Olimpia Kings team was crowned champion in the Clausura tournament of Paraguay’s National Men’s Basketball League, after defeating Colonias Gold in the fifth and final game, closing the series 3-2. In a match played at the CONMEBOL Suma Sports Complex in Luque, Olimpia defeated Colonias 62-56 to claim the Bicampeonato title.
Earlier this year, Olimpia Kings also won the Apertura tournament, making them “Bicampeonato” for 2025. As in football, since 2022 the basketball league has been divided into Apertura (opening) and Clausura (closing) seasons. Each team plays every other team on a home-and-away basis twice in one year.
In the previous games of the Clausura tournament title race, Olimpia had defeated Colonias 91-72 and 74-66, while Colonias won the second and fourth game 71-63 and 79-60. The title marked the 36th title in the history of Paraguayan basketball for the striped team, making them by far the most successful team: The Kings are followed by Deportivo San José with 18 titles, then Libertad with 13, and in fourth place, Sol de América with 11.
Foreign Bicampeonato contribution
Olimpia Kings won the 2025 championship with three non-Latin players in their squad, all from the United States. Those athletes have brought a great deal to the league and the Kings; not only through their talent and experience, but also through the credibility they provide, hailing from one of the world’s premier basketball systems.
Danjel Purifoy (29) is a forward originally from Centreville, Alabama. Following his university career with the Auburn Tigers, he moved to Portugal, where he played for Porto, AD Galomar, and U.D. Oliveirense. He is currently in his first basketball season in Paraguay.
Charles Hinkle (37) is a small forward from Los Alamitos, California. Following his collegiate career at Hebron Academy in Maine, he moved to Istanbul to continue playing basketball. He subsequently played in Hungary, Israel, returned to the United States, and then played in Canada, Japan, Uruguay, and Brazil, and played his first season in Paraguay.
Jeremiah Wood (40) is originally from Akron, Ohio, and played for the University of Akron Zips. Wood began his professional career abroad in Finland, before moving to France and Argentina, and then returning to Finland, and the U.S. His first experience in Paraguay came with Deportivo San José of Asunción. After brief returns to France and Finland, he came back to Paraguay, this time joining the Olimpia Kings.
The National Basketball League of Paraguay
The first official basketball tournament in Paraguay took place in 1931. The sport’s popularity continued to grow, and a league was officially established in 1937. It was rebranded as the National Basketball League of Paraguay (Liga Nacional de Básquetbol) in 2002.
The 2025 league comprised nine teams. Ciudad Nueva, Deportivo Campoalto, Deportivo San José, Félix Pérez Cardozo, and Olimpia Kings are all based in Asunción. Deportivo Luqueño is located in Luque, Colonias Gold in Obligado, Deportivo Amambay in Pedro Juan Caballero, and San Alfonzo in Minga Guazú.
On the women’s side, there are five clubs in the league. Olimpia Queens, Deportivo San José, Félix Pérez Cardozo, and Sol de América are all based in Asunción, while Britanico are located in Ciudad del Este. In contrast to the men’s competition, all women’s clubs compete at U21 level, rather than senior level.
For more victory photos, find Bicampeonato Olimpia Kings on Instagram.
