(Cancelled and possibly postponed): Fri. Jan 27: San Pedro Tiger Sharks vs Belmopan Red Taigaz; Sat. Mar. 25: San Pedro Tiger Sharks vs Benny’s Hurricanes (San Pedro High School)

Results and Schedule

Week 12, Fri. Apr 28: Belize City Defenders 65, Belize Hurricanes 73 (Belize City Civic Centre); Western Ballaz 71, Belmopan Red Taigaz 69 (SHC Auditorium).

Sat. Apr 29: San Pedro Tiger Sharks 80, Orange Walk Running Rebels 82 (San Pedro High School); (Forfeited) Punta Gorda Panthers 0, Griga Dream Ballers 20 (Toledo Sporting Complex).

Week 13, Fri. May 5: Belmopan Red Taigaz vs Punta Gorda Panthers (UB Gym); Orange Walk Running Rebels vs Belize City Defenders (OW Multi-Purpose Complex); Belize Hurricanes vs Griga Dream Ballers (Belize City Civic Centre)

Sat. May 6: San Pedro Tiger Sharks vs Western Ballaz (San Pedro High School).

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. May 4, 2023

The last time the BEBL’s city rivals met, many fans thought the Belize City Defenders had surprised and upset the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes at the Belize City Centre court, 75-66, back on February 24, in the teams’ fifth game of the tournament.

Then the powerful Hurricanes had squandered a big lead and appeared unable to adjust to the Defenders in the second half. This time around though, the league-leading ‘Canes fielded a taller, much more aggressive starting five, ran out to a big first half lead, led by as much as 17 points at one point in the third quarter, and held on for the 73-65 wire to wire victory.

Both teams had brought in further reinforcements for the game, 6’ 8” Nick Phillips, in the ‘Canes case, who barely saw any playing time much to his obvious displeasure, and swingman Fenton Bradley, Jr., who the Defenders soon inserted into their lineup, and whose shooting, positioning, defense and passing improved as the game progressed. He scored 11 points.

The Hurricanes were led by Victor Evans’ 26 points, and they outrebounded their opponents, 52-26

If the tournament table were to remain in its current order, these two teams would open the first round of the playoffs in 3 weeks, but first the Hurricanes will host one of the other table-toppers, the Griga Dream Ballers next Friday night.

The last time those 2 met, the Griga Dream Ballers outscored the previously undefeated Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, 85-76, before their raucous fans at the Russell Chiste Garcia Auditorium, and the ‘Canes are talking revenge.

The Dream Ballers did not travel to Punta Gorda to play the Panthers there last Friday night, and were awarded the forfeit because the host could not field a team. At press time we still could not credibly determine if the Panthers would be able to finish the tournament, or if their 2 remaining games would be of any consequence in the standings.

Certainly, their next scheduled clash with the Belmopan Red Taigaz next Friday night would not have any impact on the seedings for the impending playoffs, and will not likely be played. Both teams, in last place and second to last, respectively, have only the incentive of pride to continue playing, and it is not coincidental that both have been and continue to experience financial difficulties.

It is a quirk of the scheduling that the current top four teams will play each other this weekend, while the bottom four will play each other.

There is likely no game more consequential this weekend than San Pedro Tiger Sharks playing their last road game against the Western Ballaz in San Ignacio. A loss by either team could eliminate them from playoff contention, since they are tied in the win column and are in the fifth and sixth position.

The Ballaz had just snapped their 2-game losing streak with a 71-69 victory over the Belmopan Red Taigaz, while the Tiger Sharks saw their 4-game home winning streak snapped by the Orange Walk Running Rebels, 82-80.

The Tiger Sharks led narrowly from the opening tap, only to be caught and then passed in the game’s final minute on baskets from James Stanback and Bryan Hudson.

The Belmopan Red Taigaz too almost overcame a slim deficit, but Benjamin Page’s last-minute shot while falling out of bounds rimmed out, and with it, so did their playoff chances.

Those outcomes mean that if the Defenders lose to the Rebels, then and only then would the Ballers and San Pedro still have a credible shot at making the playoffs; but if the Defenders win, it is likely the loser of their game would be eliminated, unless the League does re-schedule the canceled March 25 San Pedro vs Hurricanes game. Apparently, however, a decision has not been made on any of the two so-far canceled games.

The League announced on Tuesday, May 2, via press release that their All-Star Game will be held on Saturday, May 20th, at 9:00 p.m. at Griga’s Russell Chiste Garcia Auditorium, a day after the 2-best of 3 semi-finals are scheduled to start. Several coaches, managers and owners have expressed objection to that date because they do not want to risk injury to any of their players at the start of the playoffs. The All-Star Game, complete with a Slam Dunk Contest and a Three-Point Shooting Contest, was postponed from April 1st.

The BEBL also this week began migrating its information to a new website, but it has been slow-going, much to the consternation of fans and media alike, but it allows fan to vote for the All-Star Team members from a selection of eight players at each position.

MAY 2, 2023

BEBL ALL-STAR VOTING NOW OPEN

The Belize Elite Basketball League All-Star voting is officially open and will close on Sunday, May 14th, at 11:59 p.m., giving fans the opportunity to vote for the 2023 BEBL All-Star Players via the new BEBL Website. The BEBL All-Star Game will take place on Saturday, May 20th at 9:00 p.m. inside the Russell Chiste…