty King Charles III during his visit to the country. With international partnerships, athlete recognition and community-based initiatives forming the programme, National Sports Month is expected to provide another opportunity to celebrate Bahamian sporting talent while placing greater emphasis on developing the next generation.

‘VJ’ stuffs stat sheet in victory PLAY ACTION: Philadelphia 76ers guard Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr brings the ball upcourt against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, October 31, 2026. Tyrese Maxey and Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr proved they could win without stars LeBron James and Joel Embiid, battling back to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-104 on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 2

Jalisa starts tennis Ayton scores three career with a bang as Wizards smother Hornets 95-79

!"#6%$&('&$# !7))%3+ (0489:5#+./012#)5./0150 !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,)

JALISA Clarke started her collegiate tennis career with a bang, winning all five of her matches in singles and doubles competition at her first college invitational - the SIAC Fall Open. The 18-year-old Grand Bahama native, who attends Tuskegee University, recorded three singles victories and two doubles wins against opponents from Clark Atlanta, Spring Hill, Alabama State and Edward Waters, giving her an encouraging start to her freshman season. Clarke opened her singles campaign with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Clark

• Ayton and Washington visit Orlando tonight WASHINGTON (AP) — • AJ Dybantsa sharp in his home debut Trae Young had 21 points, !"#$%&'#()*+(,)# &-#+./012#304150

STRONG CAREER START: Jalisa Clarke with her medals. Atlanta before producing a commanding 6-3, 6-0 win against Spring Hill. She completed her singles run with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Alabama State. In doubles, Clarke partnered with fellow Tuskegee player Asia McRae to secure victories over

Edward Waters, 8-6, and Spring Hill, 8-4, completing an unbeaten run at the invitational. Despite the successful results, Clarke admitted that nerves played a significant role heading into her CLARKE - SEE PAGE 4

nine assists and seven rebounds, AJ Dybantsa scored 17 points in his home debut, Deandre Ayton added three and the Washington Wizards routed the Charlotte Hornets 95-79 on Friday night. Washington held the Hornets to 13 points in the third quarter, cruising to a comfortable victory on the first night of NBA Cup play. Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards. Ayton also contributed four rebounds and one assist.

Dybantsa wasn't available to start the season because of an ankle injury, but this year's No. 1 overall draft pick finally played Wednesday night, scoring 19 points in a loss at Cleveland. He looked composed again Friday in front of the home fans. Dybantsa had an impressive putback in the fourth quarter negated by a basket interference call. A short while later, he switched hands while driving before banking in a shot AYTON - SEE PAGE 2

DEANDRE AYTON

PAGE 2, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

!"#$%&'$!"#%()*+,-.(/012+3(4/56('27+89:;+(5,<(,=7>?<(,+08?-(?9(?>+(@9A1(8011+2(9B(>=:(070=B-?(C+D(E9,F(GB=8F-.(501+B(H,AB-9B<(1+@?<(2A,=B7(?>+(-+89B2(>01@(9@(0B(CH%(IAJ(;0-F+?;011( 70:+<(K,=20L<(M8?9;+,(NO<(POP*<(=B(!>=102+1J>=0Q((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((R%!(!>9?9S!"#$%&'()*+,)T

‘VJ’ helps 76ers beat Hornets 109-104 without LeBron James and Joel Embiid -.&'/010&2003& 45&'6+#7%&8#$79# CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 38 points, Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr had 10, Anfernee Simons added 19 off the bench and Philadelphia 76ers proved they could win without stars LeBron James and Joel Embiid, battling back to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-104 on Saturday night. Jaylen Brown, who was considered a game-time decision, started and finished with 16 points for the 76ers. Edgecombe Jr also contributed eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 37 minutes. The sellout crowd of 19,533 at the Spectrum Center didn’t get to see James and Embiid play as

the 76ers rested both players one night after beating the New York Knicks 98-93 in an intense NBA Cup game. Grayson Allen had 27 points off the bench on 7-of10 shooting from 3-point range for the Hornets, while Brandon Miller added 24 points on five 3s. Charlotte seized the momentum when Miller blocked Edgecombe Jr's layup with five minutes left, then threw a perfect bounce pass to Moussa Diabate on the other end for a dunk off a pick and roll to put the Hornets up 97-90. But the 76ers chipped away behind two buckets from Simons and took the lead for good with 1:22 left on a pair of free throws by Maxey. Philadelphia pushed the lead to 105-101 when

Edgecombe knocked down a three pointer from the left wing. Charlotte's Sion James missed an uncontested layup with 24 seconds left and Maxey added two free throws to increase the lead to six. Miller cut the lead in half with seven seconds left, but Brown iced the game with two free throws with 5.2 seconds left. The 76ers shot 40% from beyond the arc to overcome a 15 of 23 shooting night from the foul line. The Hornets were also playing on the second night of a back-to-back and remain without point guard Coby White (calf) and shooting guard Kon Knueppel (hamstring). The 76ers host Chicago tonight. The Hornets host Detroit tonight.

