Football, Softball and Basketball Updates in Sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
Saturday night inside the Isidoro Beaton Stadium saw a crucial matchup as undefeated Belize Defense Force was hosted by the Belmopan Bandits in a ballgame that could well be a preview of the 2 finalist in the 9 team PLB Closing Season. The host team gets 1st bid to open the scoreboard when Elroy Kuylen centers this bouncer that finds Jordy Polanco who strikes with the right foot only to be foiled by Tevin Gamboa. It’s more Bandits when Elroy Kuylen looks for the far corner with this header that inches over the horizontal bar. Ajani Baumer then gets this look with which he finds the side netting. After intermission, Belmopan Bandits continue to dominate the action. Ian Gaynair steps up to the front line and centers; Tevin Gamboa intercepts but cannot hang on to the ball and is eventually fouled by a pressing Denmark Casey Jr.
Now check out this cruel header by Jeremy James off the Dalton Eiley trigger on the set piece, only it’s not lethal enough to get past Tevin Gamboa who comes up with an impressive save. However, when this nice center from Elroy Kuylen finds Jeremy James, his header is so perfect that no goalkeeper in the world could stop this one. The Bandits take the lead at the 70th minute. The B.D.F. finally gets some offensive going off this set piece launch from Vallan Symms. It has the trajectory but not the power to get past a rested Woodrow West. Belmopan look to double the score off. This punch from Khalil Velasquez and this time Gamboa is able to successfully intervene. In the meantime, there’s no doubt that the red card is appropriate for this uncalled for karate foot by Paul Nunez which goes to prove frustration ain’t no fun.
The Bandits go on to post the 1-zip victory handing the B.D.F. it’s first season loss. In other results from Week 7, FC Verdes and the Placencia Tex Mar Assassins rallied to a 1 all stalemate; Police pummeled Wagiya in a 5-1 rout and King’s Energy Freedom Fighters doubled San Ignacio United 4-2. Looking ahead, on Saturday March, 21st, Placencia Tex Mar Assassins will host San Ignacio FC and Police battles FC Belize at Belmopan while on Sunday, Wagiya FC visits Verdes FC and at the Toledo Union, the Freedom Fighters see action against Belmopan Bandits.
In softball news, the National Secondary Schools Softball Tournament kicks off this Friday at Independence with West Champs, Belmopan Comprehensive facing North Champs, Belize Rural High and Central’s Ladyville Technical High goes against the South’s Stann Creek Ecumenical College in female play. On the male side, Belmopan Comprehensive of the West faces Orange Walk Tech and Central’s Nazarene High will battle Independence High School from the South.
Turning to the basketball scene, we caught up with Friday night’s ticket at Bird’s Isle with NO Limit hosting San Pedro Tigersharks and immediately James Milton, the American Import, gets the defending champions going with this turn around jumper. Milton look almost unstoppable in the early going and would strike for 18 pts 17 rebounds. Lennox Bowman is on the money tonight as he streaks in for 2 of his 15 game points and would register a game high 6 assists. At the end of the 1st quarter, No Limit leads 22-17. In the second quarter, Andrew Ortiz rises up in traffic against his former team to slam this ball home for San Pedro. Ortiz really operates on all cylinder tonight and he mashes it down again and would lead the defending champ with 21 points. Brandon Rogers wasn’t about to be intimidated so he bursts through the middle for 2 of his 16 game pts and No Limit leads. 42-38 at the half.
Folks, No Limit is the protagonist in this one getting points from all areas. And this man, Greg Rudon, has a lot to do with it as he streaks in for 2 pts. Ortiz comes up with another double to keep the Tigersharks within reach giving him 21 pts for the outing but at the end of 3, Belize City No Limit is up by 7 pts. In the meantime, Rhetton Belisle reads the San Pedro defense to sink this easy bucket for 2 of his 14 game pts. Half way through the 4th, No Limit is still up by 7. Greg Rudon keeps the pressure on hitting this 3 pointer and he would lead all players with 28 pts. Rudon goes 2 for 4 from beyond the arc and it looks like No Limit would take this one.
The visitors mount a comeback, Jamal Kelly strikes for 3 of his 13 pts at a much needed time. It’s money time now, all NO Limit has to do is to protect this possession. Lupito Acosta turns this ball over to Tyrone Edwards who goes down court to find Andrew Ortiz who needs 2 tries to burn his former team in an 88-87 final score. The No Limit team insists that time had expired so let’s see. We rewind the last seconds…the throw, the steal, the 1st attempt by Ortiz is no good, the 2nd falls with 12 of the 11 seconds remaining. San Pedro Tigersharks survive a real score in an 88 to 87 final score.
In other results from around the league, Dangriga Warriors beat Toledo Diplomats 67 to 5; Cayo Western Ballaz remained undefeated with an 82-66 round off the OW Rebels; Belmopan Red Taigaz handled Belize Hurricanes 88 to 76. Looking ahead, Round 7 finds Dangriga Warriors at Belize Hurricanes and Cayo Western Ballaz will host Belmopan Re Taigaz on Saturday. Toledo Diplomats get a visit from Belize City No Limit and San Pedro Tigersharks will be at home against OW Running Rebels.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
