Mayan Cup Finals Preview – Cayo Western Ballers vs. Belize City Thunderbolts

The Mayan Cup Finals tip off Friday, September 5, 2025, in San Ignacio, and the matchup couldn’t be more fitting. The Cayo Western Ballers, who have battled their way into form, now host the Belize City Thunderbolts, a team loaded with star power but facing questions of depth and fatigue. With pride, bragging rights, and a spot on the championship stage on the line, this best-of-three series will showcase grit, talent, and high-stakes basketball.

Belize City Thunderbolts

Record: 7–5
Head-to-Head vs Western Ballers: 2–2

The Thunderbolts arrive with both confidence and concern. Led by Glency “Coope” Lopez, Victor Evans, and Matthew Young, Belize City has the firepower to overwhelm anyone. Coope will be playing his first game as the 2025 BPBL MVP, a title he edged out Arik Nicholas to win, and the Cayo fans will be eager for revenge. Lopez will be out to prove that his dominance in Cayo — dating back to his U16 days — is no fluke. Victor Evans has also been looking more like himself lately. He closed out Belmopan in the Play-In by averaging 26 points per game and nearly posting triple-doubles, with 8 assists and 6 steals in the home opener. Evans, an MVP finalist and two-time BEBL MVP, seems to be peaking at the right time. The late-season addition of Louis Sosa Jr. and Rasheed Reneau has also proven to be an incredible difference maker. Both young players are defensive specialists on the wing but can score in the flow of the game, with Reneau possessing exceptional one-on-one skills. If they are on their game off the bench, it could be a long night for the Western Ballers. Still, depth remains a looming issue, especially with Charles Garcia (top center) and Tyrone Hall (elite shooter) sidelined. Fatigue may also play a role — their stars have been logging heavy minutes, making foul trouble a dangerous possibility.

Key storyline: Can Belize City’s core dominate without much rest, and can they stay out of foul trouble against Cayo’s inside presence?

X-factor: Victor Evans’ all-around impact. If he edges close to another triple-double, the Thunderbolts’ margin for error widens significantly.

Cayo Western Ballers

Record: 7–5
Head-to-Head vs Thunderbolts: 2–2

The Western Ballers come in with balance and belief. Arik Nicholas has been lethal from beyond the arc, Joel Montejo has found his rhythm as a steady scoring threat, and D’von Campbell continues to set the table as one of the league’s premier playmakers. The biggest addition, though, was the gutsy move to release Dennis Flowers III and bring in big man Jamell Harris, who provides tremendous interior defense and can stretch the floor. The rise of young Montero as a 3-and-D weapon has also been tremendous — he’s proving to be a pesky on-ball defender for Coope Lopez and one of the league’s more efficient midrange scorers. Add Jahiem Ciego’s rebounding and interior toughness, and Cayo looks built for a grind-it-out playoff war.

Key storyline: Can the Ballers’ depth and perimeter shooting offset Belize City’s star-heavy attack?

X-factor: Joel Montejo. If his efficient scoring carries into the Finals, Cayo will have the spacing and firepower to stretch Belize City’s defense.

Final Word

The Thunderbolts own the star power; the Western Ballers own the home court. San Ignacio will be rocking Friday night as these two rivals collide. Expect a fierce series where Belize City fights to prove their stars can carry them, while Cayo looks to protect their house and claim the Mayan Cup crown.