On the ball: Phil Davis jr (left) dribbles the ball while under pressure from Dean Jones during national team trials at Cedarbridge Academy on Monday night. Both players were part of the 2007 Island Games squad. Photo: Tamell Simons

Bermuda's most talented basketball players will be put through their paces in the second night of trials for the senior national team tonight at CedarBridge Academy.

With tournaments approaching in the coming months for those selected to the squad, the Bermuda Basketball Association (BBA) has challenged the Island's top performers to show their worth.

Roderick Spencer, of the BBA, was pleased by the turnout during Monday night's session and is hoping for the same enthusiasm for tonight.

"This week we are having team tryouts that are open to any member of the BBA, and this is to see what type of talent is out there that may have slipped through the crack," said Spencer.

"Also some players that we do know about, but feel are a step or two away from getting in the side, this will be an eye opener for them to let them know what is expected of them at that level.

"Some of the younger guys will get experience as well, even if they don't make it this time around, they will know what to expect.

"The first training we had about 20 guys with some others not making it due to work commitments and so forth."

The team will consist of 15 players, with 12 being selected to go to tournaments when they come up.

Included in the calendar of events for the year is the Island Games in Aland, situated between Sweden and Finland, along with the Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC).

Bermuda has a good record in the Island Games, medaling in each tournament, while Spencer said the Caribbean Championships would be a step up for the players and provide valuable experience.

"Right now we are looking to select a team that can compete in two tournaments this year.

"One will be the Island Games, a competition we have competed in the last six years.

"This is the one were we have had success, we have medaled every year so we will be looking to continue that trend.

"We are also exploring the possibilities of going to the Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC) and are feeling that out.

"That will be a little bit of a higher level of competition at that one, but we think they can step up to the test.

"We will select a training core of 15 players after the trial, and of the 15 we will select 12 for each tournament."

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