The stage is set. Former runners-up Saints will face tournament newcomers Bad Man Fu in the KPMG Squash League final on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (Jamaica time) at the Liguanea Club, bringing weeks of intense competition to a dramatic conclusion.
After a demanding campaign involving 15 teams since late February, briefly paused for the All Jamaica Squash Championships, the league now narrows to two contenders with contrasting narratives: one chasing redemption, the other pursuing a dream debut title.
Bad Man Fu edge Thriller to reach final
Bad Man Fu secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boast Warriors in a gripping semi-final that tested both endurance and execution.
Team captain Kyle Chin described the encounter as a fiercely contested battle that went down to the wire.
“We had a very competitive semi-final match and it was a very fun night of squash. It was Bad Man Fu versus the Boast Warriors and Bad Man Fu came out on top with two matches to one and it came down to the last match.”
He outlined the sequence of play: “After starting out great with Alan Roper defeating Stuart Maxwell 3-0, we then had Ryan Foreman facing Govind Venugopal and it was a very competitive match that Govind took from Boast Warriors 3-2, and then it came down to Kyle Chin, myself, versus Stephen Dear and I came out on top winning 3-0 for us to go ahead to the finals…”
Confidence high ahead of title clash
With momentum on their side, Bad Man Fu is embracing the challenge of facing the experienced Saints lineup.
Chin anticipates a fiercely competitive final, highlighting a potential headline matchup that could define the night.
“All the matches, any way we match it up, it’s going to be very competitive but really I think what everybody is looking forward to… people really want to see myself versus Jerry Bell and I think it’s going to be a long match.”
He added: “We start at basically the same score… we’re going to 21 points per game so it’s going to be a hell of a long night. Jerry’s a very fit guy… I’m hoping that my fitness will stand up but I’m going to be going for my shots… I’m looking forward to winning the league.”
Saints surge with dominant semi-final display
Standing in their way is a Saints team determined to finally secure the title after multiple near-misses.
Led by captain Mario O’Connor, Saints delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Rocket Science in their semi-final, navigating tricky handicap starts to seal progression.
O’Connor reflected on the performance: “Happy with the results for the semi-finals. We played Rocket Science and we beat them 3-0… we didn’t have much room for error but I managed to beat him 3-0… Leigh played Noelle Nichols… we managed to beat them 3-0 overall so I’m happy with the victory.”
Despite the scoreline, he acknowledged the tension within the matches: “I think it was fairly straightforward although tight but fairly straightforward… making it to the finals.”
Saints chase history
For Saints, Friday represents more than another final, it is a long-awaited opportunity to break through.
“This is our third time in the finals… it’s the second year in a row but the third time overall making it to the finals and we’ve never won KPMG League before, so, I’m really hopeful we can get that under our belts,” O’Connor said.
With contrasting storylines, Saints seeking redemption and Bad Man Fu riding the energy of a breakthrough season, the final promises a compelling clash of experience versus momentum.
Set against the backdrop of a packed house at the Liguanea Club, the championship match is poised to deliver a fitting climax to one of the league’s most competitive seasons.
All that remains now is for the final rallies to unfold, and for one team to seize the moment.
