Golden Blues
The Capilano Blues win PACWEST gold on Saturday night with an upset win over the VIU Mariners
Capilano Blues 75
VIU Mariners 70
The Capilano Blues are PACWEST champs in 2025 after an exciting five-point victory over the VIU Mariners on Saturday night.
Defensively the Blues were simply outstanding holding the Mariners to 38% shooting and collected eight blocks, seven steals and forced 14 turnovers. Damein Coleman showed off his incredible defensive skills recording five blocks and shutdown the Mariners offensive push back.
On the offensive side the Blues shot 41% from the field led by Player of the Game Ahmed Athman who tallied a game high 21 points and quarterbacked the offence to a very balanced attack. Kash Lang found his stroke and dropped 18 points while David Featherston Jr added 16 including a thunderous dunk in the late stages of the game. For the second straight game Arshya Ghasemi was a sparkplug off the bench adding four-three pointers finishing with 15 points.
Outside of Kameron Bender, the Mariners found it difficult to find secondary scoring. Kai Leighton came alive for 16 points late in the game and knocked down three-three pointers, but it was too little late. He was named the Player of the Game. Bender finished with 21 points.
The Blues win their second PACWEST gold in three years and have advanced to the CCAA national championship tournament in two weeks hosted in Quebec.
Following the game the tournament All-Stars and MVP were announed:
All-Stars
Jaime Palamos Molins – Camosun Chargers
Cam Carter – CBC Bearcats
Kameron Bender – VIU Mariners
David Featherston Jr – Capilano Blues
Damein Coleman – Capilano Blues
Tournament MVP
Ahmed Athman - Capilano Blues