Jamaica $1mil. Pepsi Boost/Ties England In Series

The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) recently received a cheque for J$1m from Pepsi-Cola Jamaica, through its brand Gatorade . Aside from the cash donation, Pepsi-Cola has reportedly also pledged an undisclosed quantity of Gatorade and Aqua Essential Purified Water products to hydrate the players during training camps and tournaments and has assisted with the construction of a study room at the association's home located in Barbican.

This is great news for the Caribbean's number one team. The question is what is happening with Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados since they qualified for the world tournament. I had heard that Trinidad is making some strides, importing coaches with international experience to help prepare the team.

But will the teams from the South do enough to catch their Northern counterparts who are ranked #4 in the world.

Jamaica just concluded a two game series with England. England won the first game and Jamaica fought back tooth and nail to win the second. It is obvious that Barbados and Trinidad will have to scouts out sponsors and play a number of competitive games if they are going to take more than a jolly ride to the World Games as all the top teams have already started their preparations.

Day 4 AFNA Qualifiers

Home team St. Lucia dealt Barbados a knock-out 53-50 punch that has Barbados in jeopardy of missing a netball world championship for the first time due to not qualifying which would be a major set back in its world ranking. (President of the Barbados Netball Association, Octavia Gibson's reaction at the end of the game says it all.)

Playing at the Beausejour indoor facilities, Barbados posted another new line up which featured: Lydia Bishop (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Sabrina Smith (WA), Kizzy Marville (C), Tonisha Rock-Yaw (WD), Latoya Blackman (GD) and Lisa Puckerin at (GK). Barbados got out of the blocks early taking the first quarter 11-9. St. Lucia however went into another gear from the second quarter to which Barbados faltered in their response. Shakira Shepherd came into the game in the second quarter for Rock-Yaw who needed a time out. While Barbados adjusted, St. Lucia went into half time with an inspired 25-20 lead.

The third quarter saw more changes from Barbados. Samantha Browne was introduced at (WA) and she later changed with Kizzy to take up the centre position. Barbados was able to pull back 29-29 with this combination but did not have the fire power to go ahead. St. Lucia again taking over and finishing the third quarter with a three goal lead 37-34.

Everybody expected Barbados to make a grand come back in the final quarter like they did against the USA but this time the players on court did not have the depth to pull it off.

With Latoya out of the game Barbados finished with Shepherd at GD and Rock Yaw at WD. At the front too Piggott gave way to Nadia Blackman at GA. The sheer newness of this combination beat Barbados as they had no history to fall back on when the going got tough and the pressure was at its most intense. The players fought valiantly to the end but clearly the wrong combination of players were on court.

Shooting stats:

Lydia Bishop netted 29 of 35 , Nikita Piggott - 18 of 19 and Nadia Blackman scored a perfect 3 of 3.

For St Lucia: Deidre Maithurin scored 32 of 33 while Shem Maxwell scored 21 goals from 21 attempts.

When these two teams last met at the AFNA tournament in 2008 Barbados easily dispatched St. Lucia 54-35. St. Lucia scored another big victory against Barbados in 2001 in a Connie Francis coached side.

Results of other games played on Day 4 were:

St. Vincent & The Grenadines won against Canada 52-48
Trinidad & Tobago defeated the USA 49-34

Trinidad and Tobago will finish on top of the table today even if home country St. Lucia is able to pull another upset victory out of the bag. The second place team and the other team to qualify will be decided after the games today.