By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Oct. 1, 2025
The San Pedro Tiger Sharks won the first ever Belize Premier Basketball League championship, dominating their rivals, the Cayo Western Ballaz, in both games of the finals at the Belize City Civic Center last Friday and Saturday nights, September 26-27.
In Game 2 on Saturday, MVP of the finals, Jihad Wright struck from outside the arc for 18 pts as the Tiger Sharks led, 20-7, in the 1st quarter. Devin Daly and Keon Rowland followed suit, each twice outside the circle for 12 pts and 10 pts, respectively, to lead 34-25 at the half. Brian “Brybo” White dominated the glass for 12 rebounds, scoring 8 pts on the put-back; Francis Arana hit a long trey for 7 pts, and Malik Hunt jammed in 6 pts to lead 45-39 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Tyrell Griffith tossed in a bucket for the 63-56 win to clinch the championship.
Game 2 was do or die for the Western Ballaz, but Arik Nicholas’ 3-point game was off, and he shot a miserly 12 pts. Jamell Harris and Darnell Oden put up 9 pts each, Kyron “Tut” Molina shot 8 pts, and D’von Campbell struck twice outside the circle for 6 pts. Kerwin Palacio netted 5 pts, Joel Montejo added 4 pts, and Jamie Carbajal drained in a trey.
In Game 1 of the finals on Friday, Wright led the Sharks with 15 pts, 6 boards, and “Brybo” White snagged 16 boards scoring 13 pts to lead 21-17 in the first quarter. Daly struck twice outside the arc, as he and Griffith posted 9 pts each to lead 37-35 at the half, and Arana shot 8 pts to stay ahead, 53-46, at the end of the 3rd quarter. Rowland scored 3 pts, and Raul Roches tossed in a bucket.
Darnell Oden led the Ballaz with 13 pts, Harris struck thrice outside the arc for 12 pts, and Nicholas followed suit for 11 pts. Montejo struck twice outside the circle for 8 pts, Palacio and Campbell scored 6 pts apiece, and Carbajal and Molina each hit a long trey to tie the score at 60-60 in the 4th quarter and lead 62-60 with only seconds left on the clock.
But Wright and White each threw in a bucket, and Daly chipped in a final free throw for the 65-62 Tiger Sharks win.
Brett Feinstein of the tournament sponsors, Benny’s Hardware Group, joined the BPBL executive committee in presenting the Jaguar Cup championship trophy, the $15,000 first prize and individual championship rings to the new 2025 champions, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks! Jihad Wright had won the Most Valuable Player award for the Toucan Cup, and he again won the MVP award for the Jaguar Cup.
