Jungle Rewind: Thunderbolts vs Cerros Suns

Suns Rise in Corozal: Rudon and Clifton Lead Cerros Past Thunderbolts in Thriller

By Paul Flowers Jr. | May 31, 2025

COROZAL TOWN – On a spirited Saturday night in front of a roaring home crowd at the Andres Campos Civic Center, the Corozal Cerros Suns claimed a dramatic 67-65 win over the Belize City Thunderbolts, powered by standout performances from Greg Rudon and Jamaal Clifton. This was the biggest win for Corozal pro basketball in over 17 years, and their newly minted General Manager Lupito Acosta might just have earned enough votes to run for office after this monumental triumph.

This historic clash marked a Manan vs Toucan Conference showdown between these two teams, and the energy was unmatched. It was the largest crowd to attend a pro basketball game in Corozal since 2017, with a dynamic atmosphere that reminded Victor Evans of the Dangriga vibes, even without the presence of the signature drums.

The game started with both teams trading early baskets. Glency Lopez and Michael Caseras connected on quick field goals to get the Thunderbolts rolling, but Brandon Rogers and Rudon responded in kind. Matthew Young asserted himself early on the boards with several putbacks. The quarter ended in a tight 19–19 draw.

Lopez was particularly sharp in transition, converting two tough layups in traffic, while the Suns kept pace with a late drive and dish from Clifton to Ray Cruz that capped off a balanced first quarter.

The Thunderbolts got a lift off the bench from Greg Fisher and Everal Tablada, who provided hustle and mid-range production in the second quarter. But Corozal leaned heavily on Rudon’s perimeter shooting and Jamaal Clifton’s inside dominance. The two combined for 17 of the Suns’ 35 first-half points. Still, despite the Suns’ burst, Lopez kept Belize City even with clutch drives. The half closed with the scoreboard knotted at 35–35.

A key sequence late in the quarter saw Clifton snatch an offensive rebound, kick it to Rudon for a wing three, then follow it with a putback bucket the next trip down. Lopez answered with a pull-up jumper and a pair of free throws to keep things level heading into the break.

The Suns came out hot in the third quarter. A quick flurry from Marquis Williams and a triple by Rudon gave Corozal a seven-point cushion. Lopez and Young fought back, with Young cleaning the glass and finishing inside, but turnovers from Belize City’s bench allowed Corozal to keep the lead. Clifton dominated the paint, grabbing tough boards and hitting a key midrange jumper. The Suns edged ahead 51–49 heading into the final frame.

At one point, Corozal threatened to pull away, but a steal and layup from Lopez followed by a late tip-in from Tablada sparked a mini Thunderbolt rally that set up a thrilling final ten minutes.

The final quarter was a seesaw affair. Every time Corozal made a push—through Rudon’s crafty drives or Clifton’s rebounding—Lopez answered with clutch buckets. A Lopez layup tied it at 55, then a long three gave Belize City a brief lead. But Corozal’s poise prevailed. Rudon nailed a momentum-shifting triple with 1:15 left, then Clifton iced it at the line. The Suns outscored the Thunderbolts 23–18 in the final quarter to secure the 74–67 victory.

Velasquez delivered the dagger with a baseline floater with under a minute left after a series of offensive rebounds. Lopez missed a contested three in response, and Corozal’s crowd erupted as the Suns dribbled out their biggest win in nearly two decades.

Top Performers

Thunderbolts	Cerros Suns
Glency Lopez – 25 pts, 8 ast	Greg Rudon – 22 pts, 7 reb
Matthew Young – 15 pts, 27 reb, 2 blk	Jamaal Clifton – 17 pts, 12 reb, 3 ast
Michael Caseras – 9 pts, 7 reb	Isienie Velasquez – 11 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl

Team Trends

• Cerros Suns: Shot 36.7% FG, 4-of-21 from three, won the turnover battle late.
• Thunderbolts: Shot 40.3% FG, grabbed a monstrous 55 rebounds but couldn’t convert second chances.
• Total turnovers: 56 combined.
• Thunderbolts were just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc.

Final Word

This win puts Corozal firmly on the map. Rudon is proving to be a premier scorer in the BPBL, while Clifton—aka Jeff Clifton—is looking every bit the anchor this squad needs.

For Belize City, the warning signs are flashing. Despite monster nights from Coope and Young, the Thunderbolts need more composure and help from their supporting cast. Neither Eyan Rene nor Victor Evans suited up in this one, and with two remaining roster changes still available, the Thunderbolts are expected to make a major move soon if they hope to stay in the championship conversation.

Matthew Young made history with 27 rebounds, dominating the glass like a man possessed. But his finishing touch around the rim betrayed him—his lack of polish and conversion on second-chance opportunities became a glaring weakness. For all his effort and production, this is the next step in his evolution to elite status in the BPBL.

The Suns have officially lit the fuse in the Toucan Conference. With a road trip to PG for a doubleheader against the Panthers up next, a sweep would propel them into second place and put them firmly in the driver’s seat to play for the Cup championship. Watch out—things are heating up.

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