Will Belize basketball be disqualified from COCABA?
FIBA announced today that Belize may be disqualified from the COCABA championships of basketball for supposedly violating FIBA’s player naturalization rules. (Discuss FIBA’s decision)
As reported yesterday, Belize’s basketball team, or Belize Heritage, has been under review by FIBA for having unsanctioned players as Belize won their first two games by 30+ points against Nicaragua and Guatemala.
Enrique Basulto, president of COCABA, told Channel5Belize the following (translated from Spanish):
…it was not clear whether (Belize’s players) are players from Belize, by birth specifically. FIBA has a rule regarding nationalization, which states that each country can select one player with a questionable nationality status and that is what we told the Belizean team.
There are no sanctions that will be put in place against Belize. This is just a matter of rules and procedures. Teams that play with players that FIBA has not approved, will play as part of invitational matches. They will not count officially for the tournament.
Belize was also told by FIBA officials that they were uncertain about the eligibilities of players that were born before 1981, the year British Honduras officially became Belize.
In the end, FIBA told Belize that five of the seven questioned players could participate; Milt Palacio, Clinton Fuller, Alex Carcamo, Richard Troyer, and one alternate from the remaining three players – Herbert Allen, Keenan Jourdon, and Kyron Stokes.
In a show of solidarity, Milt Palacio said that the team will not decide which players would sit out, and that Belize would play their matches with all of their players – disqualification by FIBA or not.
However, there is still hope for Belize. The Belize Basketball Federation is filing an official protest. That protest will request a decision before the end of the first round of play which concludes tomorrow night. The timing is critical because FIBA Americas Secretary General Alberto Garcia will also be going to Cancun tomorrow and he is expected to make a determination.
Both Belize and Honduras were removed from the FIBA America’s website for COCABA at the beginning of the tournament.
WHAT THE HELL?!?!?! Why would someone born before 1981 NOT be belizean?? then what are they then?!?!? MARTIANS!?!? Jus cause the name of the country changed doesnt mean they werent born here! And since when was this an issue?? It wasnt an issue Before!! Oh but when we start winning all our games by 30+ then it becomes a problem huh… Ya! that makes a LOT OF SENSE!!!
August 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Belize was also told by FIBA officials that they were uncertain about the eligibilities of players that were born before 1981, the year British Honduras officially became Belize.Why the hell is the focus on the country’s independence have to do with anything? How unfortunate that the country became independent in 1981.Guess what! This is simply just hypocritical.Simply blatant, flagrant abuse on the part of FIBA. They are obviously being manipulated by Mexico and or Panama.Disgusting, distasteful COWARDS.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
This is all politics…This tournament was set for these final results…Mexico-Gold…Panama-Silver…Costa Rica-Bronze…Belize 0-3…We spoiled there pot of beans…They feared us…and when we dominated and won…they hated that…Panama/Belizegame was a thriller but Belize dictated the pace…Costa Rica was no match…Mexico knew that they were going to loose…COCABA needed to make their point…(whistle blows)…Fragrant Foul in the closing minutes of the ball game…Gold Medal served in a golden platter to Mexico…how cheap…See ya next round when we win that protest in our favor
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