The 2026 KFC National Basketball League is down to its final two contenders, with the Soufrière Kings and Bonne Terre Blazers advancing to the title decider after winning their best-of-three semifinal matchups Friday night at the Beausejour Gymnasium. For the Kings, the journey to the championship continues their pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive league title, while the Blazers, who claimed the 2023 championship when the tournament resumed following a five-year suspension, are returning to the final to fight for their second crown in four years.
In the first semifinal, the Soufrière Kings secured a convincing 76-63 victory over the Morne Gladiators, in a rematch of the 2024 championship final. After a chaotic, heated opening quarter that set a tense tone for the matchup, the Kings seized control of the game, stretching their lead to as much as 20 points in the final 10 minutes of play to lock in their final spot.
The defining edge for the Kings came from their relentless defensive pressure and sharp focus on ball security. Defensive pressure forced the Gladiators into 29 total turnovers, while the Kings forced 23 steals across the roster – with five different Kings players notching four or more steals each – and only gave up the ball 16 times. Conversely, the Gladiators only managed 10 steals total, a gap that ultimately sealed their fate.
Leading the charge for the Kings was Sydney Didier, who delivered an all-around standout performance, filling the stat sheet with 23 points, five rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Starting forward Jayzee Saltibus played through an early ankle injury to record a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, adding four steals to his line. Playmaker Kimani Charles fell just short of a double-double, putting up 10 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and four steals to round out the Kings’ top contributors. For the Gladiators, Keegan Preville and Shamoir Jn Baptiste combined for 31 total points, with Preville adding 10 rebounds, while Cletuson Leon led the team on the glass with 12 boards.
In the second semifinal, the Bonne Terre Blazers outlasted the Courts Jets in a tightly contested nailbiter, pulling out a narrow 65-63 win to secure their spot in the championship. The result marked the Blazers’ fourth straight victory over the Jets this season. The Blazers controlled much of the game after the first three quarters, building a lead of as much as 12 points before holding off a late push from the Jets to secure the two-point win. Strong offensive rebounding and better ball management were the key differences for the Blazers, mirroring the winning formula the Kings used earlier in the night.
Andre Louison led the Blazers with a near-triple-double performance, putting up 18 points, 10 rebounds, seven steals, and three assists. Troy Louison topped the team’s scoring with 20 points, adding nine rebounds, while center Orin Thomas chipped in four points and 10 rebounds to anchor the frontcourt. For the Jets, guard Ryan Philogene led all scorers with 20 points and added seven steals, but his standout performance was not enough to overcome the Blazers’ early lead.