Inside a packed Belize Civic Center, the air was electric. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks, undefeated at 5-0 and coming off two thrilling overtime wins, were poised to defend their clean sheet record against a fast-developing and improving PG Panthers squad under the guidance of Alex Carcamo. What unfolded was a game that delivered drama, defense, and overtime mayhem between two postseason-hungry teams.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Sharks held firm, 80–75, behind a dominant inside presence and clutch execution from their veterans. With Rico Black steering the ship, the Sharks were cruising toward the number one spot in both the Toucan Conference and the league overall. But the PG Panthers, improving rapidly under Alex Carcamo, weren’t here to admire the view — they were here to spoil the Sharks’ clean sheet. What followed was a test of mettle, momentum, and late-game nerve in a jungle thriller that nearly upended the league hierarchy.
🕐 1st Quarter – PG Strikes First
PG came out sharp, and Marquise Cunningham made sure the tone was clear. He poured in 6 quick points, including a slicing floater and a coast-to-coast layup. The Sharks looked out of rhythm early, with Malik Hunt racking up two offensive fouls in the opening minutes. PG dominated early rebounds and forced San Pedro into 6 turnovers in the first quarter alone.
Still, Keon Rowland showed early spark, getting downhill for tough finishes and cleaning the glass. San Pedro shot just 25% from the field in the first frame while PG capitalized on second chances.
End of Q1: PG 16 – Sharks 12
⚡ 2nd Quarter – Momentum Swings Like a Vine
The Sharks roared back behind the versatile scoring of Tyrell Griffith, who dropped 10 of his 25 points in the quarter. Griffith was a force on both ends — grabbing 4 boards in the frame and converting putbacks efficiently. The Sharks improved their shooting to 46% in the quarter and began winning the battle on the boards.
Devin Daly added a cold-blooded three, part of his 5-point, 2-block, 1-assist stat line. Francis Arana started to find rhythm distributing the ball, notching 4 of his 11 assists in the period.
The Panthers remained composed — Alexander Ariola and Dane Bradley each nailed a three-pointer, and PG converted 5 points off turnovers to keep the game tight. Cunningham continued leading all scorers with 13 by halftime.
Halftime: PG 32 – Sharks 30
💥 3rd Quarter – Sharks Take Control
San Pedro’s third-quarter surge was built on effort and efficiency — and it was sparked by the return of Brian White, who re-entered the game with a visible bandage above his eyebrow after suffering a cut late in the second quarter. The injury momentarily sidelined him, but his gritty comeback became a catalyst for the Sharks’ turnaround. Brian White came alive — crashing the glass for a game-high 14 rebounds and adding 5 points, including 3 clutch second-chance scores. The Sharks dominated the paint with 12 of their 19 points coming inside and outscored PG by 9.
Francis Arana dished 5 assists in the quarter alone, including 3 in transition. The Sharks’ ball movement resulted in 6 assisted field goals, and their defense forced 5 PG turnovers in the frame. Keon Rowland continued his hot streak, adding another 8 points to reach 17 by the end of the third.
San Pedro controlled the pace and the boards — by the end of the quarter, they held a +10 rebounding margin and had scored 13 second-chance points.
End of Q3: Sharks 49 – PG 42
⌛ 4th Quarter – Panthers Rally with Grit
PG dug deep and nearly flipped the script. Kelvin Cumberbatch made his presence felt with 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals, including key plays that sparked a late surge. Chance Leslie added 5 of his 7 points in the quarter and hit the clutch free throws that tied it up.
San Pedro began to unravel under the pressure, committing 6 turnovers and going 1-of-5 from deep. PG’s full-court press began to suffocate the Sharks, exposing their vulnerability to high-tempo defensive schemes. Kevin “Fish” Hamilton was relentless, applying on-ball pressure that neutralized both Arana and Rowland at crucial moments. His 3 assists and 2 steals only tell part of the story — his disruptive presence altered the flow of the game. Griffith and Rowland combined for 10 in the quarter to keep the Sharks afloat, but the question lingered: had the Panthers just revealed a blueprint for how to beat the undefeated Sharks?
The end of regulation delivered one of the wildest sequences of the season — a stunning four-point play that erased San Pedro’s 68–64 lead. Marquise Cunningham drilled a contested three-pointer from the left wing while Chance Leslie was fouled off the ball. Leslie stepped to the line and boldly sank the free throw, tying the game at 68 and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Cunningham, who had already scored 22 points by that point, had once again proven his big-moment mettle. PG outscored San Pedro 26–19 in the fourth, sending the game into extra time.
End of Regulation: 68–68
🥔 OVERTIME – Experience Prevails
San Pedro settled in. Tyrell Griffith got things going with a putback and drew a foul to give the Sharks the lead. Brian White once again proved critical, scoring 4 of his 5 points in OT and pulling down two crucial boards. Rowland hit a breakaway layup that capped a 6–2 burst.
Arana, who logged 41 minutes, initially calmed the tempo and delivered key assists to keep PG chasing. But when PG’s defense took the ball out of the hands of both Rowland and Arana, it was Brian White who stepped into the void. Acting as the de facto point guard, White orchestrated a decisive 12–1 run, scoring 4 points and facilitating ball movement with poise. His leadership under pressure, combined with a stifling Sharks defense that held PG to just 2-of-7 shooting in overtime and forced 3 turnovers, ultimately sealed the win.
PG’s late-game fatigue showed — despite Vince Young finishing with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Hamilton keeping up the pressure, the Panthers had no answer for San Pedro’s physicality. A major turning point came when Marquise Cunningham exited the game with 2:47 left in overtime due to a sprained ankle. His absence significantly impacted the Panthers’ offensive rhythm during the final stretch. Without their leading scorer and floor-spacer, PG managed just 1 point the rest of the way, and what could have been a statement road win slipped through their claws.
Final Score: Sharks 80 – Panthers 75
🔽 Top Performers
Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
Tyrell Griffith | Sharks | 25 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Francis Arana | Sharks | 15 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
Keon Rowland | Sharks | 21 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Marquise Cunningham | Panthers | 22 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Kelvin Cumberbatch | Panthers | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
📊 Jungle Stats Recap
🎤 Final Word
In the jungle, survival comes down to resilience and rebounding — and the Sharks had both. PG made it ugly, gritty, and wild, but San Pedro showed championship DNA in the extra frame.
With the playoffs looming and the standings tightening, this one felt like a postseason preview — and the Sharks sent a message: the Civic is their reef. But don’t sleep on PG. The Panthers are now serving notice to the Toucan Conference: they’ve established themselves as a legitimate contender for the Cup. Under Alex Carcamo’s leadership, they’re one of the league’s most organized teams — committed to running sets, applying structured ball pressure, and developing cohesion. They may still have a card to play before it’s all said and done.
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