)*'ZU(7A0,2(/012+3(4/56('27+89:;+(R))T(8+1+;,0?+-(D=?>(VL,+-+(Y0[+L(0?(?>+(+B2(9@(?>+( -+89B2(>01@(9@(0B(CH%(;0-F+?;011(70:+(=B(I>0,19??+<(CQIQ<(9B(U0?A,20L<(M8?9;+,(N\<(POP*Q( (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((R%!(!>9?9SB9,,&29CD+ECT

Bulls’ ‘Buddy’ Hield scores five points in loss to Celtics Hield and Bulls visit Philadelphia tonight -.&:;<0&=>?=/@802& 45&'6+#7%&8#$79# BOSTON (AP) — Payton Pritchard scored 30 points, and the Boston Celtics raced past the Chicago Bulls 125-111 on Friday night in the NBA Cup opener for both teams. Jayson Tatum added 26 points in 34 minutes. Paul George finished with 18 points and eight assists for Boston, which has won its last four games. The Celtics got the lead up to 32 with 1:52 left in the first half. Chicago didn’t cut into the lead until the fourth quarter after Boston’s starters had already been pulled. Pritchard paced the Celtics’ attack early, scoring 20 points in the first half in another big night against the Bulls after scoring 28 points in 22 minutes in a Boston win over Chicago on Oct. 26. For the night, he knocked down 9 of 17 shots. Boston also dominated the game inside, scoring 56 points in the paint.

HMUVMC(I+1?=8-.(!0L?9B(!,=?8>0,2<(-+89B2(@,9:(1+@?<(J,+J0,+-(?9(?0F+(0(NWJ9=B?(->9?(9X+,( I>=8079(HA11-.(I>0X0B9(4HA22L6("=+12(R)T(2A,=B7(?>+(-+89B2(>01@(9@(0B(CH%(;0-F+?;011( 70:+<(Y9B20L<(M8?9;+,(P*<(POP*<(=B(H9-?9BQ( ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((R%!(!>9?9S!")#,9%&:#A6)T Caleb Wilson had 23 points for the Bulls, who have lost four straight games. Norman Powell finished with 16 points and Matas Buzelis added 14. Chavano “Buddy” Hield contributed five points, three rebounds,

one assist and one steal in 17 minutes. Chicago shot just 38% (35 of 92) from the field and 30% (15 of 50) from the 3-point line Boston beat Chicago by 35 points on Monday, converting 25 Bulls turnovers

into 39 points. After turning the ball over 25 times in a 35-point loss to Boston on Monday, Chicago had trouble taking care of the ball again on Friday. Boston turned the ball over 16 times leading to 21 Celtics points.

Ayton and Washington Wizards visit Orlando tonight AYTON - FROM PAGE 1 while being fouled. That drew an “MVP! MVP!” chant for the 19-year-old rookie. The story of this game, however, was Charlotte’s atrocious shooting. The Hornets led by 10 in the

first quarter after starting 4 of 10 from 3-point range. Then they made four of their next 29 attempts from long range. Charlotte ended up shooting 29.7% from the field for the game, 12 of 56 from 3-point range. The Hornets are now

responsible for the two lowest-scoring games in the NBA this season, having produced 81 points in an October 23 loss to Atlanta. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 19 points. Naz Reid was back in the starting lineup for Charlotte after being benched in the

second half at Detroit on Wednesday night. Reid had 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Hornets have been without Kon Knueppel (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) all season so far. Grant Williams (hamstring) has also been out.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 2, 2026, PAGE 3

