Bring Phil Jackson Next Time
Ice Connection held on to repeat as VG Summer Jam champions with an 88-83 overtime win over Set It Off at the A. Jeffrey Caines Arena in Virgin Gorda. Coach Steve E. Parillon joked "Tell them bring Phil Jackson next time" after a tight contest that featured a dominant performance from Amadius Der-Weer (18 points, 18 rebounds).
Ice Connection retained their VG Summer Jam crown with a hard-fought 88-83 overtime victory against Set It Off in Game 3 at the A. The title-deciding game went to extra time after regulation, with Set It Off mounting a fierce challenge following a mid-tournament coaching change that saw Kennedy H.
The coaching switch nearly paid dividends for Set It Off, but missed free throws late in regulation and growing fatigue in overtime allowed Ice Connection to close out the win. "Tell them bring Phil Jackson next time," coach Steve E. Parillon quipped after the match, referencing the famed American coach Phil D.
Jackson, who led the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to multiple NBA championships. The remark underlined how closely contested the series was and the respect Parillon had for his opponents' adjustments. Ice Connection’s offence was led by Amadius Der-Weer, who posted a game-high 18 points and a remarkable 18 rebounds.
Gerard and Kadeem Jones each contributed 16 points, while Zion Jones and Stephon S. For Set It Off, Shakeem Blackmore scored 16 and Shammar George was also among the primary scorers. Penn, known locally as "Ice Willy," praised Parillon’s coaching after the victory and predicted Ice Connection will continue to dominate the VG Summer Jam until his retirement.
Parillon himself said the game required tight rotation management; he kept his starters on the floor longer than usual because Set It Off consistently relied on their top players. "It brought about tiredness and fatigue, but I kept telling my players to hang in there, and let’s gut it out to the end," Parillon said.
He credited Ice Connection’s continuity and chemistry—"We have kept this team now for a couple of years and we have a set of guys who normally play together"—as a decisive advantage over Set It Off. The VG Summer Jam is one of the territory’s marquee basketball events, drawing teams and fans from across the British Virgin Islands.
Jeffrey Caines Arena in Virgin Gorda served as a fitting stage for the finale, and the close series underscores the growing competitiveness of local basketball. According to Virgin Islands News Online, Ice Connection’s repeat title will be remembered as a testament to team cohesion and late-game resolve, and it sets the stage for another lively season of BVI basketball.
Primary source: VINO