GREAT BAY--BVI Tortola emerged as champions of the third annual Paradise Showdown Under-15 Basketball Tournament, narrowly defeating host team St. Maarten 85-83 in a thrilling championship game that brought five days of regional youth basketball competition to a close at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium.
Organized by the PSA Athletics Association, the tournament was held from October 3 to 7, 2026, bringing together young basketball talent from across the Caribbean for competitive games, morning sessions and opportunities to showcase their developing skills.
The championship encounter between St. Maarten and BVI Tortola provided a fitting conclusion to the tournament, with just two points separating the finalists when the final buzzer sounded. Tortola's victory secured the coveted championship title, while St. Maarten finished as runner-up after a strong showing on its home court.
Anguilla claimed third place with a commanding 77-28 victory over St. Eustatius, completing the tournament's top three finishers.
Regional Talent Shines in All-Star Competition
Beyond the championship games, the Paradise Showdown featured an All-Star event that brought together standout players representing Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, Aruba, St. Eustatius and Guyana.
The selected players were randomly assigned to Team Red and Team Blue, creating an opportunity for athletes from different territories to compete alongside one another.
Team Red emerged victorious, defeating Team Blue 52-28.
The All-Star competition added another dimension to the five-day event, encouraging sportsmanship, teamwork and interaction among young athletes from across the region.
BVI Tortola's Akhori Sebastian Named Tournament MVP
Individual performances were also recognized, with BVI Tortola's Akhori Sebastian, wearing jersey number 4, earning the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Sebastian's recognition highlighted Tortola's championship-winning campaign, while ten other outstanding athletes were selected for the tournament's First and Second All-Star Teams.
The First Team All-Star selections were:
- Collani Joseph, Anguilla, #9
- Jayden Glascow, BVI Tortola, #10
- Jhareef Nei, St. Maarten, #8
- Tahjae Conner, Anguilla, #15
- Deshawn Gurrick, Guyana, #1
The Second Team All-Star selections were:
- Elijah Vicente, St. Maarten, #2
- Ke'Mori Daway, BVI Tortola, #2
- Carlson Matheson, Guyana, #15
- Ethan Mijland, St. Maarten, #5
- Yohandi Charles, Anguilla, #10
St. Maarten was well represented among the individual honorees, with three local players earning All-Star recognition.
Jhareef Nei secured a place on the First Team, while Elijah Vicente and Ethan Mijland were selected for the Second Team, reflecting the talent demonstrated by the host country's young athletes throughout the competition.
Champions Receive Customized Rings and Trophies
The tournament's champions received customized championship rings and first-place trophies in recognition of their achievement.
The second- and third-place teams were also presented with medals and their respective trophies, while individual awards recognized the tournament's MVP and All-Star selections.
The awards celebrated both team accomplishments and individual performances, acknowledging the dedication and effort demonstrated by the participating athletes.
