A new basketball league has been established that will feature some well known teams as well as brand new faces. The Belize Premier Basketball League hopes to break away from the controversies surrounding the BEBL and set a new standard for the sport in the country. Commissioner Claudio Leal came to our studio today to tell us more.
Claudio Leal, Commissioner, BPBL
"This is a brand new pro league with a vision to elevate professional basketball in Belize. We have new owners, new format, new bylaws, 2025 bylaws, we have new regulations. So everything is brand new and this is the league for Belize at this time."
"Each team will now ask to present 12 players. One foreign player from any part of the world, one nationalized Belizean, and one under 21. Let me repeat that, one foreign player from any part of the world, one nationalized Belizean American and one under 21, which each team will have 12 players so that by itself is a new format that was not a part of any other league."
Courtney Menzies:
"Will you still have a connection with TNC and FIBA?"
Claudio Leal, Commissioner, BPBL
"Yes, definitely. I'm not sure about the TNC contract as well but definitely we have to abide by FIBA rules."
Courtney Menzies:
"The Hurricanes, they were the most dominant franchise. The Defenders were their rivals, and they're not going to be in the league. How can they be replaced?"
Claudio Leal, Commissioner, BPBL
"We're not replacing any team, we have new teams. The format that we're using this year is a 3 fold. We have 3 cups, we have a Toucan cup, a Mayan cup, and the big cup which is the Jaguar cup. The Toucan Cup comprises of what we call the north-south conference which comprises of Corozal which is now Cerro Sun which is a brand new team, first time ever in pro basketball in Belize. We also have San Pedro Tiger Sharks, they are not new to any basketball league. We also have what we call the EZ Investment Dream Ballers from Dangriga. They are a part of this north-south conference playing for the Toucan Cup. And finally we have the Punta Gorda Panthers so there's 4 teams that make up the north."
"We also have the second cup which is the Mayan Cup which is made up of Belize City Thunderbolts which is a brand new basketball team. Also we have Capital City Kings which is from Belmopan and finally we have the Western Ballers from Cayo so these 7 teams represent 5 districts, will be vying for what we call two cups, winners from both cups get $5,000 each, play for the big dance, the Jaguar Cup, $50,000, 20 gold rings goes to the team."
The season starts on May 16th.
Email
Print