Arsenal beats Liverpool 1-0 to end Anfield torment and go top of the Premier League !"#$%&'&#()*+,-$# -.#$/0123#415261 ARSENAL eked out its first win at Anfield in 14 years by beating Liverpool 1-0 through Kai Havertz’s first-half goal to climb to first place in the Premier League yesterday. Not since 2012 — when current manager Mikel Arteta was commanding the team’s midfield — had Arsenal won at Liverpool’s intimidating home ground. The curse was broken by Havertz, who slotted home a close-range finish at the back post after a low centre across the face of goal by all-action midfielder Declan Rice in the 16th minute. Arsenal then defended doggedly, especially in the first half when the visitors were pinned back by Liverpool, to keep its sixth clean sheet in nine games of a title defense that is going according to plan. “In the end, that defensive line, the way we stick together, that togetherness

we have, is undefeated,” Rice said. "It’s nothing I’ve ever seen before.” With this eighth victory of the campaign, the Gunners leapfrogged Manchester City into top spot and holds a three-point lead. Perhaps more presciently, given the uncertainty surrounding City’s future following its guilty verdict for large-scale financial rule-breaking, Arsenal is now five points ahead of third-place Brighton – the only team to defeat the defending champions so far. The loss breaks a run of five straight wins by Liverpool since its only previous defeat this season — by Man City, also at Anfield on October 11. During the furious onslaught in the final 25 minutes of the first half, Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar with a free kick, Alexis Mac Allister headed over the bar when unmarked and Liverpool had a number of penalty appeals waved away.

Ultimately, though, the hosts didn't have a shot on target all match and stayed in fifth place, already nine points behind Arsenal. “Some days it feels like we are at the top,” said Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, “and some days it feels like we are not even close. It takes time to get to the top.” Alisson mistake punished by Arsenal The only goal was avoidable on Liverpool's part. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker attempted a short pass out from the back at a goal kick but it got intercepted by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, setting up a counterattack. The ball was fed to the right, where Rice — on the overlap — threaded a cross between Alisson and Liverpool's defenders, teeing up Havertz for an easy finish to become the all-time leading German scorer in the Premier League. He has 46 goals, one more than former

Man City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. Alisson might have produced a world-class save late on to tip aside a curling shot by Christos Tzolis but it is his early error that will be remembered. Forgetting about Fleetwood In the space of five days, Arsenal has been eliminated by fourthtier opposition in the English League Cup and won at arguably the toughest ground to visit in England. Getting beaten by plucky Fleetwood Town in a penalty shootout was one of the Gunners' most embarrassing results in their history, even if it was a largely second-string team deployed by Arteta on Tuesday. He restored all of his regulars to the lineup on Sunday and they toughed out a huge win in the hardest examination so far in their title defense. “This is the magical thing about football,” Arteta said.

!"#$%!&'()*+,-.//0/1)2,345)",6,7)-/897),:5)!1(/:,-'();,4) <,3/19=)4:),>94+:)5?14:*)9@/)$:*-4(@)A1/B4/1)&/,*?/)(+>C >/1) B,9>@) D/9E//:) &43/10++-) ,:5) !1(/:,-) 4:) &43/10++-7) $:*-,:57)#?:5,67)%+3/BD/1)F7)GHGIJ) )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))K!A)A@+9+L708#$9/61M “It's so unpredictable, the next result.” Arsenal will gain confidence from this and from the sight of Manchester

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-DAY FORECAST

TODAY

TONIGHT

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

City losing back-to-back games in the league, going up against Aston Villa last weekend and Brighton on Saturday.

™

Superior Accuracy for Better Decisions Visit AccuWeather.com

UV INDEX TODAY

FRIDAY

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ LOW

ORLANDO

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

Breezy with a shower and t-storm

Mostly cloudy, thunderstorms; warm

Humid with a shower and t-storm

Mostly sunny and humid

Sunshine

Times of clouds and sun

High: 83°

Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 76°

High: 85° Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 76°

High: 85° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

88° F

79° F

98°-82° F

95°-79° F

93°-80° F

91°-79° F

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N E

ABACO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

12-25 knots

WEST PALM BEACH High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

12-25 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

10-20 knots

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

2.6 3.1

7:29 a.m. 8:24 p.m.

0.7 0.6

ALMANAC

Tuesday

2:31 a.m. 2:54 p.m.

2.7 3.0

8:41 a.m. 9:23 p.m.

0.7 0.4

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 74° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 83° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 71° F/22° C Last year’s high .................................. 82° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 69° F/21° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.16” Year to date ................................................ 27.35” Normal year to date ................................... 35.78”

Wednesday 3:34 a.m. 3:53 p.m.

2.9 2.9

9:49 a.m. 0.6 10:15 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

4:31 a.m. 4:46 p.m.

3.0 2.8

10:49 a.m. 0.5 11:03 p.m. 0.2

Friday

5:20 a.m. 5:35 p.m.

3.2 2.8

11:42 a.m. 0.4 11:46 p.m. 0.1

Saturday

6:05 a.m. 6:19 p.m.

