As we enter the final stretch before the roster freeze, the contenders are tightening their grip—and the pretenders are starting to feel the pressure. San Pedro stands alone at 7–0, still undefeated and still unbothered. But the Thunderbolts are surging, the Kings are rising, and the Dream Ballers just reminded the league what they’re capable of when everything clicks.
Meanwhile, PG continues to knock on the door, Corozal keeps scrapping for respect, and the Western Ballaz are searching for answers after a gut-punch loss. Power is shifting fast in the Mayan jungle, and with playoff positioning, pride, and postseason viability on the line, every possession now feels like it could tip the scale.
Week 7 didn’t just deliver fireworks—it revealed cracks, momentum, and rising stars. Let’s dive in.
The Corozal Cerros Suns continue their developmental trek through a brutal schedule, facing powerhouse after powerhouse. This week, the long trip to Dangriga seemed to take a toll, as the Suns looked flat in what management had labeled a revenge match. They were never truly in the contest, and their top scorer Rudon finished with just 5 points. On a brighter note, young Julian Gomez hit double figures on the road, showing continued growth, while Jamaal Clifton continues to justify his place on the Conference Player of the Year ladder. Brandon Rogers remains a reliable contributor as well. With the undefeated Sharks coming to town this weekend, maybe some home cooking can help Corozal notch that elusive second win and remind everyone they’re still building something special.
The Capital City Kings finally righted the ship this weekend and are beginning to show grit and identity. They’re now playing through what is undeniably their best player—MVP candidate Brandon “Puddy” Flowers—who had a breakout 33-point game in their overtime thriller win over in-district rivals, the Cayo Western Ballers. Cayo had won both previous meetings, and Arik Nicholas had boldly called it an “easy win” for the Ballers. Puddy proved otherwise, showing off his mismatch magic—too quick for bigs, too strong for guards.
Nissani Mendez seems to have figured out the defensive adjustments as well, putting up 19 points with a blend of confident threes and relentless drives, including an 11-for-11 stretch from the line. The Kings hit 100+ points for the first time this season, even without enforcer Daniel Estes, who’s expected back mid-month after a hamstring tweak.
Belmopan has the youth, speed, midrange, and power game to match up with most teams. Guard play is improving with Mendez attacking from the perimeter and Brandon’s mid-range pull-up thriving. If they can get more production from the bench, they’ll be a tough out in any three-game playoff series. John Kelly is holding his own in the middle, but he’ll need to step up his scoring to keep pace with the league’s elite bigs he hoped to measure up against.
The PG Panthers are fighting to prove they belong among the league’s elite—but they keep running into top-tier opponents just as they begin to climb. Back-to-back close games against the undefeated Sharks have earned them respect, but not yet the results to break into the upper echelon of the rankings. The team is developing rapidly, but internal group dynamics still have them in the “storming” phase—unable to finish like the Sharks or Thunderbolts do in clutch moments.
Veterans Marquise Cunningham and Chance Leslie must elevate their output in big games, as their leadership is essential for this young squad. Leslie’s defense remains top-tier, but his sub-5 point scoring average in recent outings won’t cut it against 100-point threats. At just 68.2 points per game, PG is the second-lowest scoring team in the league, relying heavily on defense to stay competitive. Their biggest weakness? A lack of a go-to scorer late in games to match the likes of Arana, Rowland, Evans, or Brackett.
The signing of Gabriel Sorensen was expected to address that gap, but his underwhelming performance has left him on the bench while Coach Alex Carcamo looks for someone to step up. Rumors suggest a solution may be on the horizon, but until then, the Panthers remain just outside the inner circle—dangerous, determined, and knocking on the door of the elite.
The Western Ballaz gave back their recent gains in a gritty overtime loss to the Capital City Kings. The loss exposed two key shortcomings: a lack of poise in crunch time and the absence of superstar-level execution. Nick Everett, still adjusting to the speed of the league, found himself in early foul trouble—mostly drawn by aggressive guard play—limiting his impact. That’s a trend he’ll need to fix fast with the Thunderbolts looming.
