After years of near-misses, Saints finally seized their moment.
In front of a packed gallery at Liguanea Club, Saints powered past Bad Man Fu to claim the KPMG Squash League title last Friday, delivering a performance defined by preparation, precision, and poise.
For Saints, it was a long-awaited breakthrough in their third final appearance. For their opponents, it was a debut on the biggest stage that promised fireworks, but ultimately ran into a more complete unit.
Early statement: Bell sets the tone
The opening match immediately signaled the direction of the contest.
Jerazeno Bell showcased superior anticipation, fitness, and control to overpower Alan Roper in straight sets. Though Roper battled early, pushing the first game to a tight finish, he was forced into two breaks and eventually conceded momentum.
Bell surged through 15-13, 21-16, 21-15, dictating rallies with sharp placement and relentless pace to give Saints a decisive early advantage.
If the opener set the tone, Saints captain Mario O’Connor delivered the knockout blow.
Facing Roderick Rowe, O’Connor controlled every inch of the court, forcing his opponent into constant recovery mode. The result was emphatic: 21-9, 21-15, 21-11.
Two matches, two straight-set victories, and the title was effectively secured.
A consolation, not a comeback
The final match offered Kyle Chin and Bad Man Fu a measure of pride.
Chin, the team’s standout performer, defeated Leigh Dwyer in straight sets (21-17, 21-15, 21-19), but the outcome had already been decided.
Saints had executed their plan too well to be denied.
For O’Connor, who was later named the league’s MVP, the victory carried deep personal and collective significance.
“We’ve come to the finals three times, finally winning this one. Got knocked out a series of times in the semis and the quarters. So I’m over the moon right now, I’m very happy.”
He emphasized that the triumph was rooted in unity and tactical clarity:
“These guys, they’re over the moon as I am. And as a team, you know, we stuck together, we tried to play everybody’s strengths, utilize that throughout the tournament. And it really worked out.”
Preparation, he noted, extended even to lineup strategy: “It’s something we discussed as a team, trying to figure out what the best playing order would be and what would be best for us. Regardless of the order that they had, we wanted to stick to our strongest players playing first and it paid off in the end. Unfortunately, they didn’t do that and it really worked out for us. I’m glad for that.”
Bad Man Fu reflect on what might have been
For Chin, the defeat came down to both circumstance and strategy.
“The man dem play strategy pon we. Two things happened. So first of all, today I got a message from one of my teammates that he wasn’t feeling well at all, came down with the flu and could not come and play. So we had to play our reserve, so that was the first thing.”
He also pointed to the unpredictable lineup format: “So we don’t get to see each other’s line-up… whereas I wanted to play against Jerry, they played the strategy and they put Jerry against someone else… And they just kind of had a greater line-up in terms of the draw. And it led to what it led to, and they played very well. And all credit to them, they won.”
Tournament director Nathlee Boreland underscored the enduring appeal of the competition: “This tournament is one that the squash community looks forward to every year. It’s one of our premier tournaments on the Jamaica squash calendar. The tournament never disappoints.”
She highlighted the unique handicap format: “It’s a handicap format, which means all players have equal chances of being the victor of any match they’re playing… whether you’re a beginner… or you’re more seasoned as a player… any person can win.”
A partnership built to last
The success of the league continues to be anchored by long-term support.
Karen Anderson, president of Jamaica Squash Association, praised title sponsor KPMG: “We’re very proud, and I’m really heartened by the partnership we have with KPMG. Twenty-six years is nothing to sneeze at… we’re extremely proud and looking forward to our continued partnership with them.”
She also pointed to a busy calendar ahead, including the rescheduled Senior Caribbean Championships later this year.
For Saints, the night was about more than a trophy, it was about validation.
After years of knocking on the door, they finally broke through, combining strategy, discipline, and execution when it mattered most.
This time, they did not just reach the final.
They owned it.
