Sports Monday with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The 2 Belize City teams in the NEBL season went into the Belize Elementary School Auditorium desperately looking to get on to the win column Friday night. Both teams had suffered severe defeats on opening night with the Belize City Hurricanes falling to the Cayo Western Ballaz 85 to 52 while Belize City No Limit was victimized at Dangriga by an impressive Warriors team in a 78 to 54 final score. In what was billed as the battle for the city, Ty Bradley in his 1st appearance in the NEBL would tip the scale in favor of the Hurricanes. Here he moves Gregg Rudon to attack the rim for 2 pts in the opening minutes. Bradley then challenges the teeth of the No Limit defense to launch this one hander—he would throw up 8 pts in the opening quarter and would eventually finish the game high of 19 pts with 10 rebounds to boast. Not a bad start at all in his NEBL debut.
At the end of the 1st quarter, the Hurricanes had ran to a 16-9 lead while the struggle for offense from NO Limit was quite visible. In the 2nd quarter, Rhetton Belisle came off the bench and would sink this triple for NO Limit but would total on 8 pts for the game. John Rudon came off the back to hit 2 of 3 – three pointers to putt No Limit to within 1 and totaled 8 pts. However, Tariq Middleton gets going in the 2nd…he sinks this triple. And then comes up with this steal to go all the way for 2 of his 17 game points. Ty Bradley finds Middleton and the triple lands. At the half, the Hurricanes boast an 8 pts lead.
In the 3rd quarter, Brian White gets his mojo working. He pounds the glass for 2 hard fought pts. Brandon Rogers stepped up for No Limit sinking this bucket here and would finish with a team high 16 pts. Still Brian White’s play for the Hurricanes was no less than stellar. He erupted for 16 pts and chaired the boards with a game high to join teammate Ty Bradley as the only 2 in the 2 doubles column. Folks, this ballgame was over by the end of the 3rd as the Hurricanes rolled to a 16 pt lead at the end of the quarter. Gregg Rudon, who hit 28 pts at Dangriga had a night-marish outing and the No Limit lead scorer would only post up 8 pts tonight. Lennox Bowman did not provide the glue for NO Limit in the point guard role, but he did score a double digit 11 pts and lead in the assist department with 5. Belize Hurricanes convincingly won the battle for the city in a lopsided 86 to 62 final score. They pulled to 500 ball while No Limit is stalled at 0 and 2.
In other action around the league, the Dangriga Warriors rolled to a 76-65 big Win over OW Eagles to start with 2 straight wins. Cayo Western Ballaz sailed to San Pedro to tame the Tiger Sharks in a heated 74-71 finish. Ballaz show 2 & 0 – Tiger Sharks 1 & 1 and Belmopan Red Taigaz blew past to Toledo Diplomats 76-95 to show 1 & 1 while the Diplomats still seek win # 1.
Turning to the football scene, we caught up with yesterday’s showdown in week 3 of the PLB Closing Season as FC Belize hosted Wagiya FC of Dangriga inside the MCC Grounds. 26 minutes in, Byron Chavez gets control of this loose ball to launch this right foot that finds the far corner to give Wagiya the 1-zip lead. Oliver Hendricks looks to tie the ballgame, but unleashes a left foot that rises over the horizontal bar. The visitors take a 2-nil lead at the 67th minute when Shantylee Castillo’s well placed on the run splice, splashes into the far corner in what could be classed as the best goal so far in the season. FC Belize strikes for goal 8 minutes later off the set piece triggered by Allen Thurton. Thurton finds the head of Ernest Flores who nods it over the outstretched hands of Glenford Chimilio to get his team on the scoreboard.
Dion Miguel is on the run inside the box when he is shouldered down Flowers and the referee points to the penalty spot. Miguel gets the chance at the conversion only to be embarrassed by Elroy Rowley. Strangely enough, Dion Miguel gets fouled again in the area; this time by Carlos Lino on the opposite side and again the referee rules penalty. This time, it’s Devin Burgess who gets the call and this time goalkeeper Rowley can only look on as Wagiya takes the 3-1 leap. The home team strikes back when Jorge Aleman finds Luis Arriola who finds the back of the net. However, the comeback by FC Belize falls short as Wagiya FC post the 3-2 victory.
In other results, B.D.F. bombed San Ignacio 5-zip at the Norman Broaster and Police edged Verdes FC in a 2-1 affair at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. Meanwhile, the match between Freedom Fighters and Placencia Assassins at the Toledo Union was postponed due to inclement weather. This match will now be staged this Wednesday, February 18th at 3:30 p.m. at the same venue. Looking to Week 4, on Saturday, Placencia plays FC Belize inside the Michael Ashcroft and Police tangle with B.D.F. at the Isidoro Beaton. Both matches kick off at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, match time is at 3:30 p.m. King Energy Freedom Fighters will host Verdes FC and San Ignacio United visits the Belmopan Bandits.
In cricket news, the Indian Cricketers from the Central American Health Science University bit off much more than they could chew when they took the pitch at Lord’s Bank against sunrise, the defending Harrison Parks Competition on Saturday. Jermaine Baizar for an impressive 79 runs while on defense Sunrise Captain, Edison Parks, struck for 3 wickets, but Zaggy was the big man with also 5 in the 175 to 70 rout. For the University, Vijay Kumar was high man with 25 runs batted in and Sachin Kadaganchi took 4 wickets. In other matches over the weekend, Isabella Bank pummeled Western Eagles, Dolores hurt Excelsior 86 to 85, Brilliant handily defeated Suga Boys 69 to 65 with 6 wickets to spare. Wicked 11 crushed Brave Union 279 to 49 and that must have been painful. Excellence surpassed Bright Star 148-82.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
