Pool draw sets stage for 2026 Bring Ya Best Basketball Tournament, 10 teams confirmed

GREAT BAY--The official pool draw for the 2026 Bring Ya Best (BYB) Invitational Basketball Tournament has been completed, setting the stage for a week of international basketball, competition, culture and community spirit in St. Maarten.

The team draft and pool selection were recently held at Princess Casino Tropicana, where participating countries were randomly drawn and placed into their respective pools. Organizers said the draw was conducted in a fun and transparent manner, with country names placed in a barrel and randomly selected by the BYB promotional team.

The official pools are as follows:

Pool A
St. Kitts
United St. Martin
Virgin Gorda
USA
St. Eustatius

Pool B
Tortola
Aruba
Dominica
Canada
Haiti

The inaugural BYB Invitational Basketball Tournament, hosted by the Reason for Hope Foundation, will take place from July 12 to 18, 2026, at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium in St. Maarten. The week-long event will bring together teams from across the Caribbean, North America and beyond, with organizers aiming to develop BYB into one of the region’s leading basketball tournaments.

Reason for Hope Foundation President Shabazz Buchanan said the tournament is about more than competition. It is also about creating exposure and opportunity for talented athletes.

“The primary objective is to provide exposure for talented players,” Buchanan said. “We are bringing scouts and coaches from the United States to evaluate athletes, with the hope of creating pathways to college and professional basketball opportunities in the U.S. and Europe.”

Founded in 2024, the Reason for Hope Foundation focuses on youth development, community empowerment and creating opportunities through sports, education and positive engagement initiatives. The BYB Tournament represents the foundation’s first major international sporting event.

Buchanan said the diversity of the participating teams will help create a unique sporting and cultural experience for St. Maarten.

“We have a great variety of teams and cultures coming together. This tournament is not just about basketball; it’s about creating an experience that showcases St. Maarten as a sporting and tourism destination,” he said.

The tournament will feature a competitive prize package, with the champion receiving US$20,000, the runner-up receiving US$5,000, and the third-place team receiving US$2,500. Individual awards will include US$1,000 for Tournament MVP, US$300 for the Slam Dunk Champion, and US$200 for the Three-Point Shootout Champion.

In addition to the games, organizers are planning nightly entertainment, giveaways and social activities to enhance the overall fan experience. The tournament will also include a Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Shootout.

“We’re building a complete basketball experience,” Buchanan said. “From the competition and international participation to the entertainment and fan engagement, we’re creating something special.”

Admission has been set at US$8 per night for adults and US$4 per night for children. A tournament pass for all seven nights will be available for US$50. VIP packages are also being finalized and are expected to include premium seating, parking, tournament merchandise and other benefits.

BYB is encouraging residents of St. Maarten, neighboring islands and visiting supporters to come out, bring their flags, wear their colors and support the teams throughout the week.

A special thank you was extended to Princess Casino Tropicana for hosting the official pool draw and to everyone who attended and supported the event.

“This is a tournament that promises to become one of the premier basketball events in the region,” Buchanan said. “If you love basketball, Bring Ya Best is the place to be from July 12th to July 18th.”

For more information, follow Reason for Hope BYB on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About the Reason for Hope Foundation
The Reason for Hope Foundation is a St. Maarten-based non-profit organization established in 2024. The foundation is dedicated to youth development, community empowerment and creating opportunities through sports, education and positive engagement initiatives.

‍