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Author: William Isaguier
Belize City, Friday, August 9, 2024
On Friday night, August 9, the Benny Belize Hurricanes won the fourth Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL) Championship by defeating the Belize City Defenders 89-69 in the fifth and decisive game of the Grand Finals held at the Belize City Civic Center.
Playoff MVP Victor Evans hit three shots from the perimeter to lead the Hurricanes to a 25-point lead and a 25-13 lead in the first quarter.
MVP Nigel Jones also hit three shots from beyond the arc and finished with 25 points, while Daniel Estes scored 19 points for the defense, which trailed 41-42 at halftime.
The Hurricanes took the initiative. Powerful guard Amar’e Ross scored 16 points with 4 consecutive shots from beyond the three-point line. African import Sidibe Bulama scored 14 points, helping the team lead 67-51 in the third quarter. Marquis Cunningham scored 12 points, Jamel Harris scored 10 points, and Kirk Smith II scored 4 points. Terry Orozco and Glensi “Kupe” Lopez each scored 3 points, and Brandon Flowers made a shot.
The D-Fenders had John Kelly with 7 points, Devin Daly with 6 points, and De’Von Campbell with 5. BEBL rookie Sean Prater had 4 points, but the D-Fenders were obviously missing their big center Richard Smith III, who was injured in Game 4 of the Finals and couldn’t play at 100%; he only contributed 3 points.
BEBL President Glenn Gill presented the Hurricanes with the championship trophy immediately after the game and gave Victor Evans the playoff Most Valuable Player award.
Individual regular season awards were won by: Best Guard – Sidibe Bourama (Benny Belize Hurricanes); MVP – Nigel Jones (Belize City Guardians); Best Offensive Player – Nigel Jones (Belize City Guardians); Most Improved Player – Jaden Lopez (Belmopan Troy); Sixth Man of the Year – Terry Orozco (Benny Belize Hurricanes); Rookie of the Year – Sean Pratt (Belize City Guardians).
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