A Statement Win in Santiago: Cayman U23 Stuns Chile!
The Cayman Islands National Men’s Basketball team showed grit, growth, and undeniable promise at Stop 4 of the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League in Santiago, Chile. The headline moment belonged to our men’s squad, who stunned the host nation with a thrilling 21–17 victory.
CIBA President Collin Anglin emphasized the magnitude of this achievement. “This is huge. This is another David and Goliath story,” Anglin said. “Anytime we come up against countries that have millions and millions of people—Chile has a population of over 20 million—and then you’re talking about Cayman, this little speck on the map. To overcome and defeat countries that are top three in our region—it’s massive.”
The victory was a testament to the team’s resilience, coming after a tough opening loss to Canada. A key moment of the day was the selflessness of Daric Ebanks, who played through an ankle injury to provide his teammates with critical rest in the physically demanding 3×3 format. “Daric was nowhere near a hundred percent,” Anglin noted. “But he still came in for little pockets of time, putting his body on the line. It was a true team effort.”
Cayman’s tactical evolution also played a major role. Known for their outside shooting, the team added a new dimension to their attack. Bryan Ebanks provided the spark from long range, while Nathaniel Anderson was relentless in driving to the basket. Defensively, Lance Welcome anchored the paint, battling bigger opponents to shut down Chile’s post threats. “Our ability to be two-dimensional played a massive role,” said Anglin. “Bryan came out super aggressive, and Nathaniel made things very difficult for Chile because they didn’t know what to expect.”
Perhaps most impressive is the youth of this squad. With Nathaniel Anderson at 21, and three other players just 18 years old, the team is competing—and winning—in a 23-and-under international competition. This success is even more remarkable considering Cayman has only been competing in international 3×3 since 2023. Currently ranked 35th in the world in the U23 Men’s category, Cayman is proving they belong among the elite.
“This is still a very young group,” Anglin added. “The fact that they’re doing this in a 23-and-under competition—the future looks bright.”
The women’s team also showed significant progress, battling hard against elite opposition and closing the competitive gap. Both squads continue to gain invaluable experience on the world stage, building a foundation for the future of Cayman basketball.