SIMPSON BAY-- The St. Maarten U20 National Basketball team won the Leeward Island Basketball Association Tournament. St. Maarten defeated St. Kitts in the final 82-76. The team returned home Monday and was greeted by family, friends and Minister of Sports Silveria Jacobs.
The Most Valuable Player was Jamal Ireland, an 18 year old student of the Milton Peters College.
The Minister told Ireland and the rest of his team that, “she expects to see great things from the entire team.” The majority of the squad will still be in school and under 20, allowing them to be eligible to play at the next LIBA tournament.
Head of the Department of Sports, Jonelle Richardson, also congratulated the team, their coaches, the referee and physio therapist, who travelled with the team. “We are happy that you guys did really well. 2015, you came in second, but this year we are topping it and that’s a great accomplishment for your team and St. Maarten.”
According to the coaches and Maria Richardson of Dreams to Reality Foundation who helped make the trip possible, scouts showed interest in several youngsters, especially Ireland.