3.3 2.7

12:29 p.m. 0.3 ---------

Sunday

6:46 a.m. 7:01 p.m.

3.3 2.6

12:26 a.m. 0.1 1:13 p.m. 0.3

Sunrise Sunset

6:18 a.m. 5:29 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

none 1:27 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Nov. 9

Nov. 17

Nov. 24

Dec. 1

CAT ISLAND

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7-14 knots

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

SUN AND MOON

N W

EXT.

1:21 a.m. 1:50 p.m.

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

VERY HIGH

Today

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

HIGH

TIDES FOR NASSAU

The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature® is the only index that includes all the weather factors that play a role in how we perceive temperature, including the effects of wind, humidity, sunshine, precipitation, pressure, and elevation. Shown are the highest and lowest values for each day.

MODERATE

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

ANDROS

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

TRACKING MAP

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7-14 knots

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

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS NE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots WSW at 4-8 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SSW at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 7-14 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots

Tribune First Alert Weather

NASSAU WhatsApp Channel

WAVES 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 6-10 Feet 4-8 Feet 6-10 Feet 5-9 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-7 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 88° F 87° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F

“We got you covered under the radars”

PAGE 4, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Team Bahamas on a mission at Youth Olympics DAKAR, Senegal — Team Bahamas began competition in the Youth Olympic Games today, just hours after Africa celebrated the opening of the

first Olympic event to take place on the continent. The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar will run from October 31 to November 13. The Bahamas’ team

of youth athletes will compete in swimming and athletics over the first 11 days of the Games. First, the swimmers will be in action from November 1-6. Saleste

Gibson was first in the pool on Sunday, November 1, swimming in the women’s 100m butterfly. She had a blazing start, completing the first 50 metres in just over

31 seconds in the second of three heats. However, she was unable to advance to the finals, with a completed time of 1:08.47. Gibson will compete again on

November 2 in the women’s 100m freestyle. Meanwhile, Christon Joseph will represent The Bahamas in his first event - the men’s 100m freestyle - on the same day.

Bridgewater delivers standout performance !"#$%&'()'&# !*++%,(./0123#-45.67#+345.63. !"#$$%&'( )$*"#+,-,.*/0+,) BAHAMIAN guard Domnick Bridgewater delivered a standout performance in Brazilian professional basketball, scoring 32 points to lead Esporte Clube Pinheiros to an 89-74 road victory over Basket Osasco in the NBB CAIXA 2026/27 competition. Bridgewater, who recently joined the Brazilian club after competing professionally in France, also contributed three rebounds, four assists and five steals in an impressive all-round display that helped Pinheiros secure its third consecutive victory. The 26-year-old finished with an efficiency rating of 29 in the October 29 matchup at the Ginásio Geodésico in Osasco, São Paulo. He shot seven-of-10 from two-point range, connected on two three-pointers and converted 12 of his 14 attempts at the free-throw line. His defensive activity was equally important, as he helped disrupt Osasco’s offensive rhythm throughout the contest.

Only Osasco’s Jamison Costa, known as JJ, scored more in the game, finishing with 34 points despite his team’s defeat. Pinheiros established control early, taking the opening quarter 25-21 before extending its advantage with a 24-18 second period to carry a 49-39 lead into the half. The visitors continued to dictate the pace after the break, outscoring Osasco 26-19 in the third quarter to stretch the margin to 17 points heading into the final period. Although Osasco responded with a 16-14 advantage in the fourth, Pinheiros had already created enough separation to comfortably close out the 89-74 win. The performance followed an encouraging debut for Bridgewater two days earlier, when he helped Pinheiros defeat União Corinthians 75-63 on October 27. His arrival in Brazil represents another step in a professional career that has taken him through several European basketball programmes, particularly in France. Pinheiros announced the signing of the Bahamian on October 15, bringing

him aboard after his stint with FOS Provence Basket in France, where he had established himself as an important offensive contributor. He averaged 19.5 points and 4.3 assists across 38 games during his previous campaign with the French club and helped FOS Provence reach the semi-finals.

