Jungle Rewind – Cayo Western Ballers Clinches Mayan Cup Birth

Date: 14th August 2025
Final Score: Thunderbolts 76 – Cayo 70

Inside a buzzing Belize City Civic Center, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
The Thunderbolts came in knowing exactly what the math demanded — win, and the Mayan Cup bye stays alive; win by more than 12, and the tiebreaker flips in their favor. For Cayo, it was simple: protect the cushion, secure the bye.
But there was a second plotline gripping the crowd — the MVP race. For most of the season, Coope had been the runaway favorite. Then came Arik Nicholas, surging late, putting up MVP-type numbers week after week. This was the head-to-head that could seal votes in the minds of fans and media alike.

The first whistle brought a playoff-like energy, and the opening minutes set the tone for a high-intensity, physical battle where every possession felt like it could swing the season.

Q1 – Thunderbolts Come Out Swinging (21–14)

The Thunderbolts wasted no time jumping on Cayo’s defense. Glency Lopez’s early driving layups and Victor Evans’ triple put the ‘Bolts ahead quickly, and Matthew Young began his nightlong rebounding clinic with second-chance putbacks. By the midway point, they’d strung together an 8–2 run capped by Lopez’s and-one.
Cayo struggled to find rhythm, with Arik Nicholas and Jahiem Ciego chipping in a few buckets, but turnovers — many unforced — kept them from gaining traction. Lopez’s pull-up jumper in the final seconds locked in a 7-point lead and had the crowd believing in the upset script.

Q2 – The Lead Stretches (27–18, 48–32 at Half)

This was the frame where the Thunderbolts’ size and pace overwhelmed Cayo. Victor Evans controlled both ends, picking pockets, threading assists, and knocking down midrange jumpers. Michael Caseras and Rasheed Reneau joined the scoring party, with Caseras twice finishing alley-oop looks that ignited the bench.
Cayo had flashes — Joel Montejo’s smooth perimeter shooting and Ciego’s trips to the line — but they couldn’t contain Matthew Young on the glass. Young’s relentless work inside produced second and third chances, including a final-minute putback to push the lead to 16 heading into the break.
By halftime, the Thunderbolts were winning the boards 31–17 and looked like they might actually hit the +12 margin they needed.

Q3 – Cayo Punches Back, Bolts Hold Firm (17–18, 65–50)

If the first half was Thunderbolts dominance, the third quarter was their test. Cayo, led by D’von Campbell’s hot hand from deep, sliced the lead down with a barrage of threes. Nicholas joined in with strong drives, forcing the Bolts into quick adjustments.
But every time Cayo got within striking distance, the home team answered. Alejandro Baptist delivered midrange daggers, Lopez kept attacking downhill, and Young continued to feast inside. The exclamation point came late in the frame when Lopez stripped Ciego, led the break, and fed Young for a layup to restore a 15-point gap.

Q4 – The Clock Becomes the Opponent (11–20)

The final frame turned from a blowout bid into a survival game. With the +12 margin still the target, the Thunderbolts looked to press the pace early — Evans scored five quick points, and Lopez slashed his way to the rim. But Cayo refused to fold. Campbell orchestrated, Nicholas threw down a dunk, and Montejo drilled a clutch three to keep the margin in single digits.
Every Thunderbolt miss became more costly as the clock drained. Cayo’s late-game push cut the lead to just six in the final seconds, ending the bye chase for Belize City. Evans’ pull-up three with six seconds left sealed the win, but the Thunderbolts left the floor knowing the tiebreaker math didn’t fall their way.

Top Performers

Team Trends

Thunderbolts: Dominated the glass (+21 rebound margin) and scored 48 first-half points, but turnovers (19) and Cayo’s late shooting run prevented the +12 goal. Showed balance with five players in double figures and strong interior scoring.

Cayo: Lived and died by the three — hitting 10 from deep to stay in it. Montejo’s efficiency and Campbell’s playmaking kept them afloat despite early foul trouble and the rebounding deficit.

Final Word

The Thunderbolts got the win they needed — just not by enough. The Mayan Cup bye slips to Cayo, but Belize City proved they can go toe-to-toe with their conference rival. With the top seed in their pockets and a good 10 days of rest, the banged-up Western Ballers can now lie in wait for the winner who emerges from the playoffs this weekend. One thing is for sure: the Sacred Heart Stadium will be a formidable place to get one from the Ballers in one of their most hopeful playoff games in years. Arik may have won the Bye Prize, but Coope may have clinched the MVP crown with his 20-point, 5-assist performance — his second straight head-to-head win over his rival Nicholas. Since taking over the number one spot in week 3, Coope has stayed at that position and closed with two big wins on the road against conference rivals and this final performance against Cayo.

If these two meet again in the playoffs, the stakes will be higher, the lights brighter, and the MVP debate might renew over king of the cup  well into the playoffs.