By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Sept. 17, 2025
The Cayo Western Ballaz won the Mayan Cup championship to challenge the league-leading San Pedro Tiger Sharks in the Belize Premier Basketball League finals, as they eliminated the Belize City Thunderbolts, 80-78, in overtime in Game 3 of their semifinal series at the Sacred Heart College auditorium last Saturday, September 13.
Arik Nicholas struck 4 times outside the arc for 28 pts, 13 boards and 3 assists, for the Ballaz to lead, 20-19, in the 1st quarter. D’von Campbell followed suit 5 times outside the circle for 23 pts to give the hosts a 34-31 lead at the half. Jamell Harris jammed in 10 pts and 9 boards, Jaheim Ciego posted 7 pts, and Joel Montejo netted 6 pts, as the hosts led, 52-46, to end the 3rd quarter.
The Thunderbolts were sorely missing the services of imports Victor Evans, Charles Garcia and Donovan Baird, as Matthew Young led their counterattack, grabbing 23 boards to score 18 pts on the put-back. Glency Lopez put up 12 pts, 10 assists; and Eyan Rene struck twice outside the arc, as he and Alejandro Baptist put up 10 pts apiece. Import Tyrone “TJ” Hall and Rasheed Reneau scored 8 pts each, while rookies Luis Sosa, Jr. and Michael Caceres shot 6 pts apiece, to tie the score, 70-70, at the end of 4th quarter.
Jamie Carbajal scored 4 pts and Kyron “Tut” Molina tossed in a bucket to put the Ballaz over the top, 80-78, in overtime. Darnell Oden, Aaron Allison, Elsworth Itza and Ryan Duran were all missing in action!
The Tiger Sharks won the Toucan Cup and the $5,000 championship prize, as they clipped the EZ Investments Griga Dream Ballers, 92-90, in the Game 2 of the semifinals at the Russell “Chiste” Garcia Auditorium in Dangriga last Friday night, September 12. MVP Jihad Wright led the Sharks’ attack with 23 pts, and Francis Arana struck 4 times from outside the arc for 18 pts, as the Tiger Sharks led, 47-40, at the half. Brian White dominated the glass, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 14 pts on the put-back, Tyrell Griffith posted 11 pts, and Keon Rowland scored 6 pts in the paint. Devin Daly’s and Andrew Vasquez’s 5 pts each kept the Sharks ahead, 67-60, in the 3rd quarter.
Deshawn Brackett led the Griga counterattack with 21 pts, and team captain Edgar Mitchell struck thrice from outside the circle for 19 pts. Danny Conorquie followed suit thrice outside the arc for 17 pts, as Griga took over the lead briefly, 50-49, in the 3rd quarter. Kirk Smith, Jr. scored 14 pts in the paint, and Kevon Laurie banked 9 pts off the glass. Antonio Flowers shot 6 pts, and Raheem Thurton netted 4 pts, as the home team came alive in the 4th quarter to cut the Sharks’ lead down to just one point. In the waning moments, with the Sharks ahead by two points, Conorquie’s final 3-pointer tied the score at 90-90 with just 15 seconds remaining.
But in those final seconds, at the other end, Brian White scored the Tiger Sharks’ game-winning basket: 92-90.
Upcoming championship finals on September 26 and 27:
San Pedro Tiger Sharks vs Cayo Western Ballaz at Belize City Civic Center.
