At the Tanteen Hard Courts in Grenada on Thursday night, St. Vincent and the Grenadines showcased their championship mettle, brushing aside a spirited Saint Lucia 57–43 to extend their unbeaten run in the ECCB International Netball Series.
The highly anticipated clash—dubbed the “battle of the saints”—saw the defending champions dictate the pace in all four quarters: 18-11, 30-19, 44-29, before sealing victory with authority.
The win comes less than 24 hours after the Vincy Jewels stunned the fancied Bajan Gems, leaving no doubt that they remain the team to beat as they march toward retaining their crown.
Saint Lucia’s fighting spirit
Although Saint Lucia entered the contest with revenge in mind, still stung by last year’s home defeat, their effort was not enough to unsettle the Vincentian juggernaut. Goal-attack Merlika Destang was in sublime form, sinking 25 goals from 30 attempts at an 83.3 percent accuracy rate, while goal-shoot Shem Maxwell added 18 from 22, converting at 81.8 percent.
Frederick on fire
For the defending champions, goal-shooter Maryann Frederick continued her breathtaking run of form, netting 51 goals from 54 attempts at an astonishing 94.4 percent accuracy. She was ably supported by goal-attack Kristiana Christopher, who chipped in six goals from 10 attempts. Frederick’s dominance keeps her well ahead in the tournament’s scoring charts with 315 goals from 347 attempts in six matches—well clear of Grenada’s Lottysha Cato (237 from 285).
Debutant’s reflections
Vincentian newcomer Phiunza Laborde made her debut on court and in front of the media. In her post-match reflections, she highlighted the team’s evolution from last year’s campaign:
“Our strategy was for us to come stronger than last year. We made some adjustments because we knew the opponents would come harder, but we stuck to a good mindset—more focused, more determined—so that we could conquer them in the end.”
Addressing what appeared to be signs of fatigue within the squad, Laborde revealed that the Jewels managed their intensity carefully:
“The approach was to slow it down a bit, save the passes, avoid injury, and make better plays until the end.”
When asked about their upcoming clash with hosts Grenada on Sunday, she declined to speculate, insisting the outcome would depend entirely on execution on the court.
Shockwaves across the series
Elsewhere in Thursday’s fixtures, the tournament saw dramatic swings. In a major upset, world-ranked No. 40 Cayman Islands stunned No. 21 Grenada 58-46. Antigua and Barbuda dispatched Dominica 60-38, while Anguilla overcame Montserrat 39-25, and Barbados crushed Guyana with a ruthless 94-16 rout. Earlier in the day, the Cayman Islands also defeated Dominica 58-43, while Montserrat edged Guyana 37-34.
Standings spotlight
Behind Frederick and Cato in the top-scorer rankings sits Antigua and Barbuda’s Rayana Regis (198 from 253), Cayman Islands’ Kay Copeland (186 from 226), and Dominica’s Galiene Gordon-Seraphine (138 from 175). With the competition intensifying, all eyes remain on whether Frederick’s blistering accuracy can carry the Vincy Jewels all the way to another championship.
