MARIGOT--On May 15 and 16, the Sports Hall of the Jean Louis Vanterpool Stadium hosted the inaugural edition of the Sister Islands Basketball Tournament (SIBT), an international U18 men’s tournament organised by Territorial Basketball Committee of the Northern Islands, with support from Center for Excellence and Education through Sport (CEES) and Caisse Territorial des Oeuvres Scolaires (CTOS).
Designed as a flagship event for the development of youth basketball across the Caribbean, the tournament brought together eight U18 delegations from partner territories including Saint-Martin, Anguilla, Guadeloupe, Tortola, the United States (USA), Martinique, Sint Maarten and Saint-Eustatius.
Over two days of competition, young athletes competed in a tournament format combining group stages and knockout rounds, under a framework inspired by FIBA regulations, delivering an exciting level of competition and highlighting promising emerging talent.
Beyond the sporting results, the tournament demonstrated a broader ambition: to use sport as a tool for youth development, strengthen regional cooperation and promote pathways of excellence across the Caribbean.
The Sister Islands Basketball Tournament therefore stands as a platform for social cohesion, openness and territorial visibility, reinforcing the shared commitment of local stakeholders to position Saint-Martin as a leading territory for youth sports development in the region.
Encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by delegations, spectators and partners, the organisers are already looking ahead to ensuring the sustainability of the event, with a future edition envisioned for 2027.
Group stage results were as follows: USA v Statia 40-47, DSXM v Martinique 39-43, Saint Martin(FSM) v Anguilla 66-18, Martinique v Statia 37-27, Tortola v Anguilla 73-40, USA v DSXM 47-37.
In the semi-finals it was Saint Martin v Martinique 44-36, and USA v Guadeloupe 32-27. Saint Martin beat the USA 36-33 in the final match.
In the final overall standings by country, it was Saint Martin first, USA second, Martinique third and Guadeloupe fourth.
