Posted: Friday, July 25, 2025. 4:45 pm CST.
Belize City Thunderbolts’ center Charles Garcia – Photo Credit: Shot By Iz
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize City Thunderbolts center Charles Garcia has publicly apologized following a courtside confrontation with a fan during last Saturday’s Belize Premier Basketball League (BPBL) game at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio.
Toward the end of the game against the homestanding Western Ballaz, an irate Garcia approached the sideline and confronted the fan—later identified as Ministry of Health and Wellness CEO Dr. Julio Sabido—removed his cap, slapped him with it, and tossed it back toward him.
This week, Garcia visited the News 5 Live studio to offer an apology and explain what triggered his out-of-character reaction. According to the media outlet, Dr. Sabido said he would not press charges.
“First of all, basketball is my passion, my job, my life. I have been doing it all my life,” Garcia told News 5 Live. “If I feel a fan is heckling, which I respect, but then you hit someone with a threatening gesture, I am going to react.”
Though Garcia didn’t specify the alleged gesture, a comment attributed to his mother on News 5 Live’s social media described it as “someone RUNNING their FINGER across their neck” — a throat-slash motion widely recognized as a nonverbal threat.
He acknowledged the impact the incident has had on his public image and expressed regret:
“I have a lot of regrets. I have an image. I am a father. I have a beautiful daughter, and I am a family man,” Garcia continued. “I want to maintain that image. I am a good dude and seeing this, that is not who I am. My mom raised me well.”
“Now I am walking on the street, and everybody is looking at me different.”
In the game, the Thunderbolts lost to the Western Ballaz 79–66. Garcia finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, maintaining his season averages.
Garcia’s BPBL regular season totals:
• Games played: 4
• Points: 50
• Rebounds: 39
• Assists: 9
• FG%: 41.2
• 3P%: 22.2
• FT%: 50.0
Garcia continues to anchor Belize City’s frontcourt with 12.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
He is not expected to play again until August 8, when Belize City Thunderbolts take on the Belmopan Capital City Kings at 8:00 pm at the UB Gymnasium in Belmopan — unless the league sanctions him for the incident. The BPBL has not yet made any statement on the matter.
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The post Belize Premier Basketball League: Belize City Thunderbolts center Charles Garcia apologizes for courtside incident at Cayo game last weekend appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Friday, July 25, 2025. 4:45 pm CST. Belize City Thunderbolts’ center Charles Garcia – Photo Credit: Shot By Iz By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize City
The post Belize Premier Basketball League: Belize City Thunderbolts center Charles Garcia apologizes for courtside incident at Cayo game last weekend appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
