VBL / VWL Opening Day 2025
20 Years Around the Sun: Veniceball Returns in Style
What a moment. After two decades of blood, sweat and tears, Venice Basketball League celebrated its 20th anniversary with a homecoming like no other. A monumental day filled with legacy and new energy, the family returned to the court with new Puma collab dazzle-thread baggy uniforms, and a lineup of 12 fierce squads—men’s, women’s, and OGs—ready to battle it out. Veniceball also released the very limited edition Awful lot of Veniceball collab with Desto Dubb who had the fans lined up!
The air was buzzing great vibes, performances and some statement poster dunks. VBL’s own legendary artists Crushow and Zer brought the Hoopbus mural to life with live graffiti, while Compton Vegan kept the crowd fed with fire eats.
Plezi hydration held us down under the sun, and Red Bull kept the energy lit. As DJ A star spun, MC and new commissioner Ced Ceballos kept laying down the law, Nico and Showtime kept the crowd hype while performers rocked the stage, and the vibes elevated, one thing was clear—this wasn’t just a new season, it was a celebration of 20 years of community, culture, and infinite buckets
Let’s dive into how it all tipped off, starting with the VWL Season Opener.
Lady Sweat 42, GRG 27
Lady Sweats open title defense with dominant win
The defending champions Lady Sweats came out firing to start their title defense, cruising to a 42–27 win over GRG in the VWL season opener.
Leading the way was Hailey, aka the Lady White Mamba, who poured in 13 points, including three 3-pointers, shooting an efficient 42% from the field. Her confidence and veteran presence set the tone from the opening tip.
Shereen added 6 points and 6 rebounds, while #4 Ruth chipped in another 6 points in a balanced offensive attack. The champs locked in defensively too—GRG was held to just 32% shooting from the field and 17% from three (1-for-6).
Despite the loss, GRG showed flashes, with #9 K. Lawson leading the team in scoring with 8 points. Jayza contributed 5 points, while Jessica added 6, but the offense never found consistent rhythm under the Lady Sweats’ defensive pressure.
Statement win. The Lady Sweats reminded the league why they’re the team to beat, while GRG will look to regroup and bounce back next game
Westside War 59, Tru Heights 35
The VBL Season XX opened with a statement win from Westside War, who controlled both ends of the floor in a dominant 59-35 victory over Tru Heights. Behind sharp ball movement and efficient scoring, Westside starts the season at 1-0.
Player of the Game Jordan Robinson led all scorers with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting, sparking a 10-2 run to open the game. Daniel Estes added 9 points on 80% shooting, while Jayson Moore (8 pts), Jordan Roach (6 pts, 3-3 FG), and Wil Argueta (6 pts, 75% FG) powered a well-balanced attack. After jumping out to a 24-16 lead, Westside held firm, responding to every push and closing strong with a dominant fourth quarter.
Tru Heights showed bright spots despite the loss. Quincy Helsel posted 9 points, including a key three during a second-quarter run that gave them a brief 25-24 lead at halftime. Brandon Towns added 6, while Samuel Moore and Vieux chipped in 4 each.
Though Westside’s depth and execution pulled them away late, Tru Heights’ fight and flashes of rhythm offer optimism heading into the next game.
Hoopbus 48, WHN 18
Hoopbus kicked off their VWL season with a dominant 48-18 victory over WHN, showcasing a deep and talented roster headlined by standout performances and a strong second-half surge. The win moves Hoopbus to 1-0 on the season.
Player of the Game Ellis (#44) led the charge with a commanding double-double—13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals on 6-of-9 shooting. The team jumped out to a 9-0 start behind Jessica Kuster’s 5 quick points before WHN stormed back with a 10-0 run to grab a 10-9 lead entering the second quarter.
Hoopbus responded with poise, extending the lead behind Ellis in the second, then broke the game open in the third behind Baller Bree’s 6-point quarter. In the fourth, it was French pro Lisa Berkani (#10) who closed it out in style. Berkani—drafted 24th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2017 WNBA Draft—is a seasoned international guard known for her crafty scoring and defensive instincts. She poured in 10 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and tallied 4 steals, showcasing her poise and elite-level experience in front of the VWL crowd.
