The National Basketball League makes its return this evening, May 9, 2026, at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town. Photo: BVIBA

The 2026 league has been renamed the Winston Bolus National Basketball League in honour of the late Winston N. Bolus, who passed away in 2024, as a remembrance of his dedication as a beloved league commentator. Photo: BVIBA

Organised by the BVI Basketball Association, the 2026 league has been renamed the Winston Bolus National Basketball League in honour of the late Winston N. Bolus, who passed away in 2024, as a remembrance of his dedication as a beloved league commentator. 

The Opening Night of the 2026 league will see Relentless against the VG Elite in the Senior Division and Skill Ballers against On A Mission VG in the Junior Division. 

The tournament has been described as more than a game, but a place where “competition, pride and legacy collide” by the association. The association added, “The 2026 Winston Bolus National Basketball League is not just a season, it’s the return of basketball with purpose.”

Bringing structured basketball back

The BVI Basketball Association has been working alongside the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports to bring structured basketball back to the Virgin Islands the right way. 

“This partnership represents a shared commitment to rebuilding the game, creating opportunity, and establishing a clear path for our athletes to grow and compete at a national level,” the association said in a March 31, 2026, statement. 

“We are grateful for their support, collaboration, and belief in this vision. Together, we are laying the foundation for something sustainable, something organised, and something the entire community can stand behind.”