Late game heroics lead Mustangs, Celtics to titles at TBI Boys Tournament

L.A. Matheson's Joven Sanghera goes up for the shot against the King George Dragons in the Select 16 championship final at the 2025 Tsumura Basketball Invitational on Saturday at Langley Events Centre. Jacob Mallori/Langley Events Centre photo

Four days and 64 games later, the 2025 Tsumura Basketball Invitational Boys Tournament came to a close on Saturday at Langley Events Centre.

The Select 16 bracket saw Surrey’s L.A. Matheson Mustangs rally for a 56-51 win over Vancouver’s King George Dragon while the Super 16 final featured the St. Patrick Celtics (Vancouver) use a strong second half to knock off the Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) 78-72

For full schedule and scores, please visit www.langleyeventscentre.com/tbi 

Select 16

L.A. Matheson Mustangs 56 King George Dragons 51

Averaging 85 points per game — and dipping below 80 just once in their first seven outings — Surrey’s L.A. Matheson Mustangs found themselves in unfamiliar territory on Saturday.

“We had a game plan: we wanted to speed them up, but King George loves to play a slower style of basketball,” said Mustangs coach Tyler Ram. “Full credit to them; we played into their style.”

In the Select 16 bracket championship final at the 2025 Tsumura Basketball Invitational, the Dragons dictated the tempo on the South Court at Langley Events Centre, especially in a second quarter that saw the normally high-flying Mustangs held to just six points. King George’s defensive effort erased a 20-10 deficit and pulled the game even at 26.

“This is huge for us,” Ram said. “A lot of our games haven’t looked like this one, and I really wanted a signature win early in the season — something where we learned how to manage the clock, come back from a deficit, stay even-keeled and close out a game.”

King George entered the fourth quarter up three and still led by two with under three minutes remaining before the Mustangs closed on a decisive 9-0 run to seal a 56-51 victory.

“In that stretch, I just told them to trust our game plan — keep the pressure on, keep trying to run, and eventually the shots would fall,” Ram said.

Mustangs point guard Jashan Mahal was named Select 16 Tournament MVP. Damien Onokpite led L.A. Matheson with 20 points and earned Player of the Game honours, while Mahal and Joven Sanghera added 10 apiece. King George was led by Mihailo Lukic’s 15 points and 13 from Abud Shawwa.

Super 16

In a battle of the top-ranked teams in the 3A and 4A ranks, it was Vancouver’s St. Patrick Celtics (3A) using a second-half rally to defeat Surrey’s Tamanawis Wildcats (4A) 78-72.

The two teams were playing in the Super 16 bracket final of the 2025 Tsumura Basketball Invitational boys tournament on Saturday on the South Court at Langley Events Centre.

Celtics head coach Nap Santos said his team needed time to settle in.

“Really proud of the kids,” he said. “I was on them in the first — we didn’t play really well.”

St. Patrick trailed by six early and struggled to run their offence, a combination of limited practice time and being caught off guard by Tamanawis’ zone defence. The Celtics shot just 16 percent from three-point range in the first half and went into the locker room down 42-36.

“We calmed down at halftime,” Santos said. The adjustment paid off as St. Patrick found its rhythm, erasing the deficit and pulling even at 58 heading into the fourth quarter. The Celtics then closed strong, shooting 60 percent in the second half to secure the win.

Santos praised the Wildcats and longtime coach Mike McKay. “I have so much respect for Mike and the Tamanawis program and what they do.”

Celtics guard Riley Santa Juana was named Super 16 Tournament MVP.

“He is the calmest guy out there,” Santos said. “He is the best guy out there and we all trust him.”

St. Patrick placed five players in double figures: Jaiden Quan scored 17, Jemuel Castro and Dhyne Cortin had 14 apiece, and both Jericho Labrador and Santa Juana finished with 13.

Tamanawis was led by Player of the Game Luka Guzina, who poured in 32 points, while Anand Sandhu added 16.

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