VG Bayside Blazers go unbeaten to win
The VG Bayside Blazers completed an unbeaten run in the Bring Ya Best Basketball Tournament in St Maarten, defeating Haiti 87-75 in the final at the L.B. Scott Auditorium on July 18, 2026, and claiming the US$20,000 top prize and a Best Head Coach award for Randy M. George (VINO). The Blazers had earlier beaten Tortola 93-85 in a dramatic quarterfinal and posted dominant pool results, underscoring the strength and depth of the travelling BVI roster (VINO).
The VG Bayside Blazers capped an unbeaten week in St Maarten by defeating Haiti 87-75 in the Bring Ya Best Basketball Tournament final at the L.B. Scott Auditorium on July 18, 2026, according to match reports from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO). The win secured the championship trophy and the US$20,000 top prize for the Blazers, who were managed by Julian Willock and coached by Randy M.
The Blazers’ march to the title began with a commanding opening pool win on Sunday, July 12, when they beat United St Martin 100-75. Boyd top-scored in that outing with 21 points, while newcomers and returning stars combined to show the team’s depth, VINO reported. Bayside followed with a 96-77 victory over USA Rivals in pool play, a game highlighted by Deon J.
Edwin’s 26 points and six rebounds; Justin J. Pool play concluded emphatically on July 17 when Bayside routed Statia 109-73. That game saw six Blazers in double figures: Boyd (19), Keith C. Richardson (13), according to VINO’s coverage. The do-or-die quarterfinal against Tortola on Friday, July 17, was a tense, tightly contested affair.
Bayside prevailed 93-85 in what VINO described as a dog fight down to the wire. Edwin led the Blazers with 20 points, Kerry T. Richardson chipped in 16 points and five rebounds, Corey J. Bracey (14), but they fell short in the all-Virgin Islands clash (VINO). Boyd (listed as “Akheel” in VINO’s update) and Corey J.
Sanders each finished with 13 points as Bayside held off a strong Haitian bid led by D. Jean, who poured in a game-high 24 points in a losing effort, VINO reported. The victory and the team’s unbeaten record were hailed by VINO as evidence that this Bayside unit is among the strongest ever assembled to represent the Virgin Islands in an international tournament.
George was awarded the Best Head Coach trophy for his role in guiding the team, and owner/manager Julian Willock accompanied the squad throughout the trip (VINO). The Blazers’ success in St Maarten — a tournament that featured teams from the United States, Haiti, Dominica, Aruba, St Kitts, Tortola, Statia and Canada, among others — is expected to raise the profile of BVI basketball and give local players valuable exposure against regional rivals (VINO).
Tortola and the USA were scheduled to play for third place following their earlier results (VINO).
Primary source: VINO