PHILPSBURG--Reigning champions Saint Martin delivered a dominant performance against Curaçao, winning 92–55 and successfully defending their title. Under the leadership of Coach Hyman and Coach Mataly, the team extended their undefeated streak for a second consecutive year.
From October 4th to 8th, the PSA Athletics Association hosted the second
annual Paradise Showdown 15U Basketball Tournament, a five-day event featuring over 90
young athletes.
The tournament officially kicked off on Saturday, with an inspiring opening address by the Honorable Ms. Melissa Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS).
Over 1,700 viewers tuned in via the Association’s YouTube livestream, in addition to the audience present at the venue.
Founder and tournament organizer Mr. Omar Beauperthuy also delivered remarks,
introduced each participating country and their national anthem or song was played
setting a spirited and respectful tone for the event.
The first match of the tournament featured host country Sint Maarten taking on Grenada,
with Sint Maarten securing the win.
From October 5th to 7th, training sessions were held for each participating team and was led-by invited coaches from the United States. These sessions focused on conditioning and technical skill development. In addition, referee workshops were conducted by a FIBA-certified official from the Netherlands Basketball Bond (NBB), providing morning and post-game sessions to improve officiating standards.
Over the past eight months, three coaches two from Sint Maarten and one female coach
from Saba, participated in an online Level 3 Coaching Certification program. During the
tournament, they successfully completed the practical portion of their final assessment,
marking a significant milestone in their coaching development.
Based on feedback from several countries, this year’s event also included training sessions for girls. These sessions, held for 1.5 hours each day over four days, allowed the girls to train exclusively with the coaches visiting, taking an important step toward expanding inclusivity in the tournament.
The final day of the tournament featured the third-place match between Sint Maarten and
Aruba, with Sint Maarten emerging victorious. Prior to the championship game, a new
feature was introduced: the All-Star Game. Twenty-four standout players excluding those in
the finals were selected and presented with commemorative jerseys. The teams, named
Sunrise and Sunset, battled it out, with Sunset claiming the win.
This year's tournament provided even greater exposure and opportunities
for young players, and anticipation is already being built for next year. The dates for
Paradise Showdown 3 have been officially announced: October 3rd to 7th, 2026. Interested
countries are encouraged to reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., for
more information or to express interest in participating.
But the year isn’t over yet! PSA Athletics Association continues its mission to develop youth
sports with the ongoing High School Basketball League. The season will conclude with the
High School Basketball League Championship Week, taking place from November 4th to
6th, 2025, at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium. Admission is just $2, and food and drinks
will be available for purchase.
