Following a disastrous campaign at the Fiba AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean prequalifiers in Guyana, Bermuda men’s basketball coach Sullivan Phillips is exploring ways to improve the skills level of his players.

Bermuda finished their group matches without tasting victory. They lost 82-50 to Antigua & Barbuda, 76-61 to Turks & Caicos Islands, 59-56 to Guyana and 72-65 to Dominica.

“We’ve partnered with Cayman Islands so that we could possibly do something over there next year,” Phillips told The Royal Gazette.

“We’re looking at a sponsor out of Canada to potentially partner with so that we can play games there.

“I think we’ve realised that if we want to compete we have to play more together. There’s a need for more opportunity for these guys to get competitive games so you don’t go into competitions like this and you’re blindsided by the physicality of things and how the game is played.

“Next summer we’re definitely going away. We partnered with Cayman and they’ll bring in a couple other countries so we can do a round-robin tournament.

“We’ll be playing teams with a physicality similar style of play that we play in the Caribbean championships.

“That gives our guys a better chance at competing at a high level when you’re accustomed to the style of play that you’re going to deal with.

“We’re also working with a couple of high level schools in Canada to go out there for more game time.”

Phillips was disappointed with the match outcomes in Guyana, but upbeat about what lies ahead.

“Overall, it was super disappointing results, but I’m super optimistic that we can do much better,” he said.

“Over the next two years we can follow a plan that gives us an amazing opportunity to be successful.

“In every single game at the end of the first quarter I think we were winning. That shows me we have the level of play and we are good enough to play, but we have to get better.

“I’m super competitive so this isn’t good enough, but we also have to take steps to put guys in a position to be better.

“As a national programme we have to set our players up by giving them platforms to go and practise together and then compete together.

“On the whole super disappointed at the results, but super excited about the future because we do have a plan that’s going to help us get better.”

Malachi Scott and Leigh-Jaelen Williams were singled out by the coach as outstanding players for Bermuda in Guyana.

“For me this tournament Malachi Scott and Leigh-Jaelen Williams were really phenomenal for us,” the coach said.

“I would say they were the standouts for the tournament, they led us in scoring and rebounding.”

The Maryland-based coach would have loved to have young talent Ralph Scott, who just started his NCAA Division I journey with the University of Tennessee.

“Absolutely, Ralph Scott is a generational talent,” Phillips added.

“Having him there would have made life a lot easier for our guys. He would have definitely made a huge difference, unfortunately, if we can’t have him, then we have to do with what we have.

“A lot of these games we lost was because of IQ and understanding of the game. Having a player like him there obviously gives you a much better chance to win.

“We’re trying to get in contact with him and try to get him on board, unfortunately, he was busy this summer.

“The interest is there, but he mentioned his career in college and things of that nature are a priority for him. We can only respect that, but we have the door open and he’s more than welcome.”