Basketball, Football and Cycling Stats with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The PLB closing season kicked off over the weekend with only 1 of the matches scheduled being staged. We are optimistic here at the Sports Desk so we cling to the belief that a bad beginning makes a good ending. The Verdes/B.D.F. match up was scrapped and so was the Wagiya/Placencia showdown. Only Saturday night’s game between Belmopan Bandits and Opening Season Champ, Police FC got off as scheduled inside the F.F.B. Stadium. Andres Makin gets the Police offensive going early as he tests newly installed goalkeeper and national team mainstay Shane Orio who was well placed in goal. Welcome back Mister Orio. At the other end, Amilton Filko tries to hook up with Jeremy James who is denied by the timely intervention of the Police keeper, Jamie Brooks. It’s the Bandits with the pressure when Filko finds Marlo Mesa inside the box, Trevor Lennan comes in with the reckless challenge on Mesa which produces a penalty kick for Belmopan.
Elroy “Mister International” Smith gets the call and the right foot gives Belmopan a 1-zip lead some 24 minutes into the action. on this feed from Filko, Jerome James turn around bomb rises over the crossbar in the failed attempt to make it 2-nil. Just before the half expires, the cruel left foot from Orlando Jimenez of the Police really presents a powerful test for Shane Orio who passes with flying colors. Folks this crushing header by Marlon Mesa brings out the best from goalkeeper, Jamie Brooks who comes up with the initial save and then Darien Myers cleans up in a must do situation. It’s getting late so Danny Jimenez takes matters into his own hands. He takes Humberto Requeña to school and then unleashes this canon that paralyses Shane Orio for the 1-1 tie. Both teams seemed satisfied with the draw. Looking ahead, no date has been given for the 2 back matches from week 1. Week 2 finds Placencia Assassins hosting Verdes FC Saturday night at the Michael Ashcroft while on Sunday, Wagiya travels to the Norman Braoster Stadium for a date with the Police while B.D.F. and Belmopan Bandits match is tentatively set for the MCC Grounds.
Turning to the red hot CYDP Football Championship match, the MCC found itself with a crowd. It was filled but it’s the most we’ve seen in a long time. It’s Uprising Stars in the green jersey taking on the pre-game favorite, Kraal Road in the white jersey. However, it’s the Stars with the early glitter when Francisco Briceño launches this left foot that forces goalkeeper Elvis Hercules to come up with a necessary double save. Kraal Road gets something going when Delwin Jones crushes this ball at goal only to see it rise over the crossbar. We go to 2nd half play and this defensive error by the Kraal Road defense gives Jermaine Foster an open look at goal from point blank range, but is robbed by Elvis Hercules who certainly didn’t know a whole lot about it. Off this set piece, Charles Canto gets to launch this superb header that Elden Linarez gets a hand on—Delwin Jones kicks it out of his hand into the net. The referee waves it off which attracts a lot of legitimate questions. Folks, this match would be decided in overtime play. Keron Young’s blast from long distance is punched out by Elvis Hercules; the ball falls to Jermaine Foster and the left foot is perfect. Uprising Stars grabs the CYDP title in the 1-nil victory and we say congrats. On the undercard, Kelly Street took 3rd place by jerking the defending champs, Tut Bay in a 4-3 finish.
In basketball news, the BES Stadium here in Belize City couldn’t accommodate the crowd that jammed the venue as the Smart Belize Hurricanes hosted the NEBL sub-champions, Cayo Western Ballaz. Brian White would bring his game for the Hurricanes striking for 2 of his 21 game points. He would be the only player into double digits in rebounds with the game high 18 and would post the highest efficiency rating with 37. Jacob Leslie who hit 8 of 8 from 3 point range in his last outing strikes for 3 here; Leslie would get 4 of 12 from beyond the arc in this one, but would total 20 pts. Darwin Leslie then spots up 3 and nails it. Darwin would add 18 pts to the Hurricanes total. The Hurricanes show a 1 pt led at the end of the first quarter. We’re in the 2nd when Winston Pratt finds Brandon Flowers who gives the Ballaz 2 pts and would total 18 in the ballgame. Jamal Harris then penetrates for 2 of his 10 as the Cayo Western Ballaz takes the lead.
Here’s good news for the Ballaz, Winston Pratt has gotten his swagger back and to prove it, he strikes for 3, would sink 4 of 9 three’s but would put up the game high with 29 pts. At the half, it’s Cayo Ballaz with the 1 pt lead and you know we’ve got a ballgame. We’re in the 4th quarter and the Hurricanes are up by 4 so Winston Pratt cuts the lead to 2. Pratt would have to sit out key moments of the 4th with cramps. The Hurricanes take advantage; Brian White gives glass for 2. Smart Belize Hurricanes post the 96 to 87 big win, opening the season with 2 straight. The Ballaz fall to 1 & 1. In other matches around the league; the defending champion San Pedro Tigersharks needed the home court advantage to edge the Belmopan Bandits 61 to 60 in a close shave, taking its record to 2 & 0. Belize City Limit also boasts a 2 & 0 record after burning Independence Thunderbolts in 74-73 squeaker. Looking to the weekend, San Pedro travels to Cayo on Friday night. Belize City No Limit is expected to face OW Running Rebels also on Friday and on Saturday, the Smart Belize Hurricanes will host Independence Thunderbolts, while Dangriga Warriors travel to Belmopan.
Turning to the cycling scene, we caught footballer Vallan Symms winning the 25 laps for class A & B riders as presented by Weekend Warriors in what they call Jack’s Barber Shop Races that ran through downtown Belize City yesterday. Symms of Megabytes gets off his bike to power home for top honors, forcing Digicell 4G’s Robert Mariano inot 2nd. Teammate Preston Martinez finished 3rd; Kent Gabourel of Kulture Megabytes is 4th while Daniel Cano of Santino’s round out the top 5. In the C Class event, Santino Castillo of Santino’s grabbed the big win with Enrique Morales of Caribbean Tires 2nd and Alejandro Morales also of Caribbean Tires finished 3rd.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
