SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019
Justin Roberts gets Arthur Ashe award By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net rom the University of South Florida to Arizona State University, Justin Roberts has completed his collegiate eligibility by receiving the Southwest region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) made the announcement on Saturday but, when contacted yesterday, Roberts said he was really surprised by the accolade. “This was pretty cool. I didn’t know anything about it so I wasn’t expecting it.” Roberts said. “When my father (Bruno Roberts) told me about it, I was surprised because I hadn’t heard anything about it. “But it’s a cool award to achieve. I appreciate the award. I didn’t expect it, but it’s a cool thing to add to my résumé.” According to the ASU website, Roberts played a huge leadership role on a relatively young ASU men’s tennis squad, representing the only senior on the nine-man roster. The graduate student transferred to Arizona State for his last season and made an immediate impact both on and off the court for coach Matt Hill. The Bahamian played three seasons at the University of South Florida – two of which were under Hill – where he advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA tournament in doubles during his freshman year and notched a top-5 upset also in tandem play. Roberts made the jump to Tempe for his senior season to follow coach Hill, providing valuable leadership along the way. Roberts posted a 10-8 record in singles play in 2019, primarily at the No.3 spot for the Sun Devils. He proved of the utmost importance in the Sun Devils’ second-straight Territorial Cup Series point over Arizona, clinching the victory with his 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 singles win. He and doubles partner Makey Rakotomlala also anchored courts two and three all season long, putting up an
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FOX AND SEYMOUR GO HEADTO-HEAD IN DOUBLE A By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LUCIUS Fox of the Montgomery Biscuits and Anfernee Seymour of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp went head-to-head in the Double A Southern League to highlight recent activity from Bahamian baseball players in the minor leagues. The Jumbo Shrimp concluded the series with a 5-1 win yesterday, but Biscuits got the edge (3-2) in the five-game series. Fox broke up Jacksonville’s no hitter with the Biscuits’ lone base hit of the game. Seymour had a productive series at the plate, 4-12 through three games. He went 2-3 with an RBI and run scored in game one and 1-3 with one run scored in both games two and three. In 29 games this season, Seymour is hitting .227 with a .546 OPS. He has totalled 17 hits, with five RBI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases. Fox has appeared in 39 games and has hit .178 thus far with a .643 OPS. He totalled 23 hits, six doubles, three triples, two home runs, with 15 RBI, 23 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Fox will now go headto-head with another Bahamian player this week when the Biscuits take on Jazz Chisholm and the Jackson Generals in a fivegame series May 22-26. The Generals concluded a five-game series with the Tennessee Smokies yesterday afternoon. Chisholm went hitless over the first three games of the series before finally reaching safely in game four. His RBI triple in the fourth inning pushed the lead to 3-1. He would score later in the inning on a sac fly and the Generals went on to win 7-1. Chisholm recently moved up to the No.55 prospect in
F
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MMA
TENNIS ace Justin Roberts has received the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award - Southwest region.
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Ricardo Smith to run for president of the NPBA By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net OVER the weekend, Ricardo Smith unveiled his plans and slate of officers who intend to run with him when he contests for the office of president of the New Providence Basketball Association this weekend. Smith, a former executive of a semi-pro basketball league, will be vying for president against incumbent first vice president James Price when the elections take place 10am Saturday at the Ministry of Education’s training room. Smith and Price will be put to replace Eugene Horton, who opted not to seek another fouryear term as president after he was recently elected as the first vice president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation.
“A number of persons spoke to me about the state of basketball in New Providence and they believe that I can do something to improve it,” Smith said. “So after long consideration, meditation and prayer, I decided to give it a go. “But in order to achieve this major undertaking, I had to go deep into the personnel for persons who have the skills set and the time to devote to the sport so that I can achieve my objective.” Smith’s ‘One Team, One Dream’ slate of officers include Steven ‘Stretch’ Culmer as first vice president, Mario Pickstock, second vice president, Uriel Adderley, third vice president, Michael Demeritte, fourth vice president, Jemique Sands-Taylor, secretary, Requel Sands, assistant secretary, Carla Jackson, treasurer, Dwayne McGregor, Commissioner, Attorney Domek
Rolle, Assistant Commissioner and Marcellus Hall, public relations officer. In putting together his team, Smith said he tried to find a competent group of men and women who have the ability to take basketball to the next level. During their term in office, if elected, Smith said they intend to pursue the following:
RICARDO SMITH has unveiled his plans and slate of officers who intend to run with him when he contests for the office of president of the New Providence Basketball Association this weekend.
• Award division one champions a $10,000 cash prize • Open the 2019/20 season live on television • Introduce big game nights to feature each team • Re-introduce the NPBA AllStar weekend • Host gala awards presentation banquet • Introduce new team business manager position
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