WHEN the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers commenced, Guyana’s senior Men’s Basketball Team are grouped with hosts El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Guyana, who are the highest-ranked team in this tournament, have some unfinished business with hosts El Salvador.
The two countries met two (2) times at the Senior International level. El Salvador won in the inaugural clash in Caracas, Venezuela, in September, 1971. They won 75-68, outstanding for Guyana’s skipper Ronald Pickering with 17 points, Mike Brusche with 16 points, the event was the 1971 Central American Championship.
The Central Americans were victorious four years later in August, 1975, when the two teams met again at the Central American Championship, this time in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. On that occasion, skipper Mike Brushe and his troops succumbed 88-65.
Melroy Fitzalbert top-scored for Guyana with 13 points, his brother Merton Fitzalbert scored 10 points, skipper Mike Brusche had 8 points, while his brother Clifton Brusche had 6 points and Winston Joseph 7 points. Now 46 years later, these two teams will meet again. Only time will tell if Stanton Rose men will halt the El Salvador reign.
Last National Team that lost to El Salvador, 1975
Michael Brusche (captain), Clifton Brusche, Melroy Fitzalbert, Merton Fitzalbert, Compton Hinds, Keith Hinds, Aubrey Chalmers, Winston Joseph, Phillip Daniels, James Devonish, Ronald Pickering, Brian Gonsalves, Eldon Vaughn (coach).
Charwayne Walker
