Raiders are 2002 basketball champs
James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderley and you’re logged on to the show we’re proud to call Sports Monday. The Capital Life Basketball Championships reached the decisive game five Friday night at the City Centre. It would determine who wins the 2002 basketball title after a four game split right down the middle between defending champs San Cas U.B. and this year’s challenger, five time champion Raiders.
Both teams are at full strength for this one when the opening whistle peals as Kevin Shand jump against Thomas Gillespie and que sera, sera.
It’s the Raiders off to a quick start as Brandon Titus finds Damon Ollie, who delivers the buzzer opener. Titus then comes down and finds Dwight Myvette and he raises for 3. In the opening minutes it appears San Cas U.B. simply can’t do anything right as Seroki loses the handle, Titus picks it up and goes all the way for 2.
In fact, it’s all Raiders and Titus insists on showing off his left-hand range. Meanwhile, if this were a game of 21, it would be over already when Damon Ollie puts back this put back in heavy traffic as the score goes to 22-nil.
Clinton Fuller ends the incredible San Cas U.B. drought with this bucket and extra point conversion for a 24-3 U.B. deficit.
Down by 24 with 9 minutes to go in the first half, San Cas U.B. tries to mount a comeback. Reggie Elliott beats the field downcourt to record the easy 2.
Clinton Fuller from the 3-point area, crashes this bucket through the hoops to maintain the U.B. rally. Kevin Shand wheels, deals, under the rim in traffic to get 2, but fails at the extra points.
It’s Shand again, and when you find him in his office like this you know he’ll want to do stuff like that. At the half what was a 26-point lead is now a 60-52 Raiders lead.
In second half action Dwight Myvette makes it a 10-point Raider lead by cashing in off the glass.
In the meantime San Cas U.B. might have expended was too much energy in coming back because they show timid defence as Carter strikes for 3.
With some 17 minutes to go Damon Ollie makes it a 13-point Raider lead with this penetration. The Raiders continue to roll as Bart Sanchez abuses Kevin Seroki to make it 20-point lead with a little over 10 minutes to go. Ands when randy Castillo goes baseline for 2, everyone in the City Centre knows it all over for U.B.
The Raiders go on to win 111-95 picking up their sixth semi-pro basketball title. Channel 5 certainly says congratulations.
Damon Ollie, Raiders
“I’m just happy. We worked hard all season, there’s a lot of stuff going on inside and outside our team. I’m just happy man, it feels good.”
James Adderley
“Were you taken aback by the game four win by San Cas U.B. Wednesday night?
Damon Ollie
“I was a little surprised. They didn’t have all their players and I didn’t know they were gonna win, but next thing you know we’re going to a game five.”
James Adderley
“Will you be back next year to compete in our particular league?”
Damon Ollie
“Yeah I’ll be back.”
Matthew Smiling, Head coach, Raiders
“We’ve been working all year with the guys stressing defence because I always believe a strong defence will get over a good offence any day. And the U.B. team, not to take anything away from them, they’re a very offensive team. Reggie Elliot would shoot a ball and Shand is a headache in the post. And then you have Jeff Clifton, a killer off the boards.”
James Adderley
“What led to the 24-nil opening run?”
Matthew Smiling
“It’s just off the defence. We collapsed on them a lot because you know, once Shand gets the ball inside he wants to go up. So we came out with a game plan to collapse, get the rips and go. Because Darwin Carter, as you could see, is probably the fastest guy in the league.”
James Adderley
“How big is this win for Matthew Smiling the individual?”
Matthew Smiling
“Words can’t explain James.”
And if you’re wondering who emerged the MVP of the Capital Life playoffs, well here is Darwin Carter receiving his trophy among his many fans.
Turning to the softball scene, the 12th National Softball Championship presented at Rogers Stadium could only conclude eight of the fifteen scheduled games in the double elimination format due to rain.
As a result, Burrell Boom and Griga Girls are the only teams out of the running. Belize City champion, Team C.T.C. was crushed by Independence United 4-2, which means they can only afford to lose one more. Camalote of Cayo knocked off the Belize City’s sub-champion 11-10 in a close shave. This tournament is scheduled to conclude on Saturday at Rogers Stadium. Of course, we are gonna keep you in tuned to this particular one.
Turning to the football scene folks, despite the great controversy raging inside the football community, the Belize Premier Football League has announced that it will begin it’s annual semi-pro football season on the seventh, fourteenth and fifteenth of September. That’s a couple weeks away. We know right now that there’s a big controversy roaring as on Saturday, 3:00 p.m. at the Biltmore Hotel, the F.F.B. convened a meeting of all the various football factions in the country. unfortunately, instead of reaching rapprochement, the divisions became even deeper.
Bernaldino Pech, Vice President, F.F.B
“This Saturday we went to the second highest body in the Federation, which is the General Council. And the General Council met and discussed the issue and at the end of the day a motion was passed whereby the B.P.F.L. is given until Wednesday 3:00 p.m. to withdraw the letter that they had sent to the Federation. Otherwise the letter will be accepted.”
James Adderley
“If it becomes accepted are the penalties or sanctions automatic?”
Bernaldino Pech
“Yes.”
James Adderley
“What would they be?”
Bernaldino Pech
“We definitely they would no longer be recognised by the Federation and as such they will not have any recourse to the international affiliations that the Federation is entitled to.”
We don’t know if there’ll ever be any kind of rapprochement or any kind of peace between these two factions, Dr. Bertie Chimilio of the F.F.B. and Maito Perdomo of the Belize Premier Football League. We are watching this story very closely because if we divorce ourselves from FIFA, we lose a lot in terms of regional and international appearances, and of course, financial relief. That is a very serious consideration at this point in time. Nevertheless, stay tuned to Channel 5, we are gonna be giving you a whole lot more. We thank you for your attention.
We certainly want to thank our cameramen for their great work over the weekend. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
