Coach Farish optimistic as men's basketball Games squad finalised
Guernsey men’s coach Adam Farish has named his troops for the coming inter-insular and home Island Games double.
Farish is envisaging success in both and has previously said that not only are they targeting an improvement on their three consecutive fourth-place finishes at past Games, but that they are striving for gold on home soil.
He had previously whittled down a large training group to a shortlist of 16, before this week choosing the final 12 for the Games and the inter-insular on 13 May.
‘It’s a really strong squad and we are very hopeful,’ he said.
‘I think we have got as good a chance as we have ever had with this squad.’
The inter-insular and Island Games squads differ slightly, but both feature 12 players and are headed by a strong core of seasoned campaigners like captain Aaron Walden.
One of Guernsey’s all-time big guns – Jason Hooper – is set to return to Games action after overcoming a back injury that threatened to end his illustrious career.
James Alderton makes his Games debut, as do two promising teenagers in Blake Carre and Saul Falla.
‘We have got guys who are in the prime of their playing careers and we have got guys who are coming through and just beginning to find their way,’ Farish added.
‘That mix of youth and experience is quite good.
‘The likes of Blake and Saul are looking to put down a marker for what could be the next 20 years if they follow in the footsteps of the other guys.’
Some quality players inevitably lost out in a cut-throat battle for places.
Among them, Jason Hull looked a useful prospect if not for an 11th-hour Achilles injury, which has ruled him out of both squads.
Meanwhile, injury concerns mean that Callum Le Moignan and Jim Rowe have made only the inters but not the Games. The same is true of veteran Pete Beausire.
Hooper is unavailable for the inters, while Carre and Falla will be playing in the U21 match rather than the seniors.
Women’s coach Patrick Ogier anticipates naming his squads next week.
A large women’s squad travelled to the UK last weekend to play opposition from London’s Camden Panthers and Berkshire’s Aztecs.
They lost both games but gained valuable big match experience along the way.
Both the Guernsey men and women will be on title defence duties at their inter-insular matches, which take place alongside the U17 and U21 fixtures back-to-back on 13 May at Beau Sejour, as an appetiser for the Games in July.
Island Games: Aaron Walden (captain), Matt Sawbridge, Max Hamon, Dan Marriott, Mikey Beausire, Martin Yabsley, Nico Robinson, Shek Sesay, James Alderton, Jason Hooper, Blake Carre, Saul Falla.
Inter-insular: Aaron Walden (captain), Matt Sawbridge, Max Hamon, Dan Marriott, Mikey Beausire, Martin Yabsley, Nico Robinson, Shek Sesay, James Alderton, Callum Le Moignan, Pete Beausire, Jim Rowe.