MVP candidate Arik Nicholas struggled in the spotlight, appearing hesitant in the first half. With no true point guard to facilitate, the Ballaz offense remains feast or famine despite boasting high-flyers like Nicholas, Jaheem Ciego, Darnell Oden, and Dennis Flowers III—each of whom has posted a 20+ point game this season. Flowers, top 5 in scoring, is averaging just 2 assists per game and must decide whether he’ll be the team’s primary playmaker or go-to scorer.
The team clearly has the coaching acumen to course-correct, but until they solve their ball movement and distribution issues, especially in road environments, they’ll struggle for consistency. Notably, this marked the third straight game without Kyron “TuT” Molina, whose shooting could help ease the scoring droughts. For Cayo to join the league’s elite, Nicholas must assert himself as a leader and creator—or risk sliding down both the standings and the MVP ladder.
The Thunderbolts have emerged from early season woes to become one of the most feared teams in the league, and it all began with one major move—signing Charles Garcia. Garcia’s presence is undeniable; he’s now top ten in both scoring and rebounds, and his inside-out facilitation has opened the game for MVP candidates Coope Lopez and Victor Evans, who currently sit first and second in both scoring and assists for the league.
Add in 27-rebound leader Matthew Young and two-way force Eyan Rene, and you’ve got a team that nobody wants to meet come playoff time. The Bolts have also added wing defender Luis Sosa and are seeing valuable minutes from U21 Jaguar Cub Michael Caceras and shooting guard spark plug Tyrone Hall, giving them both experience and depth.
This weekend, their identity and chemistry will be tested in a double-header against Belmopan and Western Ballaz. Depending on the outcome, they could rise to the top of the conference or find themselves back in the middle of the pack. With two MVP candidates locked in and a third possibly emerging, the Bolts now have the firepower, depth, and experience to run the table. The Mayan pre-playoff battles begin now.
The Dream Ballers got just what the doctor ordered with a dominant home showing against the Corozal Cerros Suns. Their 114-point performance tied the league’s highest output this season and addressed many of the concerns that were holding them back. Edgar “Boogie” Mitchell is finding his rhythm, dropping nearly 20 points in three quarters and reconnecting with his long-range shot, hitting four threes in the win. Daniel Conorquie also delivered a much-needed breakout game, snapping a three-game streak of sub-10 scoring to remind everyone of his well-established elite scoring status. His attack was balanced with three-point plays, strong drives, and confident mid-range jumpers that helped power the team’s offensive explosion.
Kirk Smith continues to settle in, contributing 12 first-half points that helped break the game open, and Kevon Laurie remains quietly consistent in his breakout campaign. The only concern is Deshawn Brackett, who is nursing a leg injury and was limited to just 7 points. Brackett was sitting atop the MVP ladder prior to his injury, and this dip in production will almost certainly affect his standing. Meanwhile, Raheem Thurton and Flowers have provided steadily improving contributions off the bench, bringing valuable depth and energy. If Mitchell and Conorquie can regularly produce 15–20 points, and Smith delivers steady inside support alongside Lowrie’s all-around play, Dangriga will be well-positioned to contend with the league’s elite come cup time.?
The San Pedro Tiger Sharks are simply the class of the league. Steeped in accolades and top-tier performers, they are the driving story of the season. Keon Rowland and Tyrell “Leggy” Griffith have formed a dynamic duo powering the Sharks to an incredible 7-0 run, both leading contenders for the U21 Jaguar Cub race. Veteran sharpshooter Devin “Minister of Buckets” Daly provides invaluable experience and late-game closing ability that no team wants to face. Malik Hunt continues to be a mismatch nightmare in ISO situations, while Brian White—a two-time champion and the league’s leading rebounder—anchors the paint and sparks the transition game that has vaulted Francis Arana into MVP conversations.
Rookie head coach Chengo has now guided the Sharks to three overtime wins and is hitting his stride, trusting his personnel more than his playbook. Despite a recent injury slowing their momentum, San Pedro remains the only undefeated team without having made a single roster move all season—and they’ve yet to play at full strength. With teams now adjusting to the Sharks’ style, the looming question is whether San Pedro will counter with tweaks of their own or ride their well-oiled machine intact into the Jaguar Cup. The whole league is watching. Rico Black is on the clock.
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