James Adderley has Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to this serving of Sports Monday. Sunday saw Juventus of Orange Walk make its fifth appearance in CONCACAF Champions Tournament play this season, still looking for its first win – hosting Saprissa of Costa Rica at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk.
We open to the official ceremonies for this international outing and we focus in on Norman “Tilliman” Nuñez, the only true international Belizean footballer in recent history, back in uniform with his old team Juventus. However, it’s the Costa Ricans impressing the fans with domination on the field of play and the visitors launch an outside shot some 17 minutes in but it’s wide of the target.
It’s a few minutes later when the penetration comes from off the right wing, the ball is pushed to the center and with very little defensive pressure from Juventus, Saprissa takes a 1-zip lead. As far as offense goes, a throw-in by Ian Henry provides a bit of excitement for the fans, but the Costa Rican defense hangs tough. At the other end, the Juventus defense falls asleep but Charlie Slusher reads the play to intervene and at the half it’s a 1-zip Saprissa lead.
In second half action the visitors continue to control the play and a corner kick creates havoc for Juventus until Godwin Turner clears. Saprissa sets up goal number 2 with a power punch from outside the 18 screams past Charlie Slusher for the 2-zip lead. Downfield this only looks like a scoring opportunity as the goalkeeper beats Norman Nuñez to the ball – for which of course he pays a price.
Is this goal number 3 for the visitors? Fortunately Charlie Slusher makes the spectacular save to keep the score at 2-zip and that’s the way it ended. This after a combined 10 appearance by Belizean teams in the CONCACAF Tournament and we’ve yet to come up with a win.
Turning to the basketball scene the semi-pro season produced a barn-burner at the City Center Friday night as Brothers Habet Lakers made a stand against the undefeated B.T.L. Nets. The Lakers come out firing, swinging the ball to Clifton Gentle who ices the 2 with a baseline jumper. Alfred Hamilton looks for the 3-pointer and delivers.
The twin towers then team up to give Kirk “Shabba” Smith a reverse slam-dunk and the Lakers take a 10-point lead. But B.T.L. comes back. Floyd Leslie streaks in for 2 points off the glass. Seroki then finds Eloy “The Admiral” Lamb and he sinks the bucket. Still at the other end, Speedy Stain hooks up with Kevin Young who gives the Lakers a big 3 and at the half it’s a 12-point lead for the Lake.
In second half the Lakers extend the lead to 21 points riding the momentum for this “Too Tall” Jones 2-hand slam-dunk in traffic. Of course the phone company would come up with an answer. The feed from Forbes to Darren Bovell, who hits for 2 of this team high 14 points. Off the Lakers turnover, A.C. Augustine gets the long pass hitting 2 of his 13 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Lloyd Leslie beats everybody down court for the easy 2; he would lead the Nets with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough. Alfred Hamilton finds Jerome Williams who gets a big bucket in his 10 point total. Up by one, Kirk “Shabba” Smith comes up with the biggest rebound of the ball game; he fouled and goes down court to hit 2 freebies. Smith would finish with 25 points, 23 rebounds to lead all players in both categories. The Lakers go on to win 71-65 handing B.T.L. its first season loss.
In Saturday’s matchup, the Kremandala Raiders kept pace with the Lakers by tending Cristal Pirates a 72-64 big “W”. Thus the roll to the championship series for the Lakers must past through Kremandala Raiders.
That’s it. Jah over all. I’m James Adderley.
