Sports Monday: NEBL Season Kick Off
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The NEBL basketball season got off to a roaring start over the weekend and we caught up with the Belmopan Bandits hosting Smart Belize Hurricanes inside the U.B. Gymnasium Saturday night. For the home team, the start couldn’t have been better—Nick Brown finds Kurt Burgess in the paint and the acrobatic shot falls for him. Burgess makes it a 3pt operation. Tonight he would put a 2 doubles of 10 pts 10 rebounds—the only player with a double digit on the rebounds and would establish the game high. Jarrel Velasquez then spots up for 3, hitting nothing but cords. It’s Velasquez again; this time with the finger roll against Darwin Leslie, pacing his team to a 15-zip run. This gets Darwin Leslie’s attention so he penetrates through heavy traffic for 2 of his 12 game points.
Into the 2nd quarter, Farron Louriano pulls out this monster slam for 2 of his 12 game points. Jarrel Velasquez responds in kind with this one-hand offering. We’re tied at 28 apiece when Jacob Leslie lands this long distance three as Smart Belize Hurricanes grab the lead. The man, Jacob comes right back and lands another triple—he would lead all scorers with the game high 29 pts, hitting 8 for 8 at the 3 point area and would register 71% from the field. At the half, the Hurricanes lead 37 to 30. We’re in the 3rd when Brian White muscle up down low and would finish with 12 pts and 8 rebounds as the Hurricanes lead 47 to 40. But here comes the bandits—Kyle Pascascio wants 3, Kyle Pascascio gets 3 of his game total 11. Kurt Burgess spots up for 3 and he gets it. At the end of 3, Belmopan Bandits boasts a 1 pt lead. Jacob Leslie comes out in the 4th and hits another 3 to en route his total of 8. Hey 1005 from long distance ain’t easy people. Belmopan comes back with 3 the hard way. Geovannie Leslie with the hook, gets fouled and would convert to finish with 11 pts.
Tied at 69 apiece in the 4th, Jacob Leslie launches another 3 to give the Hurricanes the lead. Brian White then comes up with a triple rebound and a tougher put back to push the Hurricanes lead to 5. Stephen Williams gets an important deuce for the Bandits with the tip in. but Smart Belize City Hurricanes goes on to post the 75 – 71 big win and we must say they look much improved. In other actions, Cayo Western Ballaz blew out newcomer, Independence Thunderbolts 105 to 52. Belize City No Limit opened at Bird’s Isle with an 80 to 73 victory over Dangriga Warriors. Looking ahead, Friday night finds Cayo Western Ballaz in action against Smart Belize Hurricanes. The defending champions will take on OW’s Running Rebels at Sugar City Friday night and then come out Saturday night to host the Belmopan Bandits, while the Running Rebels travel to Dangriga Warriors on Saturday night.
Turning to the football scene, the CYDP semi-finals saw a monster show at the MCC Grounds yesterday as Uprising Stars battled Kelly Street for a berth to the championship round. Francisco Briceño of Stars provides an early test for Stanley Reneau in the Kelly Street goal with this set piece launch, but Mister Reneau is on top of his game today. Speaking of Mister Reneau, this punch by Jermaine Foster brings him a severe test which he passes with flying colors. In fact, when Francisco Briceño unleashes this spot kick, Reneau remains in danger. However, there’s no let up by Uprising Stars as Harold Thompson skillfully eliminates the Kelly Street defense to fire this left foot at goal and again Stanley Jordan Reneau answers the ball. At the other end, Kelly Street gets an opportunity to open the scoreboard with this blast from Tyronne Muschamp only to see a big time save from the Uprising keeper. At the half, it’s a scoreless ballgame. We’re some 10 minutes into 2nd half when Francisco Briceño outruns Kelly Street defense and this time Stanley Reneau is beaten by the left foot shot as Uprising Stars takes a 1-nil lead.
Things get worse for Kelly Street when this tackle by Oscar usher who receives a 2nd yellow card and now is ejected from the ballgame. The numerical parity was established when #8 of Uprising whose number was not on the roster committed this infraction that led to an automatic send off. Kelly Street is in the ascending when Steven Baizar drops this ball into the goal—the Uprising Keeper really mishandles the situation and we have a 1-1 tie. This forces overtime play and 4 minutes later, Francisco Briceño lets loose this corner kick that finds the head of Harold Thompson and it’s the game winner. Uprising Stars post the 2-1 win and are into the championship series. The Stars will face off against Kraal Road who dispatched Tut Bay in a 4-1 blast in the bottom half of yesterday’s double header. Championship match is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. inside the MCC Grounds for the 2016 CYDP title.
In other football news, the PLB Closing Season kicks off this Saturday inside the F.F.B. Stadium with Belmopan Bandits hosting the Police and at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium, Wagiya will take aim at Placencia Assasins. On Sunday, it’s Verdes FC and B.D.F. at the Norman Broaster Stadium.
Finally folks, here is Kent Gabourel of Kulture Megabytes winning yesterday’s Damien Gough’s Birthday Race that traveled from the Maskall Junction to the M&M Engineering office on the Phillip Goldson Highway which ran for 42 miles. Gabourel won it in 1 hour 40 minutes 6 seconds. In the race for 2nd place, Dave Yearwood of Lampaz prevailed, forcing Ray Cattouse of C-Ray into 3rd. Warren Coye of Santino’s is 4th while Fitzgerald “Palas” Joseph of Lampaz round out the top 5. In the B Class, Damien Gough of Sugar City United took top honors with Manuel Esquiliano of Truckers 2nd and Jose McKoy of Caribbean Tires 3rd. at the C Class, it was Ingemar Perera of Stationery House, Santi Castillo of Santino’s and Hewald Humes of Digicell finishing 1, 2, 3 in that order.
