ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – The Tanteen Netball Court witnessed a major upheaval in the fifth ECCB International Netball Series as Saint Lucia stunned tournament heavyweights Antigua and Barbuda, storming to a commanding 45-33 victory.
The result not only ended Antigua and Barbuda’s flawless run but also sent a ripple of excitement—and warning—through the entire 10-team competition.
Antigua and Barbuda’s unstoppable start
Coming into the clash, Antigua and Barbuda looked untouchable. Their campaign began with ruthless precision: demolishing Anguilla 63-17, thrashing Montserrat 53-14, and overpowering Guyana 60-10. With such overwhelming margins, they were widely regarded as the team to beat and the undisputed favorites for the crown.
Yet, when it mattered most, Saint Lucia delivered a performance of grit and brilliance. Their suffocating defensive pressure smothered Antigua’s attack, while their shooters maintained clinical accuracy to steadily build an unassailable lead. The 12-point margin was no fluke; it was a statement of intent.
A tournament transformed
This result reshapes the complexion of the ECCB Series. What once appeared to be a one-sided march toward the title has now opened into a battle of contenders, with Saint Lucia proving that even the strongest can be brought down. The victory serves as both inspiration and warning for the rest of the field: no team is invincible.
The prestigious tournament features the seven member territories of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank—Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—joined by invited challengers Barbados, the Cayman Islands, and Guyana. With Saint Lucia’s upset shaking the order, the race for supremacy promises even greater drama in the matches ahead.
