Bermuda men’s basketball team jets off to Greece ahead of the Small Island Games today confident of repeating their gold medal success of two years ago.

Coach Tim Trott reckons Bermuda will be the Island to beat in Rhodes and believes the current crop is even more talented than the team that scooped gold in the Shetland Islands in 2005.

Once again Sullivan Phillips — a professional in Hungary — will resume the role of “floor leader” with experienced campaigners Greg Todd and Dale Jackson also on board. Phillips, who returned to Bermuda this month, was part of the national team that triumphed in the Mini Basketball Tournament final at the MSA last week.

It will be the first time many of the 12-strong party have competed in the Small Island Games, but Trott believes they will not be overawed by the occasion.

“I am really excited about this team who have a great chance of winning a gold medal,” he said. “We won two years ago and around half that team will be travelling again.

“Sullivan Phillips will be our floor leader and has a lot of experience — his professionalism rubs off on the rest of the players.

“He’s a key component for us winning the games and offers a lot offensively and defensively. But we also have players like Greg Todd and Dale Jackson who have been there and done it.”

“The younger guys are also capable players who we’ve a lot of confidence — they will provide us with greater athleticism.”

Trott believes five of the eleven teams taking part have a realistic chance of winning and has earmarked host nation Rhodes as a potential threat.

“I don’t think we should fear anybody but we know there are around five teams who are capable of winning,” he added. “But we should take a lot of confidence going into the event and have done all we can in terms of preparation.”

Meanwhile, Bermuda women’s basketball team have arrived in Sheffield, England, to warm-up for the competition.

With many of the squad stationed overseas coach Richard North called the team to a pre-competition training camp to bring them altogether.

“Some of our squad are students who have just broken up from college so I wanted to get everyone together to prepare,” he said.

“We’ve been planning for these games since May 2006 and many of the squad who won bronze at the last games will be playing.

“We also have new players like Danielle Watson and Jenaya Wade-Fray who are based in the United States — both are very talented who we’ve high hopes for.”

Warwick Academy student Erica Woods, who received a Denton Hurdle Memorial Award for sporting excellence earlier this month, has also been called up.

Coach North is adamant a medal is well within his team’s grasp but believes the Caymen Islands will be the favourites for gold.

Men’s team: Jonathan Minors, Vance Lamont, Sullivan Phillips, Graham Robinson, Dean Jones, John Lee, Steven Simons, Greg Todd, Jason Lowe, Chris Crumpier, Phil Davis, Dale Jackson.

Coaches: Tim Trott, Roderick Spencer, Gavin Mackenzie, Brian Purvey.

Women’s team: Diane Laird, Denice Burgess, Erica Woods, Jamila Godwin, Jenaya Wade-Fray, Lindsay Garrett, Marissa Wainwright, Susan Ross, Onika Holder, Teshae Thompson, Danielle Watson, Jamela Simons.

Coaches: Richard North, Ralph Scott, Eric Woods, Craig Behan (physio).