Members of Jamaica’s male national basketball team will begin assembling in Puerto Rico today, as they kick start preparations for the first of two games in the FIBA World Cup Group B’ qualifiers against Puerto Rico, starting on Friday at 7pm Jamaica time.
Most of the players are coming out of Europe based on the clause where those who play in the NBA, cannot be released for this widow.
Norman Powell of the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards, and the Boston Celtics forward Josh Minott are the three Jamaican NBA players who will be unavailable to face Puerto Rico.
However, in their absence Jamaica will have the services of former NCAA division one college basketball star Kofi Coburn who currently plies his trade for the Hiroshima Dragonflies, in the Japanese B’ league is the latest addition to the team,
Game two of the qualifiers will be staged on December 1 at the same venue.
The Jam -Rockerz, seeking to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, will host the Bahamas and Canada in February as outlined by the FIBA calendar, before they travel to face both countries in July .
Jamaica advanced to the group B‘ qualifiers after finishing second in the FIBA pre-qualifiers behind hosts Mexico back in the summer.