Bridgewater’s move to Pinheiros also reunited him with fellow Bahamian national team veteran David Nesbitt, who joined the Brazilian organisation during the off-season. Nesbitt also made a valuable contribution against Osasco, finishing with six points, seven rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes of action. His work

on the boards provided an important presence for Pinheiros as the Bahamian pair helped their team secure the road victory. The presence of two Bahamian players adds an international connection to a Pinheiros programme that is undergoing a significant rebuilding period. The club, formally known as Esporte Clube Pinheiros, is one of Brazil’s established sporting institutions, having been founded in 1899. Its basketball programme competes in the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), the country’s premier professional basketball competition. Pinheiros entered the 2026/27 campaign with considerable changes to its playing personnel, having lost nearly 80 per cent of its previous season’s roster. The club has placed an emphasis on developing younger players while incorporating experienced professionals into the group. Head coach Gustavo De Conti, who returned to the Pinheiros bench for the current campaign, has emphasised the importance of developing young talent as the organisation begins a new chapter. That combination of youth and experience has been part of

the team’s approach during the opening stretch of the season, with Bridgewater providing an important scoring option alongside Brandon Weatherspoon, Felipe Gregate and Nesbitt. Weatherspoon contributed 17 points in the victory over Osasco, while Gregate added 11 and Lucca Boracina finished with 10. The victory extended Pinheiros’ winning streak to three games and improved its record to 3-1 in the early stages of the NBB campaign. Bridgewater has also been a regular part of the Bahamian national programme, having represented The Bahamas at senior level since 2019 after previously competing with the country’s under-17 team in 2017. He was an important contributor during the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers, averaging 18.2 points and seven assists according to previously reported national team statistics. His latest performance in Brazil provides another opportunity to establish himself as a key contributor in a new professional environment while helping Pinheiros maintain its positive start to the season.

Jalisa Clarke wins all five of her matches at the SIAC Fall Open CLARKE - FROM PAGE 1 first tournament of the season, particularly with the responsibility of representing her university. “I’ll be completely honest, this was my first tournament of the season due to circumstances beyond my control, so I was pretty nervous and that constant feeling of not wanting to let my team down stayed with me a lot,” she said. The level of competition, however, was exactly what Clarke had been looking forward to experiencing since making the move to the United States. She described collegiate tennis as a significant step up from what she had previously encountered and welcomed the opportunity to test herself against stronger opposition. “Honestly, it was extremely competitive and

it’s definitely a whole new different level of tennis over here, and that’s what I’ve been wanting for a while,” she said. The transition to college has also required Clarke to adjust to life away from home, balancing academic responsibilities with the demands of training and competition. She identified time management as her biggest adjustment, with her daily schedule often revolving around classes, practice and other university commitments. However, she credited the welcoming environment at Tuskegee, particularly her teammates and coaching staff, for making the transition considerably easier. “My teammates and coach are extremely welcoming and everyone here is really helpful. Anything you need, they are willing

to help. I couldn’t ask for it any other way,” Clarke said. On the court, she believes one of her biggest areas of development has been learning to construct points more effectively rather than relying solely on individual shots. “I would say I developed a more structured part of the game, learning how to put points together and construct points,” she said. Clarke also highlighted the support of her coaching staff, noting the importance of having people around her who understand the challenges of pursuing a collegiate career far from home. Her ambitions extend beyond simply establishing herself in the Tuskegee programme. She hopes to work her way into the top two positions on the team during her time at the university while continuing to contribute as a dependable

teammate. “One of my main goals would probably be playing at top two for my team for the time I am there. “Also, to just continue to be a team player and hold my team together through the good and the bad times,” she said. The Grand Bahama native also has her sights set on potentially pursuing professional tennis after completing her collegiate career, although she wants to ensure that path aligns with her faith and personal convictions. Clarke’s journey to the collegiate level comes after she captured three consecutive Bahamas national titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025, establishing herself as one of the country’s promising young players. She also draws inspiration from fellow Bahamian collegiate player Michael

Major Jr, whose approach to the game has helped shape her outlook on competing at the next level. Clarke pointed to Major’s ambition, point construction and ability to remain composed under pressure as qualities she hopes to emulate as she continues developing. Representing Grand Bahama is another responsibility she does not take lightly, particularly given the relatively small number of players from her hometown who have progressed to collegiate tennis. She believes her opportunity at Tuskegee can help establish a pathway for other young players from the island to pursue similar opportunities. “It is actually really important seeing that there haven’t really been much players from my hometown (Freeport) going off to

college. So it is very important because I have now set the standards and the expectations for everyone else that’s playing tennis coming out of Freeport,” Clarke said. Beyond the victories and individual ambitions, Clarke said tennis has taught her the importance of humility and appreciating every opportunity. “Anything you have now can be taken away from you in a blink of an eye, so just enjoy what you have and live in the moment,” she said. Her message to young Bahamian players who may be waiting for their opportunity to compete at a higher level is to remain patient and maintain their faith. “When you feel as if you’ve been waiting for too long, just remember God is waiting for the right time,” Clarke said.