James Adderley has weekend sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’re welcome to this slice of Sports Monday. The Kremandala Raiders vowed to rebound big after the loss to B.T.L. and got that chance at the City Centre when they were hosted by the winless Southern Bombers Friday night.
If there is a way you want to start then how about a three pointer from your shooting guard? Travis Santos knocks it down like a pro. How about another from the same spot? Well no defense – Santos sizzles for three more as the Raiders make an early 10-nil run. And it gets better for the Raiders when Bart Sanchez plants his feet and the lead extends to 14.
The Bombers do come back somewhat in the half. The long pass down court from Kenrick Fernandez to Dennis Saintsburg leads to 2. John Rhys then launches a big three for the Bombers. Kenrick Fernandez then turns the corner and launches the thre that drops for him. Still at the half it’s a 16 point Raiders lead.
After intermission things rolled even more downhill for the Southern Bombers. Fernandez blows the easy lay-up but Dennis Saintsburg and John Rhys cannot help experiencing some embarrassment at their role in this fiasco. The Bombers would only score 18 points in second half.
Keith Acosta beats the Bombers down court for 2; he would finish with the game high 19 points. The American import Fabian Pitman gets his only 2 points of the ballgame but he did produce 3 assists in limited numbers. Bart Sanchez streaks in for 2 and would finish with 17 points. Maino Bevans kept his double digit pace striking for 14 points. And the Raiders win in a laughter 79-42 with a margin of 37 points – the biggest this season.
Glen Francisco, the newly acquired import from the States, explains the Dangriga perspective on this loss.
Glen Francisco, Southern Bombers
“We need a point guard but the team can come together still. The coach has to put the team together and stop satisfying only good players on the team because the team is a separated team right now.”
Q: “But it’s a 0-3 showing in an 8 game season, what does that do to your calculations on the championship?”
Glen Francisco
“It seems very narrow but the team can still get things together and get focussed throughout the season. The next game they will be in better physical shape because that’s what is short: shape and unity.”
We also had the opportunity to catch up with semi-pro commissioner Hilly Martinez at the half.
Q: You’re into week 4, are you a happy trooper?”
Hilly Martinez, Commissioner, B.B.A.
“I would definitely say so; in fact the games are very competitive. Attendance has been good and in fact if the game is more competitive you get more fans.”
Q: “Are you worried about the low scoring ball games?”
Hilly Martinez
“No, I am not worried. It’s something short and new. The guys are probably not in the best of shape. But I think that as it gets on the scoring will increase.
I have spoken with a couple of team representatives tonight. We may do two things: one is to have 2 twenty second time outs per half – additional to the one minute time out – and probably for the second round we’re going to have 4 quarters, 4 ten minute to twelve minute quarters. We still have to meet about this and decide.”
Meanwhile folks, this Sunday April 25th brings up a monster grudge match of boxing at the big Bird’s Isle between Junior Middleweight Champion Murphy McLaren and former Golden Glove Champion Norman “Popi Poti” Orosco. We caught up with one of the participants going in.
Murphy McLaren, Boxer
“This is more than just a boxing match coming up; this is also a grudge for the supremacy – in the sense that everybody thinks that they can put on boxing gloves and beat Murphy McLaren. I am saying that it has gotten to the point where I am tired of hearing this so it’s time to step up. Whatever weight class you have, if you think that you could drop me in the square jungle or whether you could beat me; whether you have a hundred pounds more or ten pounds less than me you could jump in there. But when you jump in you must know you come to get something hard.
Big guys like “Popi Poti” it would be difficult to knock out but what I can say to the Belizean people is the fact that they will see the execution of elite boxing. When I say execution it means hit without being hit and chip and move, cut him down, pick him up, put him against the wall, slap him up, put him back up – you know it! The normal rough and tough things you get; I’m going to beat him with class.
It will be a situation where you pick him in the spot where he’s most vulnerable and watch him fall but don’t let him fall, pick him up and give him some more pain.”
Q: “And should he be the deliverer of more pain?”
Murphy McLaren
“Nobody can get much of a pain on me anymore. Pain is something you feel it if you can, and if you don’t want to feel no pain; I’m going there to war.”
A word to Murphy McLaren from the sports desk, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Hey folks, that’s it. Jah over all. I’m James Adderley.