The offensive depth was on full display, with five players scoring 5+ points. Janae (#2) chipped in 6, while Kuster added 5 in a well-rounded season opener.
WHN showed promising flashes despite the loss. Icey (#10) led the team with 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including two strong finishes in the third. Kameria (#3) added 4 points, while Amer (#15), Mae mae (#11), and Lani (#2) each scored 2. After taking an early lead, WHN couldn’t keep pace with Hoopbus’ depth and firepower down the stretch, but their first-quarter run proved this team has potential as they continue to find their rhythm.
United Nation 55, Hidden Empire 54
Final – Gamebreaker Rule
In one of the most thrilling finishes of VBL Season XX’s opening weekend, United Nation pulled off a stunning 55-54 comeback victory over Hidden Empire, sealed by the gamebreaker rule and a clutch three-pointer from Van Girard (#30). Down late in the fourth, United Nation closed the game on a 6-0 run to snatch the win and start their season 1-0.
Van Girard was the hero, earning Player of the Game honors with 15 points and a 3-for-4 performance from deep, including the game-winner that ended the contest in walk-off fashion. United Nation had to claw their way back after trailing by as many as 11 early in the second quarter. Kyonosuke (#2) added 12 points with his relentless pace, while Obi (#3) delivered in the clutch, finishing with 11 points and two huge threes in the final frame. Giles (#10) chipped in 5 off the bench, and Jamaican Jay (#4) added 8 in a balanced scoring effort.
Hidden Empire looked in control for much of the game, opening on a 19-7 run and leading 29-23 at the half. Amir Smith was dominant, dropping 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Navar Elmore was nearly perfect from the floor, scoring 14 on 7-of-8. Bernard Ireland added 11, helping Hidden Empire build a 54-49 advantage late in the fourth. But the lead wouldn’t hold.
With the score tied at 54-all under gamebreaker rules (first to 55 wins), Van Girard pulled up from deep and buried the final dagger to complete the comeback and send United Nation into celebration. Despite the loss, Hidden Empire’s strong showing and offensive rhythm make them a team to watch going forward.
BBJ 61, Cough Syrup 55
BBJ kicked off their VBL Season XX campaign with a solid 61-55 win over Cough Syrup, fueled by efficient scoring and strong contributions across the board.
Zach Hinton led the way with a dominant 20-point performance on 10-of-14 shooting, establishing himself early as a force inside. Hezi God followed with 14 points, including two three-pointers and a 50% clip from the field. BBJ’s offense stayed in rhythm throughout, with key support from Treydeuce (9 points on 80% shooting), Trey Savage (8 points on a perfect 3-of-3), and Lucky (6 points on 3-of-3 shooting).
Cough Syrup showed heart and grit, staying within reach for most of the game. Juice Billbrew was electric, pouring in 22 points and knocking down 4-of-5 from three. AJ Harris added 9 points on efficient looks, while London Benford (6 points) and Slim (6 points) provided key buckets in the second half.
Cough Syrup cut the deficit to just two late in the fourth at 53-51, but BBJ closed strong with timely buckets to seal the win. With a 1-0 start, BBJ showed they’re a threat on both ends, while Cough Syrup proved they can hang with top teams and will be looking to bounce back in their next outing.
Crept Protect 67, Timeless 38
Crept Protect wrapped up the VBL Season XX opener slate with a commanding 67-38 win over Timeless, starting their season at 1-0 behind a deep, balanced attack and smothering defense.
After trailing 16-8 in the first quarter, Crept responded with back-to-back threes from Oz and Dame Parker, flipping the game’s momentum. They closed the half on a dominant run and never looked back.
Player of the Game Troy led all scorers with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Solo added 12 points and Devon chipped in 10 on 5-of-7 from the field. Omari Ferguson scored 9 points, and Dame Parker added 6 with two threes. Crept Protect’s unselfish ball movement and sharp shooting proved too much to handle, as they pulled away for a statement win.
Timeless started fast behind Mar’s 14 points (7-of-8 FG) and Blake’s 11, but couldn’t maintain the pace. Seven added 7 points, but the team struggled to find rhythm after the first quarter. Despite the loss, Timeless showed flashes of potential to build on.
