The Jungle Rewind

San Pedro Shoots the Lights Out in High-Flying Win Over Thunderbolts

By Paul Flowers Jr.| May 26, 2025

In what will surely go down as one of the most explosive offensive showcases of the early season, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks outgunned the Belize City Thunderbolts 109–101 in a thrilling shootout at the Belize Civic Center. This was a game that had it all—scorching three-pointers, poster dunks, full-court pressure, and a second-half tempo that tested every ounce of conditioning.

At the center of it all was Francis Arana, the Sharks floor general who poured in 22 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a pair of backbreaking triples, including the late-game dagger. And if that wasn’t enough, Malik Hunt added a punishing 20 points and 9 boards while Brian White turned in a performance for the ages with 23 rebounds to go with his 9 points.

But the storyline that will echo throughout Belize isn’t just stats—it’s Devin Daly’s dramatic return. In a move straight out of a sports movie, Daly—recently elected Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports—stepped out of his ministerial chair and onto the hardwood for this season. With only one practice under his belt, the future Hall of Famer and former face of the national team reminded the nation who he is: 21 points on 61.5% shooting, 5-of-7 from three, and a full-court presence that lifted San Pedro’s ceiling to championship heights.

Daly is on track to take his fourth franchise to the BPBL Finals since returning from his U.S. college career in 2017. He already owns a championship ring with the Belmopan Bandits (2017), another with the Belize Hurricanes (2018), led the Belize City Defenders to the 2024 Finals, and now has Tiger Sharks fans dreaming of another deep playoff run. His performance had fans buzzing and playfully renaming his official title to “The Minister of Buckets.”

Also making waves was Jihad Wright, the former league MVP and national team forward who made his season debut. Though he only recently arrived, Wright showed flashes of dominance with clutch dunks, hard-nosed defense, and a critical third-quarter surge that reminded everyone why he was once the league’s most feared forward.

Meanwhile, Thunderbolts’ anchor Victor Evans was reported to be under the weather. The reigning two-time MVP fought valiantly and finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds, but couldn’t quite find his usual rhythm in this relentless matchup.

It was the Sharks who bit first. Free throws from Keon Rowland, a spinning layup by Francis Arana, and a fastbreak slam by Malik Hunt gave San Pedro an early cushion. Despite that Glency Lopez showed that he came to play. The Thunderbolts floor general matched them blow for blow, finishing the quarter with 12 points and three assertive drives through traffic.

Still, the Tiger Sharks’ balanced firepower was overwhelming. Jihad Wright, freshly arrived and already looking like a serious upgrade, hammered home a dunk, and Daly went full flamethrower mode with three triples in a first-quarter flurry.

San Pedro closed the first with a 34–23 lead, though Lopez and Tyrone Hall did their best to keep the ‘Bolts in striking distance.

The second quarter was even more frantic. Every Thunderbolt surge was met with a San Pedro answer. Tyrell Griffith came off the bench with 12 huge points, Keith Pollard cleaned up inside, and Arana orchestrated the pace like a concertmaster. But the Thunderbolts found a groove of their own.

Lopez powered his way to the rim again and again, finishing the half with 18. Victor Evans began finding pockets in the midrange, and Matthew Young gave Belize City key extra possessions with 7 rebounds.

Then, with the clock ticking down, Tyrone Hall splashed a corner three, followed by a fastbreak and-one by Young. After a defensive stop, the Bolts tied it up 55–55 going into the break.

If the first half was a shootout, the third was trench warfare. Malik Hunt came out with purpose, scoring three quick buckets, and Wright muscled his way into the paint. Arana added a pair of silky finishes, and the Sharks reclaimed the lead with relentless fast breaks and timely second-chance points.

The Thunderbolts answered with hustle: Young carved up the baseline, Lopez stayed hot, and Evans dropped a much-needed triple to keep them within single digits.

Still, the Sharks closed the third on a surge. Daly drilled another three—prompting fans to chant for the Minister of Buckets—Wright hit a transition layup, and Arana danced his way into the paint. By the end of three, San Pedro led 82–73.

The fourth quarter was chaos.

Daly caught fire again, opening the quarter with a slick layup and another long bomb. Wright added a thunderous dunk, Griffith scored on a spinning hook, and the lead ballooned to 15.

To their credit, the Thunderbolts refused to go quietly. Evans dropped 10 in the fourth, Hall buried a late three, and Lopez continued slicing through defenders en route to a game-high 32 points.

But it wasn’t enough. Arana hit the final nail with a pair of free throws and a final assist to Earl Johnson, sealing the deal as the final buzzer echoed through the gym.

 Top Performers

Tiger Sharks	Thunderbolts
Francis Arana – 22 pts, 4 ast, 3 stl	Glency Lopez – 32 pts, 5 ast
Devin Daly – 21 pts, 5 threes	Victor Evans – 20 pts, 7 reb
Malik Hunt – 20 pts, 9 reb	Matthew Young – 16 pts, 7 reb
Brian White – 9 pts, 23 reb	Tyrone Hall – 14 pts, 6 FTM

Team Trends

• San Pedro shot 48.8% from the field, made 8-of-15 from deep (53.3%), and out-rebounded Belize City 62–40.
• The Thunderbolts scored 29 points at the stripe, but gave up 17 turnovers, including 6 by Victor Evans.
• Fast break play was the Sharks’ superpower: Tiger Sharks had 20+ transition points, many initiated by Arana or White.
• San Pedro’s bench contributed 25 points compared to just 6 for Belize City.

Final Word

The Tiger Sharks are for real—plain and simple. With Francis Arana running the show, Daly and Wright firing on the wings, and Brian White owning the paint like a landlord in full eviction mode, this is a team built for title talk. Add in Malik Hunt’s inside presence and a bench that’s no slouch, and you’ve got a deep, dangerous roster. Brian White, once a dominant national team power forward, is back with a vengeance, reasserting himself as the number one big man in the league. And if you’re looking for the future, Tyrell “Leggy” Griffith is making his case loud and clear. The U21 standout is shaping up to be the best locally developed big since Jahiem Ciego.

The Thunderbolts showed flashes, especially Lopez’s fearless drives and Evans’ hustle, even while battling illness. But it’s becoming clear that the forward-center positions aren’t giving them the firepower or presence they need—especially with players like Hames “The Hammer” Milton now wrecking shop in the league. With Coope Lopez erupting for 32 points and reminding fans why he’s called the “Prince of the City,” it’s easy to forget he once averaged 15 ppg as a facilitator on a stacked Hurricanes squad. This was his first 30-point game since 2018, and the offensive firepower is clearly there on the wings. Still, down low, the lack of production is glaring. If the Thunderbolts want to remain in the Cop and Jaguar Championship conversation, they’ll need a serious paint presence—and fast.

This one was a statement. San Pedro isn’t just swimming—they’re circling.