TT b-ballers beaten in ‘Centro’ opener

Trinidad and Tobago held a 17-14 edge after the first quarter, but Belize rallied to lead 40-38 at the half-time interval.

Belize used a decisive 23-16 run in the third quarter to enter the final stanza with a 63-54 lead, and they maintain the advantage as the minutes ticked away.

Milton Palacio scored 16 points and had five assists, while Alex Carcamo also had 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Richard Troyer contributed 14 points and snared nine rebounds for Belize..

Ian Young led the Trinidad and Tobago scoring with 15 points, Kibwe Trim had 13 points and 10 boards, Steven “Lighter” Lewis nine points and Julius Ashby eight points and 11 rebounds.

Today, Trinidad and Tobago will oppose Puerto Rico with later games against Mexico, on Thursday and Cuba, on Friday.

Group “A” comprises of United States Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Panama and hosts Dominican Republic. The group stage will run until Friday, with the semi-finals scheduled for Saturday and the final on Sunday.

The 2010 Centrobasket Championship qualifies the top four teams for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship (Pre-Olympic), the top eight for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayag?ez, Puerto Rico and the top three for the 2011 Pan-American Games scheduled for Guadalajara, Mexico.