UPDATE: USVI boycott 3rd place game of 2025 KOTC Caribbean C/ships
USVI Elites were supposed to play Santo as the losing semi-finalists; however, the USVI opted to boycott the game due to their dissatisfaction with what transpired in the clash with Tola last night, May 17, 2025.
Santo will now be challenged by St Kitts.
Controversy
With seconds to go in the game and Tola leading 70-67, the impressive Zion Jones scored what appeared to be a clutch 4-pointer; however, the referee signalled it was a 3-pointer plus a foul. With the pressure on Jones to score the one point from the free throw line to win the game for the USVI, he was only able to hit the rim, and so the game was thrown into overtime.
This apparent earlier error seemed to frustrate the USVI players and took the fight out of them in overtime play.
Tola eventually won 87-84, although the USVI did manage to get off a final shot from long range that could have either sent the game into double overtime or given USVI Elites the win.
It is alleged that video replays have confirmed that the shot by Jones should have registered as a 4-pointer.
USVI felt ‘robbed’- Coach Lanese Bough
USVI coach Lanese Bough told Virgin Islands News Online the decision to play no further part in the tournament was made because USVI felt “robbed out [of] the competition and the referees and the director of the tournament did not take the necessary steps to correct the issue. It was not a good look on behalf of the tournament, and it would be good if there was a board meeting to make the correct decision.”
Bough claimed that the head referee “called a foul, made a decision it was a 4 pointer and he let a junior referee that was not in the correct position overrule him.
“It took our heart, and the decision was a team decision.”
Bough further said there is a broadcasting production that was hired by the tournament organisers, and she felt that they failed to utilise it to prevent controversy and unfair rulings.
“In FIBA, you can review, and again, they did not take the opportunity to review the call.
“It is not a good look for the tournament because teams are coming from abroad, and it will show all the teams that things like this are acceptable...If the tournament don’t make adjustment, the USVI and other teams will think twice in participating in any tournament that is being held from KOTC,” Bough said.
‘We apologise to Team USVI’- Steve E. Parillon
One of the organisors, Steve E. Parillon, was invited by our News Centre to respond to the allegations by the USVI coach.
Mr Parillon said King of the Courts was notified that USVI would not contest the 3rd place game, so the team that finished 3rd in their group, St Kitts, will contest for that position.
“As it pertains to the play last night with 3 seconds left on the clock, there was a controversial call where a shot, which at the moment was called a 3-pointer on the floor, was later proven to be a 4-pointer after a video surfaced after the game.
“There is no video review of any calls in King of the Courts [Championships], and the Director plays no role in what the referees decide during a game. It was an unfortunate situation, and we apologise to Team USVI for this mishap. However, there was nothing we could do to change that situation.”
Mr Parillon lamented that, worldwide, refereeing has become very difficult. He said even in the NBA, where there are video reviews, they still seem to have issues with refereeing calls.
“Our referees have been doing a good job during the tournament, and they have expressed their apologies to Team USVI for what transpired. In the future, we will look for solutions to handle these matters because we know teams invest money to come to the tournament and the cash prize is significant,” Mr Parillon.
See previous article published May 18, 2025
VG Bayside Blazers & Tola to clash in final of KOTC Caribbean C/ships
The final of the 2025 King of the Courts (KOTC) Caribbean Championships will be an all-Virgin Islands affair and a new champion will be crowned when undefeated teams VG Bayside Blazers and Tola clash in the championship game today, May 18, 2025, at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.
VG Bayside Blazers stormed into the final with a 98-73 win over Santo in the semi-finals on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Tola eliminated defending champions USVI, 87-84, in the other semi-final, gaining sweet revenge for their defeat to the USVI in the 2024 final.
VG Bayside Blazers vs Santo
VG Bayside Blazers went into the game with tails up after already taking the scalps of St Kitts, defending champions USVI, and Haiti, who they defeated 73-59 on Friday, May 16, 2025.
They proved to be too strong for Santo on Saturday night.
Austin A. Oltime appeared to have a point to prove against Santo as he racked up 26 points for VG Bayside Blazers.
Also impacting the scoresheets were Tyohn D. Trimble (18 points), Ronald E. Delph (17 points and 10 rebounds, Raheem E. Carter (12 points) and Randy M. George (10 points).
Alexander Garcia led the fight for Santo with a game-high 31 points and A Santos scored 19 in a vain effort.
Tola vs USVI
The second semifinal was a rematch of the 2024 final when USVI ran out as winners. The game lived up to the hype but it was Tola who tasted sweet victory in a keenly contested affair.
Kalu Ezikpe led the Tola scoring with 20 points, and Wesley Alcegaire supported with 19 points.
Antwain Johnson (14 points) and Keion Palmer (13 points and 11 rebounds) were also instrumental in exacting revenge for Tola.
The USVI’s efforts were led by Zion Jones (27 points), Ajani Blyden (16 points and 11 rebounds), Neem Olivacce (13 points), and Khalid S. Gerard (11 points).
Controversry
There was some controversy in the dying minutes of the game when Zion Jones scored what appeared to be a 4-pointer; however, the referee signalled it was a 3-pointer. This apparent error seemed to frustrate the USVI players. At this point, the game also turned in favour of the home side, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the USVI players and their supporters.
It is alleged that video replays have confirmed that the shot should have registered as a 4-pointer.
Nevertheless, Tola are now hoping to go all the way this year to lifting the Premier’s Cup and pocketing the $15,000 cash prize…but some familiar faces stand in their way, VG Bayside Blazers. Both teams have a strong fan base, and the atmosphere at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex is expected to be electrifying when the two local teams collide in the final.
A time for tip-off has not yet been announced.
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18 Responses to “UPDATE: USVI boycott 3rd place game of 2025 KOTC Caribbean C/ships”
To those who are saying bad calls are made all the time, you all sound and are SOOOOO IGNORANT!!!!
You don’t turn a blind eye to a bad call especially when it could have decided the game and not going into overtime.
TO THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST WHAT THE REFEREES DID LAST NIGHT, PROTEST BY NOT GOING TO TONIGHT’S GAME AND LET TICKET SALES GO DOWN!!
ZION WE WHO DO NOT ENTERTAIN FOOLISHNESS SEE YOU AS THE REAL MVP!!
Shows how divided they are instead of uniting as one team.
But to team USVI you guys are the real MVPs and probably the only team with all homegrown USVI players and not “bought” and “flown in” talent and still they had to cheat you guys for whatever reason keep on balling on the BVI CHUMPS yall won that game 71-70 and should be playing for that three peat tonight. But to Steve and the KOTC team ayo NEED TO DO BETTER .
Let them pull that sh** on willock vg team you will hear
Referees are human, and the pace of the game makes it incredibly hard to catch everything. Adding another scoring zone only increases their workload, creates more room for error, and shifts the focus from fundamentals to gimmicks. It might sound flashy, but in practice, it dilutes the integrity of the game. I’m an avid NBA watcher. I see missed calls all the time. I'm sure there were bad calls that went against Tortola too. That’s just part of the game.
The Cubs were leading the series 3-2. They were also leading the game 3-0 with 1 out in the eight. After the botched interference call, the Cubs allowed the Marlins to score 8 runs in that same inning with the Marlins eventually winning the game 8-3 to tie the series 3-3. The Marlins ultimately won the series 4-3 after winning again in game-7. Sh*t happens, deal with it.