NASSAU (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) — The US Virgin Islands and Bahamas teams lived through a forgettable window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers.

Both squads fell by a wide margin against the National Teams of the Dominican Republic (4-0) and Canada (3-1), teams that are responsible for already claiming two of the three available passes given to the Americas group D for the second part of the Qualifiers, which start in September.

The third place is now being disputed between the Virgin Islands (1-3) and The Bahamas (0-4). The only victory by the Virgin Islanders has been precisely against the Bahamians, 93-85, which was achieved in the first window of November. Both National Teams could be reinforced when they meet again on June 29; this time, in the Virgin Islands. This encounter could decide Group C’s third team since later, on July 2, the USVI will visit Canada and the Bahamas will play at the Dominican Republic.

As for Bahamas, the squad coached by Mario Bowleg could possibly count on shooting guard Buddy Hield for the summer. He is currently in his second season in the NBA team Sacramento Kings.

“We could get Buddy. He said he wants to come home and play,” said Coach Bowleg, who added that they will try to go after other players in US colleges and other foreign leagues.

Another player that could be added to the team is promising center DeAndre Ayton, who played for The Bahamas on the 2016 Centrobasket with impressive numbers: 16.0 points and 11.0 in rebounds with only 18 years of age. However, including Ayton is not as probable, since the first-year center at University of Arizona is quite a good standing for this summer’s NBA Draft.

As for the Virgin Islands, the Leeward Islanders have not been able to give continuity to their AmeriCup result, after surprising the continent with a fourth place in the competition.

Only three players (Walter Hodge, Deon Edwin and Johnathan Gray) have been in all calls after last summer.

For the third Qualifying window, Virgin Islands could have international small forward Khalid Hart (currently active at France's Pro B), college players Rashawn Fredericks (Motlow Stay) and Justin Gray (Texas Tech), among others.

“I'm looking forward for this. We've got a lot of guys that play Eurocup or Euroleague level and we're trying to get them for the summer to represent the Islands,” Hodge pointed out. “If we got the right guys, and everybody together, we can do something special,” the point guard concluded.

FIBA