For the second year in a row, Cayman will be sending a male and female 3×3 basketball team to compete in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 Youth Nations League.
The Cayman teams will be competing in Punta Arenas, Chile, from 21-27 July, where all six stops for the Americas 2 conference will be hosted.
The Cayman youth men’s 3×3 team is currently ranked 59th in the world, while the women’s youth team sits slightly higher at 58th globally. Both teams show strong regional performance, holding the 7th spot in the Americas.
The Nations League represents one of the most elite 3×3 competitions under the FIBA umbrella, providing competing countries with the opportunity to accumulate sufficient points in their conference to secure a ticket to the FIBA World Cup 3×3 competition, slated for China later this year.
The Cayman men’s team will be led by head coach Duran ‘Trinni’ Whittaker, who told the Compass that the team has been working hard with aims to medal in the tournament.
He acknowledged the challenge of facing physically larger opponents, with other countries often fielding “7-footers and bigger guards”.
To counter this, the team has intensified its focus on physical conditioning and stamina, aiming to build the resilience needed for tough moments. Whittaker noted that the team’s core strengths lie in its shooting ability and effective off-ball movements.
He admitted that it will be a “tough” competition, with travelling duration and climate changes being other major factors for the men to face.
“All in all, we have to fight to the end and … always expect the unexpected,” he said.
The men boast a roster featuring captain Nathaniel Hurlston-Anderson, Bryan Ebanks-Perez, Brad Lansdell, Alwin Buttrum, Umar Gordon and Toure Montague.
Four of these six players bring valuable experience from last year’s Nations League.
Leading the women’s team will be head coach Wendy Manzanares.
“The team has been diligently preparing over the last eight weeks, focusing on honing our skills, building team chemistry and fine-tuning our strategies,” she said.
Despite the challenges of a short preparation period –due to all the female players studying at universities overseas – she sees this competitive opportunity as an invaluable chance to solidify the team’s foundation and pave the way for future success.
The determined squad comprises captain Lyandrea Watson, Annika Moore, Jamie Rankin-Maize, Bethany Ebanks and Soleya Manzanares.
While only two players have prior Nations League experience, Manzanares is confident in their progress.
Echoing the sentiments of Whittaker, she admitted, “Although we may lack height and size compared to some of our competitors, we believe our key strength lies in our ability to play smart and versatile basketball. Quick decision-making and relentless motion will be critical.”
Reflecting on the age range of Cayman’s current youth 3×3 teams, Collin Anglin, president of the Cayman Islands Basketball Association, said, “The majority of our players would still have two to three years to be able to play in this competition, so it’s going to be very valuable for us to compete and get this level of experience.”
