Taking on teams from the Florida area, a basketball squad from central Vancouver Island came within two points of winning it all in Fort Lauderdale last weekend. (submitted photo/Colby O'Neill)

By Alex Rawnsley

international travellers

‘We were all cheering, all hype:’ Nanaimo/Parksville basketball team fall just short at Miami tournament

Aug 27, 2025 | 3:32 PM

NANAIMO — A local, player-run basketball team has shown a host of Florida-based peers how Canadians hoop.

Nine players from BBL Elite, a youth basketball team with players from Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, finished as runners-up at a tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, Aug. 24, with their only loss coming in the final in overtime.

Justin Roman was one of the players on court during the championship game and found himself at the centre of attention during the final seconds.

“We were down by two points, and there was like seven seconds left. We were inbounding the ball, I passed it to Vaughn Robinson and he got an ‘and one’ at the basket. The bucket counted, we were all cheering, all hype, and then I got a technical foul for celebrating a little too much.”

Roman said a similar foul would not have been called if the game were being held in Canada, but also admitted he and the team had been warned three times previously for their exuberance.

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Robinson scored his free throw, putting Elite up by a point, however their opponent, Hot Shots, scored one of their two free throws, as a result of Roman’s technical foul, to tie the game once more.

The game finished as a 49-47 overtime win for the Hot Shots.

Elite were the only non-Florida team at the tournament, meaning a bit of a culture shock for the players on the court.

“Compared to us, this team called the Jaguars, they shot the ball very, very well. And they were very aggressive, all these teams were aggressive. The difference between the refs, between here and Canada, here they don’t call as many fouls as they call in Canada, barely anything, but they call a lot of travels.”

The group features players from Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach. (submitted photo/Colby O’Neill)

Getting to the tournament itself, like much of the team operation, was a player-led initiative.

When the opportunity presented itself, the squad, comprised of 13 and 14-year-olds, worked to organize flights and accommodations with the help of a few parents and coaches.

Colby O’Neill is one of the team’s coaches and the father of to one player.

“I’m super proud…just the ambition of trying to do something like this at this age is kind of mind-boggling to me, because I know when I was 14, we were not buying ourselves jerseys and starting our own teams and trying to travel the world.”

O’Neill admitted the other Florida-area teams were “confused by us coming” and noted a considerable size advantage for his group compared to the other teams.

He said the experience, not only the tournament but running the team in general, is something which has been driven by the kids from day one.

Much of the group met through a local team, Island Swish, and play for their respective school teams.

“They are the ones that are making this happen. They’re being competitive and they’re still having fun, which is kind of hard to do at this age, to still be able to hang with your friends and have a smile on your face the whole time you’re hooping. It starts to get really competitive and kind of too serious sometimes.”

The team is enjoying a few bonus days in the Miami area before returning to Vancouver Island ahead of school starting next week.

A future tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, is the next major venture the team will look to work towards.

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