Football, Basketball and Cycling Stats with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The 2 finalists for the 2015 PLB Football Tournament emerged over the weekend so we take you to the F.F.B. Stadium inside Belmopan where Police United and the Placencia Assassins met in game II yesterday to determine who would move on to money time. Placencia Assassins came in boasting a 2-1 victory from game I and the Police came in intent on doing what they had to do to keep their title hopes alive. The Police open with enthusiasm as Harrison Kafu Roches slices perfectly to Devon Makin whose strike brings out a crucial save from Elias Pelayo in the opening minute. However, Alexander Peters gets a better opportunity to open the scoreboard for Placencia when he beats the Police defense and then disappoints by failing to get past goalkeeper, Jaime Brooks.
At the other end, Andres Makin Jr. pounces on this ball atop the 18 only to see goalkeeper Pelayo handle a power strike that was too close to his area of operation. We’ve got a scoreless ballgame at the half people. as we go to 2nd half, we find Kareem Haylock of the Assassins looking to give Police the lead with an auto goal, but escapes by inches. When Norman Tilliman Pipersburgh scuffs this attempt at goal, he provides an opportunity for Trevor Lennon who is thwarted by the superb defensive play of Lisbey Castillo. It appears the Assassins were comfortable with the status quo until Norman Pipersburgh picks out Orlando Jimnenez who crushes the ball past Pelayo with the header and Police leas 1-nil at the 77th minute. The Police takes the lead on with the away goal in the series. The Police continues to press and this defensive bicycle kick from Carlton Thomas almost takes off the head of Mario Villanueva. More importantly, he almost concedes the penalty and is saved by the game of inches.
Dalton Eiley gets to launch the subsequent set piece; he had the right idea, but couldn’t find the power in the left foot. Folks, we’re in the final minute of regulation play when this corner kick triggered by Danny Jimenez picks out his brother Orlando Jimenez whose perfect header seals the 2-zip lead for Police. Jimenez came off the bench in 2nd half to power Police with 2 goals. Police United returns to the finals with a 4-2 aggregate and their fans love it. They’ll face Verdes FC who held the Belmopan bandits to a 1-all draw after beating the set 2-nil in game I. game I of the home and away championship series kicks off 4 p.m. at the Norman Broaster Stadium come Sunday. Verdes is looking for the repeat as champion. The Police aims to return to the top. 2 men enter one man leaves with the spoils of victory.
Turning to the National Secondary Schools Basketball Tournament…if you’re looking for Gwen Liz, they got ousted in their opening match with Julian Cho Technical of Toledo in a 63 to 51 final score. So it was Julian Cho Saturday afternoon facing Muffles College of Orange Walk for the 2015 male title at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal. Amir Vernon lands the triple to get Julian Cho Tech going. He would put up 9 pts. Keep your eyes on Arick Nicholas as he follows his missed shot to stick the put back. he would post a 2 doubles of 25 pts and 11 rebounds to lead all players in both category. At the end of the 1st quarter, Julian Cho leads 14 to 4. In the 2nd quarter, Muffles finally gets going led by Dwayne Avila who would lead them with a team high 18 pts and a game high 7 assists. Give Avila the assist as he finds Cesar Orantes who goes glass and would earn 3 the hard way and would put up 7 pts. This bucket by Dwayne Avila in the closing seconds of the 1st half makes it a 27 to 21 score at the intermission. OW is only down by 6.
In the 3rd quarter, we’ve got a more competitive ballgame. Cesar Vasquez gets the past from Avila and lands the triple. He would put up 12 pts. The two combine again as Vasquez sinks another 3 pts. The lead is down to 4 at the end of 3. However, in the 4th, Julian Cho Technical High School regains its dominance. Enfield penetrates for 2 of his 8 pts. Adrian Vernon stops and pops; the bank is open. He would put a double digit 11 pts. Then there’s no stopping the big man Arick Nicholas as he gets 2 more for his 25 total. Julian Cho Tech takes the National Male Title in a 59 to 44 final score. Meanwhile the finals in the female competition proved to be a blow out as St. Catherine Academy proved much too much for San Pedro High School. Indie Dixon picks up this rebound and put back is perfect. Indie puts up 9 pts in this one. Tricia Jeffries, team leader, would strike for the game high of 10 pts.
At the end of the 3rd. SCA boasts a 24-2 lead. St. Catherine Academy goes on to post a 34 to 4 final score to repeat as national female champs. We say kudos.
On the female side, Tricia Jeffries of SCA emerged with MVP honors and would post the most steals of 23 in the tournament. Teammate, Indie Dixon, hit the most points with 23 and pulled the most rebounds with 14. In the male play, Arick Nicholas of Julian Cho Tech was the man. he grabbed the MVP trophy, he led in scoring with 42 pts, led in rebounding with 26 and earned the most blocks with 6. Devonte Middleton of Gwen Liz High posted the most steals with 6.
Finally, in cycling news…we’re in front of Huang’s Mart in Belmopan as some 48 riders take off for the 60 mile Digicell 4G race that heads to Jaguar Paw road and returns to head for the top of Blue Hole and then swings back to finish where it started in Belmopan. The pelathon is intact as the race takes the turn into Jaguar Paw Road. At the turnaround point, Byron Pope and Herman Requeña have stepped up t the lead in that order, enjoying a 20-second lead. However, it’s Joslyn Chavarria who grabs the 1st station prize at mile 40. Giovanni Lovell is the lead at the Belmopan junction. Joel Borland grabs the 4th station prize. At the Blue Hole turning point, Joel Borland continues his lead which is now only 17 seconds. In fact, here is the chase pack host on his heels. By the time the race reaches Armenia, we have a new leader in the person of Joslyn Chavarria, who grabs the final station prize. Joslyn Chavarria would mount a solo flight. And the Digicell 4G rider Chavarria holds on to the finish line to take the event in unchallenged fashion. 13 seconds later, teammate Giovanni Lovell sprints in for 2nd place. Henry Moreira of Smart 4G is 3rd Elston Coleman of Westrac Alliance is 4th while Tariq Flowers of Benny’s Megabytes rounds out the top 5.
Jah overall, I’m James Adderley.
