James Adderley has the stats on football, basketball and cycling
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The PLB closing season opened this weekend with 4 matches staged across the Jewel as football seeks to return to its glory days as King of Sports in the nation. We caught up with Saturday’s clash inside the Isidoro Beaton Stadium where the 2 finalists for the 2014/2015 national PLB Tournament resumed their intense rivalry. Of course you know the Belmopan bandits again up ended Police United to wrest the championship. Let’s find out if the Police would exact sweet revenge. First let’s be straight up with you, play in the opening half was somewhat disappointing and it could be attributed to familiarity. Nevertheless, here’s a bit of controversy for you. Jordy Polanco finds Elroy Kuylen whose header is plainly inferred with by Amin August Junior’s left hand. The whistle remains silent. This wakes up the Police so Lennox Castillo centers to Devon Makin whose attempt at the far corner of Woodrow West’s goal drifts wide. So we go to 2nd half. Meet the bandits new addition, all the way from Ghana, Jehoshphat Nwasi who gets led by Jordy Polanco into the danger zone. Could have started with a bang but is failed by an overzealous 1st touch.
Police United also gets the first real chance to open the scoreboard when Clifton West beats everybody for this possession and really should have opened the scoreboard; instead he gives Woodrow West a pass. Avian Crawford then flirts with ejection by trying to pry this ball out of Woodrow West’s grip and is lucky to have been shown the yellow card. This set piece launch from Elroy Kuylen gives Keith Allen some work but he gets the job done. All in all, a rather disappointing showing by both ball clubs, but you know it; we do expect things to pick up. Police United and the Belmopan bandits settle for a scoreless stalemate.
In other results from around the league…. The 2 southern giants—Wagiya FC and King Energy Freedom Fighters—also rallied to a scoreless finish. Verdes FC doubles San Ignacio United 2 to 1 at the Norman Broaster Stadium while at the MCC Grounds, FC Belize and Belize Defense Force battled to a 2 all draw. Looking ahead, the police plays Placencia Tex Mer Assassins at Belmopan; Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., the Bandits will host Wagiya FC and FC Belize travels to Verdes FC. The B.D.F. and Freedom Fighters meet on Wednesday February 11th at 7:30 p.m.
Now let’s check in on Game II of the Belmopan 1st Division Championship staged at the Beaton Stadium yesterday. You will recall San Martin FC took a 1 game lead against Alliance United in the 2-game series with last week’s 1-0 big win. For Alliance United, things couldn’t have started better. This push by Israel Clavel into the box travels to the goal and guess what? Marco Hernandez in the San Martin goal embarrasses himself to give Alliance United the 1-zip lead at the 9th minute. San Martin comes roaring back when Victor Caliz beats his man to unleash this left foot that beats Collin Moody to tie the ballgame at the 17th minute. Talk about good fortune, this hand ball by Alberto Ortiz inside the box is, shall we say, an undeserved gift and the whistle confirms the penalty call.
Lincoln Wiltshire gets the call and grounds this ball past the near post to give Alliance United the 2-1 lead at the 35th minute. Collin Moody flirts with disaster when fumbles this routine pick up, but gets away with it unscathed. For real folks it’s all curry for Alliance United today. 2 minutes after the resumption of play, Israel Clavel on the run lifts this ball into the near corner and Alliance is up 3 to 1 and the title is theirs if they can hold on. Collin Moody is asked to defend the Alliance on this San martin press and he does come up big. However, when Abraham Ponce smashes this ball at goal, it’s deflected and Moody is beaten for the 3-2 final score.
With the score tied at 3 apiece from the 2-game series, 30 minutes of overtime was necessary, but the decision would be made by penalty kicks. We give ‘nuff respect to both ball clubs for scoring their 1st 5 attempts. It’s the 6th for Alliance United Bernald Stoz sends it too close to Marco Hernandez who makes the save. Carlos Ramirez becomes the hero of the match when he beats Collin Moody and the 2014/15 Belmopan 1st. Division title goes to San Martin FC. We say congratulations.
In basketball news, the national elite basketball league opens its 2nd annual season this Friday inside San Ignacio as Belize Hurricane takes on the sub-champion Cayo Western Ballaz so stay tuned. Open ceremonies begin at 8 and the action gets going at 9 p.m. 3 games are slateed for Saturday, February 7th at 8 p.m.; San Pedro Tigersharks, the reigning champion will host Belmopan Red Taigaz Toledo Diplomats travels in OW Running Rebels; Dangriga Warriors gets a visit from Belize City No Limit. Thus all 8 teams will have seen play by the time the weekend is over.
Finally in cycling news, we go to the start yesterday’s 38 mile that traveled from Cotton Tree Village to Cisco Constructions. At the tape, it’s a 3-man lead when Big Mike Lewis refuses to sprint so Kent Bob Gabourel of Bennys beats Colin Maheia of FT Williams for top honors. Big Mike of Smart rolls in for 3rd place. Robert Mariano of Digicell 4G then wins the field sprint for 4th while Mark Gentle of FT Williams rounds out the top 5. At the B Class, it’s Isaiah Willacey of FT Williams rolling in all alone for 1st place. It’s a battle for 2nd place as Perry Gibson tries to hold off Kevin Hope but it’s Digicell 4G rider who edges him out for 2nd place. Stanley Longworth takes 4th place and Ernest Olivera 5th. In the C Class, 28 miles ride, Glen Sheppard of Big Blade is the big man. Carlo Marin of FT Williams took 2nd place and Eustace Ireland of Lampaz gets rewarded for 3rd place.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
