Belief: The fuel behind UPEI’s thrilling championship comeback

By Thomas Becker

Belief is a powerful word—especially when a team fully embraces everything it stands for.

For the UPEI Panthers, that word echoed through the locker room at halftime of Sunday's championship thriller. Down 16 points to the St. FX X-Men, the Panthers were on the ropes, their Atlantic University Sport (AUS) title hopes slipping away. At one point late in the second quarter, they trailed by as much as 24, as St. FX looked poised to run away with the championship.

"Things didn't go our way in the first half. I saw guys hanging their heads, feeling sorry for themselves. We lost our identity a bit," said head coach Darrell Glenn. "I challenged them to believe—believe in themselves and in us." 

That speech clearly hit home. The Panthers stormed back in the second half, outscoring St. FX 56-35 to complete an unforgettable comeback and capture their first AUS championship in 22 years. The final score: 84-79.

A CAPTAIN'S LEGACY

In the week leading up to the championship, Kamari Scott—the team's captain and emotional leader—knew this was his final shot at AUS glory, and he left everything on the court. He finished with a team-high 24 points and seven rebounds, but his inspired play in the third quarter ignited the rally. He opened the frame with a baesline fadeaway followed by a smooth pull-up jumper to spark a 12-0 run, cutting the deficit to 44-40. Scott had eight points in the quarter and injected life into the Panthers. 

"This one feels incredible. We knew it would be a dogfight, and at halftime, we were down big. But I told the guys we have to believe. Lock in, dig deep, and leave it all out there. And that's what we did."

For Scott, the win carried extra weight. Two years ago, he was part of the Panthers team that suffered a crushing 50-point defeat to St. FX in the championship game—a memory that never left him.

"This one is for all my guys, past and present," he said. "We came up short before, but I told these guys—this is my third time here, and third time's a charm."

By the end of the third quarter, St. FX still held a 58-54 lead, setting the stage for an improbable finish.

CLOSING THE GAP, SEIZING THE MOMENT

St. FX star DJ Jackson scored a game-high 33 points and extended the lead to 66-56 with 8:09 remaining on his signature pull-up jumper. Jackson attempted 30 shots to get those 33 points—a testament to the relentless defence of Sam Chisholm, who hounded him all game and made him work for every basket.

Despite the double-digit deficit, the momentum had clearly shifted, and UPEI wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. The Panthers responded with a 9-0 run, inching within a single point. After Jackson connected on a high-difficulty off-balance bank shot, rookie point guard Tarrence Booker converted back-to-back layups to pull UPEI ahead 69-68.

From there, the teams traded baskets until Kyree Thompson delivered two clutch shots—a deep three-pointer and a smooth midrange fadeaway—that gave the Panthers a four-point cushion. Thompson finished with 20 points, four steals, and three assists.

Scott then sealed the win from the free throw line, sinking five of six in the closing moments.

After the game, Thompson reflected on the rollercoaster of emotions.

"We just had to stick together. We've faced challenges before, and we've had our share of ups and downs, but one thing about us—we're resilient. No matter what, we always fight as one."

GONZALEZ LONGARELA: AN ANCHOR IN THE PAINT 

Daniel Gonzalez Longarela also came up big in the fourth quarter, dropping eight of his 18 points. The veteran centre notched his second double-double of the tournament, dominating the glass with 13 rebounds while adding four steals and a block to his stat line.

Two years ago, Gonzalez Longarela left Bishop's for UPEI in search of a bigger role—a decision he's never looked back on. Since then, he became a fan favourite and established himself as one of the most dominant low-post forces in the AUS.

"When I finished my bachelor's degree and was looking for a school to do my master's, I had some good options," he said. "But after a phone call with Coach Glenn, I knew right away where I wanted to go. I hadn't heard of PEI before, but I was determined to come here. The way I approach the game aligns perfectly with Coach Glenn's values—we put the team first and focus on defence. He's built a winning culture here, and I'll always be grateful for his trust in me."

HISTORY MADE

The Panthers' comeback will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in program history. With belief as their foundation, they overcame adversity, defied the odds, and brought an AUS championship back to UPEI for the first time in 22 years.

And as Scott and his teammates walked off the court, the trophy in one hand and the banner in the other, he knew—they hadn't just won a championship. They had written themselves into UPEI history.