“Noh Watch Mi Get Ennah Trouble—Watch Mi Get Out!”

By Coach Jamel Wagner

This week’s Game of the Week ain’t just about standings—it’s about pride, pressure, and proving your worth when your back is against the wall. All across the BPBL Jungle, every matchup is a divisional showdown, and with roster deadlines looming and the midseason line in sight, teams can no longer bluff. It’s time to show your full hand, because losing more than two divisional games could mean waving goodbye to the playoffs… and hello to Cancun.

Let’s start up north, where the Cerros Suns sent shockwaves across the league with a thunderous upset over the veteran-led Thunderbolts—a game that lit up the night sky so bright, it could probably be seen across the Mexican border. Clifton Jamal, “Chippy” Rudon, and Brandon Rogers showed that if you’re rolling into the North, you better be armed and alert, because they’re defending their turf with fire and pride. But after giving one away to the Panthers on the road last weekend, the Suns now find themselves in a must-defend situation in this double-header.

Their challengers? The rising Griga Dream Ballers, fresh off two big wins—including an overtime classic against the Kings and a tough scrap with the Panthers, where Griga’s drums eventually drowned out the Wakandan roar. And they did that without their full foreign arsenal—no James “The Hammer” Middleton, just grit and heart. But border games can be tricky. Late-night temptations and road fatigue are real. Still, two wins up North could catapult Griga to the top of the power rankings—territory currently being dominated by the undefeated Tiger Sharks, who are circling the waters and ready to strike again this weekend.

That brings us to San Pedro, where the Sharks will put their perfect record on the line against the same Panthers who had an early lead last week… only to watch it slip away. The Panthers are gritty. Marquise Cunningham is a walking 13 and 10. Lindsey Young brings flash, and Chaunce Leslie brings calm and clutch. But their foreign help has to step up—because against the Sharks, one highlight play won’t cut it. You need a full arsenal or risk getting shredded by the league’s most dangerous jaws.

But all of that guess what it is?  …..Just the undercard.

Now to the main event:

Two city teams.
One desperate for revenge.
The other hungry for respect.
Welcome to Kings vs. Thunderbolts.

This game? This one’s personal.

Both teams sit near the bottom of the table, one with only one divisional win the other with absolutely none. But the Kings own something the Thunderbolts don’t: a head-to-head win earlier this season that left the Bolts throwing tantrums and scrambling for answers. That Kings win wasn’t just a fluke—it was a statement. And it came without foreign help and without the gritty presence of Daniel Estes, who’s rumored to be back in the lineup this weekend. Estes is the type of guy who you simply don’t like playing against, he may not fill up the box score, but frustrates you or your best player, and that alone makes him extremely valuable.

More importantly, the Kings now have something else: confidence.

Nissani Mendez is ballin’—just ask Griga about the 40-piece he served them. Jayden Loez is dishing and dashing from the point 10 pts 9 assist last game Shhh! Shane Pratt is doing the dirty work on the boards. And let’s not forget Brandon “Puddy” Flowers, one of the league’s most consistent players—even if the standings are hiding his brilliance and keeping him out the MVP list mentions. Add in a potential rebounding monster like John Kelly, and this Kings squad might just have enough firepower to sweep the Thunderbolts this season.

But that’s going to be easier said than done.

This game has been circled in red on the Thunderbolts’ calendar. Two weeks of rest and revenge on their minds. Expect a full arsenal—Glency “Coope” Lopez, the league’s top scorer pre-injury, should be back. Eyan Rene, TJ Hall, and Charles “Chucky” Garcia—the big man from the national team—are all expected to suit up. With Chucky flying above the rim and stretching the defense with deep range, the Thunderbolts have the size, speed, and scoring to flip the script.

And then there’s the captain: Victor “Vito” Evans. Who will be Poised. Focused. Dangerous. This game because he has seen the videos and he knows what he needs to do. I’m calling it now—he’s dropping a triple-double this weekend.

So here we are.

Two proud teams.
One city.
One game.

Both are in trouble. But like the headline says—“Noh watch mi get ennah trouble… watch mi get out!”
Because come tipoff, this won’t be a game.
It’ll be a battle.
A fight for redemption.
A clash to see who still wants to be called champion in the Mayan Cup.