Weekend sporting highlights with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
Week 8 in the Belikin Cup was a bit iffy because of the rains but at best 2 of the 3 games scheduled were completed as the weather improved through the weekend. We caught up with the FC Belize—Belmopan bandits clash inside the Isidoro Beaton Stadium Saturday night. We’re four minutes in when this spotkick into the Bandits goal area is covered by Floyd Jones who somehow heads this ball into his own goal to give the visitors a quick 1-zip lead. 15 minutes later, Jarret Davis launches this set piece at goal, Woodrow West is beaten and just like that FC Belize boasts a 2-nil lead. Around the 25th minute, super striker, Deon McCauley bends this set piece around the wall like Beckham as the Bandits pull one back.
The Bandits again look to the set piece to score when Elroy Kuylen launches this left foot from long distance only to be denied by a tough save from Glenford Chimilio in goal. 5 minutes into 2nd half, Kevin lino is taken down inside the box by Dalton Eiley, the referee rightly rules penalty—FC sends Jarret Davis for the conversion and he does make it look easy as he gives FC Belize the 3-1 lead with his 2nd goal of the match. Meanwhile, the set piece is the weapon of choice for both ball clubs. David Trapp triggers this corner kick and finds Tyronne Pandy whose goal is negated because Glenford Chimilio was fouled on the attempt. Nevertheless, when Jerome James keeps this ball alive to Deon McCauley who redirects McCauley’s 2nd goal; we have a 3-2 score on McCauley’s 2nd goal of the match. When David Madrid sends this ball into the danger zone McCauley gets a shot at the hat-trick but first couldn’t come up with the equalizer as FC Belize takes the 3-2 big W on the road.
In the other result from over the weekend, Paradise Freedom Fighters blanked San Ignacio United in a 1-zip affair. The rained out match between Police United and the B.D.F. now come up tonight. Looking to Week 9—Verdes will host the B.D.F. at Marshalleck Stadium 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23rd. On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., San Ignacio United will host Belmopan Bandits while here in Belize City, FC Belize gets a visit from paradise Freedom Fighters. Meanwhile, the rained out Week 5 schedule is now set for the 1st of December and Week 7 will be staged on the 7th and the 8th December.
The UNCAF Under-sixteen tournament kicks off today at the F.F.B. Stadium in Belmopan. Guatemala versus Costa Rica at 2 p.m., Nicaragua versus Honduras, Belize versus El Salvador—in a single round robin tournament and the team with the best record takes the UNCAF title.
In basketball news, the decisive Game III in the BDBA Championship series finally got staged at Bird’s isle Friday night between Customs and Port Authority. It’s a good start for Customs when Winston Pratt deals to Kevin Lorenzo who opens the game with a triple. Pratt then deals to Marvin Skeen who goes glass for 2 of his 10 game points. At the other end, Lennox Bowman mounts this individual effort to strike for 2 of his 11 points. At the end of the 1st, Customs leads 19 to 13. In the 2nd, AC Augustine raises up for 2 of his 11 points as Port tries to come back. Now watch this move by Winston Pratt. He goes through all 5 Port players on the court en route to a layup for 2 of his 33 points to go along with 14 rebounds—both game highs and the only 2 double of the outing. Customs would lead 36 to 28 at the half.
In the 3rd, Lennox Bowman shreds the needle to Earl Johnson who goes glass for 2. Johnson would lead the Port with 22 points, 8 rebounds. At the end of 3rd, Port still finds itself down by 8. Folks, in the 4th quarter, Port makes a run. Charlie Armstrong finds AC Augustine and he delivers. Cecil Price then sinks this long triple to pull Port within 6. Folks, when Vince Estrada deals to Lennox Bowman—the point guard goes in for 2 and we’ve got a tied ballgame at 65 apiece. Things take a turn for the worse when Bowman is called for travelling at a crucial time. With seconds remaining, Winston Pratt would sink 2 free throws as Customs takes Game III 70 to 66 to capture its 3rd title. We say congratulations to Customs and Coach Gilbert Gordon who simply out foxed Coach Gregg Moguel in Games II and III. For a 4th time, Port has lost the title in money-time.
Finally in cycling news. The Weekend Warrior staged the TV Ramos Cycle Classic at Dangriga yesterday. Folks, Barney Brown on Scotia Bank continues to shine as here he is taking the 56 mile A Class in 2 hours 21 mins 15 seconds. Warren Coye of Santino’s pulls up 2nd and Mark Gentle of BCB/FT Williams takes 3rd while James Frampton and Daniel Cano rounds out the top 5. Kevin Hope took the 32 mile B Class event with Andrew Ordonez of Digicell 4G 2nd and Jim Scott rounds out the top 3. While at the C Class, Manuel Esquiliano of Truckers took top honors with Salvador Alvarado of Zitro finishing 2nd and Nelson Zyden of medina’s Jewelry 3rd.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
