History spoiled in Corozal Cerros Suns Debut with a Tiger Sharks Mauling at Andres campus civic center

COROZAL TOWN – The San Pedro Tiger Sharks didn’t just swim into the BPBL season—they splashed onto the scene with a statement win in the first-ever showdown between two teams in the newly formed Toucan Conference, played at the Andres Campus Civic Center.

After a rocky, low-scoring first half that had fans wondering if either squad would crack 50, the Tiger Sharks sank their teeth into the second half, steamrolling the Corozal Cerros Suns 74–47 on Saturday night at Victor Galvez Stadium in front of a buzzing opening weekend crowd.

The opening quarter was a grinder. Both squads struggled to find rhythm offensively, with turnovers and forced shots defining much of the frame. Corozal struck first with Jason Vasquez finishing at the rim and Brandon Rogers knocking down a tough jumper in transition. Their energy on defense caused early issues for San Pedro’s guards, forcing multiple travels and errant passes.

Despite shooting just 30% from the field in the first, the Suns capitalized on early free throws and defensive rebounding to secure a narrow 14–11 lead after one. Douglas Valley and Tyrell Griffith had tough opening minutes, combining for four turnovers, but Francis Arana showed signs of life with a pair of assists and a putback to keep the Sharks within reach.

The opening quarter was a grinder. Both squads struggled to find rhythm offensively, with turnovers and forced shots defining much of the frame. Corozal struck first with Jason Vasquez finishing at the rim and Brandon Rogers knocking down a tough jumper in transition. Their energy on defense caused early issues for San Pedro’s guards, forcing multiple travels and errant passes.

Despite shooting just 30% from the field in the first, the Suns capitalized on early free throws and defensive rebounding to secure a narrow 14–11 lead after one. Douglas Valley and Tyrell Griffith had tough opening minutes, combining for four turnovers, but Francis Arana showed signs of life with a pair of assists and a putback to keep the Sharks within reach.

Suns Shine, But Sharks Lurk

Corozal showed flashes midway through the second, with Greg Rudon sinking a pair of threes and Ray Cruz organizing a few clean possessions. Rogers was active defensively and found Kenroy Roches for a baseline jumper, but those moments were quickly countered by the Sharks’ sharper execution.

San Pedro began to seize control late in the half. Francis Arana scored or assisted on four straight possessions and helped push the tempo, while Malik Hunt dominated the glass, already collecting 8 rebounds by halftime. Arana’s poise and transition play tilted the momentum just before the break.

The Tiger Sharks carried a 31–22 halftime lead, but the sense in the gym was that the Sharks were circling.

“We knew if we could clean up the ball-handling and start pushing pace, we’d turn the tide,” said Coach Armando Ramirez.

Shark Frenzy Erupts

What followed was a masterclass in momentum. The Tiger Sharks came out of the locker room breathing fire, ripping off a 22–1 run that turned a 9-point deficit into a double-digit lead. Keon Rowland led the charge, attacking downhill, earning trips to the line, and bullying smaller defenders.

Tyrell Griffith was surgical in the midrange, scoring 8 of his 14 in the quarter, while Arana dropped dimes and drew fouls on both ends. The Suns, meanwhile, fell into disarray—Andre Herrera and Jason Vasquez committed key turnovers, and no one could buy a bucket from deep.

San Pedro won the third 31–6, turning the game on its head and entering the fourth up 53–37.

“That’s a playoff-caliber quarter,” BPBL scout Nigel Timmons said. “They looked like a different team out of halftime.”

All Gas, No Brakes

With momentum fully theirs, the Tiger Sharks pressed the gas pedal in the fourth. Earl Johnson came alive, scoring 8 of his 10 in the final frame, including a powerful and-one that brought the San Ignacio crowd to its feet.

Brian White, steady throughout, continued cleaning up second-chance looks and converted an and-one putback. Rowland closed the night with a slick drive-and-dish to Kenroy Roches who buried a corner three.

Corozal tried to rally through Cruz and Rudon, but their outside shooting woes continued. 4-for-26 from deep doomed their spacing, and fatigue showed late as they struggled to defend transition.

The Sharks cruised to a 74–47 final, outscoring the Suns 52–16 in the second half.

Stat Sheet Leaders

Team Statistics Wrap-Up

Statistically, this game was a tale of two halves—and two approaches. The Tiger Sharks were methodical and efficient, recording 15 assists to just 2 blocks and forcing an impressive 29 turnovers from Corozal. Their offensive rating topped 80.9, with a 45.5% field goal mark, and they generated 19 second-chance points thanks to 18 offensive rebounds.

Meanwhile, Corozal’s numbers painted the picture of a team that started well but couldn’t sustain their rhythm. They committed 28 turnovers, shot just 25.4% from the field, and finished with a dismal 15.4% from three (4-of-26). Despite winning the rebound battle in the first half, they were outworked 37–16 on the glass in the second, and their 11 total assists failed to spark consistent scoring opportunities.

San Pedro’s transition offense—powered by fast break points (28) and points in the paint (54)—highlighted their athleticism and guard play, while Corozal’s defensive rating ballooned to 86.0 as the game slipped away.

The Verdict: Sharks Bite, Suns Burn Out

San Pedro’s second-half clinic proved that this squad has the depth, toughness, and guard play to make serious noise in the BPBL 2025 season. And with former BPBL MVP and national team shooting guard Jehad Wright expected to join the Sharks shortly, this team could become downright frightening as the season progresses. Arana looked every bit the team leader, and Hunt’s control of the boards was dominant.

Meanwhile, Corozal showed early poise but unraveled under pressure, with ball security and three-point shooting becoming urgent priorities before their next outing.

“We have to clean up our turnovers and execute better in the halfcourt,” said Coach Guillermo after the game. “This league punishes mistakes. San Pedro just reminded us of that.”