Best of the West: Round 2 – Fire di Come!

This weekend, Belmopan City wah get hot! There’s going to be heat, there’s going to be fire, and yes—there’s going to be a battle! Horses wah deh pon di run, bulls wah show dehn horns, vendors wah di hustle, and of course—Agric wah di gwaan!

But beyond the rodeo vibes and long lines, there’s something even bigger brewing—something that wah mek that “Pan” feel like a pressure cooker. If you haven’t guessed it yet, we di talk ‘bout di clash in the BPBL Jungle: Cayo vs. Belmopan or a good old-fashioned Battle of the West.

Now, anybody weh grow up between the twin towns and the Garden City knows this rivalry is more than just basketball. It’s a love-hate dance. Belmopan got the ministers, embassies, and government offices. Cayo? Dehn got the vibes—best BBQ, serious nightlife, and deals straight outta Melchor.

Right now in the BPBL, it’s the Capital City Kings representing Belmopan, and the Western Ballaz holding it down for Cayo. Tonight, they clash again in a high-stakes rematch. The last time these two squared off, the Ballaz ran the show—77 to 57, behind a 27-point explosion from none other than Dennis Flowers III, who had fans saying, “Wait—who da dis bwai?”

Add in some fireworks from Aaron Alison, who dropped 3 treys like it was nothing, plus steady contributions from Ciego, Molina, and the silent killer Kerwin Palacio (Belmopan bwai, mind you), and it was clear: Cayo came to handle business.

But don’t write off the Kings just yet. That first game was deep in Cayo, on the hot cement court, in front of a loud home crowd, where wins don’t come easy. And let’s not forget—Cayo thief half of their team! Palacio? Gone. Arik Nicholas and Ciego? Also gone, straight from the south.

Despite that, a deeper look at the numbers tells a different story. Belmopan actually out-rebounded Cayo 41 to 35, and edged them in steals. Turnovers were nearly even. Cayo just shot better from deep—8 for 20, while Belmopan only managed 5 for 15.

But back in the Garden, that stat could easily flip. Call me crazy, but I see three big reasons this game could swing Belmopan’s way:

1. They’ve had two weeks to prepare. And nobody knows Coach Tarr’s system like Coach Williams.
2. Cayo’s squad is already set, while Belmopan might still have a few tricks up their sleeve we haven’t seen yet.
3. Home court, baby. Ain’t nothing like playing in your own yard, especially when Agric weekend has the whole city buzzing.

Let’s keep it real—Belmopan has their backs against the wall. If their new imports don’t show up tonight, it’s pack up time. But if they come out running, playing defense like bulls with horns, and take advantage of every steal and every bounce, we could have a whole different ball game.

So, if you love ball, rivalry, and a whole heap of excitement, don’t miss this one. The BPBL Game of the Week is going to be hot.

It’s going to be fire.