Football, basketball top weekend sports

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’ve just hopped aboard that ride we call Sports Monday. Week two of the Belize Premier Football League competition brought the defending champion Sagitun of Independence to the M.C.C. Grounds in a primetime package against Kulture Yabra, the defenders of the metropolis.

We open with Sanjay Pitts making a run on the left side for Kulture Yabra, but he gets tracked down by David Torres of Sagitun.

It’s more Yabra when Ernest Wiltshire launches this spotkick into the danger zone where it finds Norman “Tilliman” Nunez, who knows very little about it.

Still, the best scoring opportunity in the game so far comes to David Torres from Bent Burgess, but the shot at goal is woefully misdirected.

Meanwhile folks, this shot by Aaron Nolberto didn’t impress the scoreboard, but it certainly would proved to be the best offering from the pitch at the end of the day.

Now check this drop by Vallan Symms. Deon Frazier’s chest skills just gets away from him to diffuse a situation fraught with danger.

Ernest Wiltshire then tries to power the ball through to impress the scoreboard, but again the ball sails just wide and at the half we do have a scoreless ballgame.

Of course folks, we must applaud the half time show that brought Jamaica reggae artist Ernie Smith to the stage, because that appearance alone just might have covered the entrance fee. Nuff respect Mr. Smith, but it’s back to the football show.

But of the break Marcus Suoto, the Brazilian of Sagitun, tries this trick shot that forces Shane Moody into a save. Talk about making a save people, Roberto Muschamp’s long low cruise missile against Moody forces to goalkeeper to display his defensive skills.

On this press, Frazier thinks he has a clear shot at goal, but Hilberto Muschamp pulls out a wicked recovery.

Number sixteen Rudolph Flowers then gets his chance to launch the left foot, but it’s right at Shane Moody.

Now here’s the key moment of the ballgame. Deon Frazier is obviously fouled by Roberto Muschamp inside the eighteenth–the referee rules penalty, so Yabra sends for Vallan Symms.

Maybe the rain affected his vision the way it’s affecting yours right now on your screen, but we’ll slow it down for you to see how Mr. Symms missed his first penalty of the season.

This ballgame would conclude in a scoreless stalemate. Thus of one hundred and eighty minutes of football play, Yabra has two of six points and no goals and no wins to show.

In other results from around the league, this weekend Belmopan Bandits hurt Griga United 2-1, Real Verdes rebounded big time by blanking San Pedro Seahawks 2-zip out west and Juventus jolted Jacintoville United with a 2-1 blast.

Changing gears folks, we head to the City Centre for Friday night’s clash between the Raiders and newcomer Bryant’s Tennents. Both teams come in showing only one win between them, making tonight’s outing a pivotal one, since four of the five teams in the league will make the playoff round.

As usual the Raiders go to their big time scorer, so Darwin Carter delivers the big three early. On the next press, Carter feints the penetration and dishes to Kent Burgess, who goes glass for an easy two.

Folks very early it becomes obvious that it’s all Raiders tonight. Carter finds Kevin Seroki and the two is good. Feeling good about the feed, Seroki returns the favour to Carter, who again strikes for three to give the Raiders a quick twelve-point lead.

Angus “Walla” Cherrington then gets this pass under the basket and he makes Tennents pay and at the half the Raiders are up by all of thirty-three points.

Unfortunately for the newcomers, things get worse after intermission. The long pass to Bert Sanchez; he would total fifteen. Kurt Burgess with the easy lay-up would finish with eleven. Clinton Fuller Lamb plays give and go with Carter for two; he would finish with thirteen points.

Now here comes Carter with the steal for the easy two. Darwin Carter would lead his team with the game high twenty-eight points as the Raiders blow-out a weak and timid looking Tennents, sponsored by Bryant’s 92-47.

Turning to the cycling scene, the Benque Fiesta Cycle Classic stage Sunday saw Mexican David Calam take top honours in three hours, thirty-four minutes, another title gone abroad. Vernon Terry finished second, Luis Balan of Mexico took third, Quinton “The Baddest” Hamilton finished fourth, while Mateo Cruz rounds out the top five.

That’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.