Corentin-Riley, Mobhair lift Fatima, St Joseph’s Convent to national titles
2026-03-26 - 00:13
Elijah Corentin-Riley and Li Mobhair put on dominant displays to ignite the Secondary Schools Basketball League (SSBL) National Championships at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando, yesterday. Corentin-Riley was a force of nature for Fatima College, while Mohabir was unstoppable for St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain (SJCPOS). Both athletes rightfully earned Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours in their respective divisions on the opening day of the competition hosted by the T&T Schools Basketball Association. Fatima claims historic U-13 title In the boys’ Under-13 final, Corentin-Riley was explosive on offence leaving the Hillview College defence searching for answers. He topscored with a commanding 25 points to lead Fatima to a 42-25 victory. While Hillview fought valiantly to stay within striking distance, they simply had no answer for Corentin-Riley’s intensity. The win secured Fatima’s first-ever U-13 division title, a feat praised by coach Garvin Warwick. “It is a significant achievement for our U-13 team to win the first-ever U-13 national title,” Warwick said yesterday. “Our boys put in the work to get to this position and I’m proud of their accomplishment. The work continues.” SJCPOS rules girls U-15 divison Later in the day, representing the North Zone, the young team, only in their second year of competition, SJCPOS, led by Mobhair, earned the girls’ U-15 division title in a three-team round-robin competition. In St Joseph’s opening clash against Palo Seco Secondary, she dropped 17 points to anchor a comfortable 33-9 victory. The title came down to a virtual final against Five Rivers Secondary, who had previously defeated Palo Seco 26-18 behind 15 points from Jayda Herbert. In the decider, Mobhair exploded for 23 points to secure a 41-17 blowout win. With a perfect 2-0 record, SJCPOS topped the standings fuelled by Mohabir’s leadership and clinical finishing. Coach Lennox Sobers and their Teacher Giselle Darlington praised the team’s collective spirit, highlighting the defensive grit and offensive execution that defined their championship run. According to the coaching team, “This victory is not just about the scoreline—it’s about the heart, unity, and pride these young athletes brought to every possession. “The SJC All Stars now stand as national champions, a testament to their dedication, teamwork, and the unwavering support of their school community. Their triumph marks a proud moment for the North Zone and sets the stage for continued excellence in youth basketball.” Saints, Arima North command U-15 boys While the MVPs grabbed the headlines, the boys’ U-15 division witnessed a statement of intent from St Mary’s College. The “Saints” dismantled St Benedict’s College 66-15, led by Josiah John’s 18 points in a disciplined team effort. However, the top individual scoring performance of the day belonged to Lance Crouch of Arima North. Crouch notched 33 points in a 56-31 victory over Signal Hill, signalling that the race for the U-15 title remains wide open. The tournament transitions to the semifinal stage in the senior divisions today. The schedule is packed with zonal rivalries to determine who will earn a spot in the national finals. Action begins at 9 am. Results Boys U-13 (Final) Hillview 25 vs Fatima 42 (Elijah Corentin Riley 25). MVP – Elijah Corentin-Riley Girls U-15 SJCPOS 41 (Li Mobhair 23) vs Five Rivers 17. MVP – Li Mobhair Palo Seco 18 vs Five Rivers 26 (Jayda Herbert 15) SJCPOS 33 (Li Mohabir 17) vs Palo Seco 9 Standings Pl*Team*P*W*L*Pts 1*SJCPOS*2*2*0*4 2*Five Rivers*2*1*1*3 3*Palo Seco*2*0*2*2 Boys U-15 St Mary’s 66 (Josiah John 18) vs St Benedict’s 15 Arima North 56 (Lance Crouch 33) vs Signal Hill 31 Today’s matches Semifinals Boys U-17 East vs Tobago, 9 am North vs South/Central, 10 am Girls Open Tobago vs North, 11 am Boys U-20 North vs Tobago, 12 noon East vs South/Central, 1 pm Third-place playoffs Boys U-15, 2 pm Girls Open, 3 pm