Clapham repeat as champions in thrilling finale

In a Game 5 for the ages, the Burger King Clapham Bulls edged out the 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics 87–86 on Sunday night at the Wildey Gymnasium to repeat as champions of the Co-operators General Insurance BABA Premier League in front of a raucous, packed house of over 500 fans.

With both teams looking to win the war after coming in tied 2-2, there were nineteen lead changes, which came down to the very last possession.

The tense, high-stakes game saw Clapham sweep Barbados’ premier basketball trophies in 2025, having already secured the President’s Cup and 3×3 titles earlier this year.

As the clock expired, it was fitting that the final outlet pass landed in the hands of Akeem Marsh, the Finals MVP, who was a towering presence once again with 20 points and six rebounds. The Bulls had survived a furious Celtics push and a last-gasp running three by Deroni ‘The Maestro’ Hurley, who finished with 25 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in a heroic performance that nearly stole the honours.

Unfortunately, ‘almost’ does not win a championship, and Clapham executed when it counted to claim a well-deserved crown, 3-2.

With the score at 86–83 after a big bucket in the paint by Marsh and just under 18 seconds to go, the Celtics were threatening. Joel Hunte had split a pair of free throws after a Bulls foul in the penalty, and following a giant offensive board, Andrew Ifill went to the line. He calmly sank one of two to stretch it to 87–83 to make it a two-possession game. It was just enough breathing room to withstand a step through deep triple by Hurley with four seconds left.

It was not the first time Ifill had come up clutch. He also scored the winning points in the finals last year to sink City. This year, it was another defining contribution in a legacy of sending home the number one seed.

It was not clear from the jump that this would be a defensive slugfest. Both teams lit it up early, taking advantage of poor perimeter defence to trade buckets. The Celtics led 20-24 at the end of the first quarter and pushed it up to 20-27 after three minutes into the second. Rasheed Maynard and Derion Hurley sparked a Bulls run later in the period that tied the game at 37–37.

By halftime, the Celtics were clinging on to the advantage, 48-49, helped by disciplined ball handling—just two turnovers to Clapham’s 11. However, Clapham had the hot hand, hitting 10 of 17 from deep, with Derion Hurley knocking down three and Ifill drilling two.

The second half could only be deemed as a dogfight.

Kiserian Adams twisted his ankle barely a minute into the third quarter after colliding with Marsh, but played through it. The score see-sawed 56-55 to Clapham, then 61-62 to Celtics, until the coach of Clapham, Kelan Phillips, rotated Marsh out briefly to steal rest, relying on Junior Moore and Antoine Winter to hold the paint.

Then came the moment. With 7:02 minutes left and the Bulls up 76–71, Rasheed Maynard kept attacking the rim, Derion Hurley nailed a deep three, and Marsh bullied his way for a putback and an And-1. Winter cut behind the defence for a layup. Clapham turned a tight game into an 84–74 edge in two brutal minutes.

Still, the Celtics refused to go quietly. Deroni Hurley hit his third three of the quarter, and Adams drove left for a finish. Then, Hurley added a layup to cut it to 86–81 with 1:50 remaining. A Bulls turnover gave City hope, and Hurley again made it a one-possession game from the stripe.

But after Hunte missed a crucial free throw, Ifill came up big again, pulling down the offensive rebound, drawing the foul, and putting the game out of reach.

Despite scoring more fast-break points (20–7), fewer turnovers, and shooting 47.1 per cent from the field, the Celtics could not close the gap when it mattered. Hurley was phenomenal. Adams had 18, and Hunte added 19. But the Bulls answered every run, every punch, finishing just shy of 50 per cent shooting and 44 per cent from behind the arc.

Rasheed Maynard finished with 22 points, Derion Hurley scored 14, including four threes in an excellent shooting night, and Simeon Maynard contributed 12. Clapham’s bench again played its role, outscoring City’s 22–8, with Antoine Winter and Andrew Ifill delivering when needed most.

The patrons on hand got their money’s worth from the 2025 playoffs and ultimately the finals.

(AS)