by Charleston Gladden

In the final game between San Pedro Tiger Sharks and DigiCell Belize City Defenders, there was a tense environment, where both teams had something to prove to the league, and the nation of Belize, in a decisive game 3, win or go home scenario. Both teams are equally matched against each other and it’s only a matter of wanting it more that will be the deciding factor in this series.

Due to excellent shot creation and tough defense, DigiCell Belize City Defenders made a jump on the Tiger Sharks team early on in the game. However, before the opening quarter was over their lead vanished and it was Tiger Sharks with a 1-point lead, 25 – 24. Throughout the second quarter the San Pedro Tiger Sharks maintained their lead; even though, whenever their rivals kept slimming down the lead, they kept their poise and finished the first half with a small 4-point advantage, 48 – 44.  In the beginning and throughout the second half it was an anxiety builder, where both teams kept exchanging leads and at any point either team can lose their momentum and composure. Things got a bit intense when Raul Roaches was put to defend Darwin Leslie. In multiple possessions Leslie kept falling unto the floor by Roches, but the referees continued the game. It was until Leslie fell hard on the floor and said that enough was enough and confronted Roches about his foul play, that things seemed to cool off a bit. Thus, having him restrained by his teammates and having other players coming on the court from both sides, where players were  aiding their teammates, and for doing so they were ejected out of the game. From that point on it was the Nigel Jones Show, where he scored 10 of his 25 points to help seal the victory for his team and winning by the score of 78 – 74.

Nigel Jones of DigiCell Belize City Defenders receives the player of the game honors with 25 points and 18 rebounds, showing why he deserved to be called the regular season MVP. His

supporting cast were Darwin Leslie with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Francis Arana finished with 15 points coming off the bench. Top scorers for San Pedro Tiger Sharks were Jihad Wright with 19 points and 8 rebounds, Martevuius Adams with 20 rebounds, an NEBL playoff record, and 17 points.

Tip In

Defenders: Advanced to the NEBL finals in their first year with a rookie head coach in Troy Gabb Jr… Lincey Lopez and Mateo Gutierrez were both ejected out of the game in the fourth quarter… becoming the first team to defeat San Pedro in a semi-final series.

Tiger Sharks: will miss their first NEBL finals after appearing in the previous four… Bernard Felix was ejected due to an altercation in the fourth.

Cinderella Story

DigiCell Belize City Defenders became first team in NEBL history to enter the playoffs as a 4th seed and defeating a 1st seed team.