Football and Basketball Stats with James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderly and this is Sports Monday.
The 4 team playoffs in the PLB Closing season got off with a bang on Saturday with all 4 teams seeing action. At the Isidoro Beaton Stadium the Belmopan Bandits hosted the surging Belize Defense Force in game 1 of a 2 game series that takes one of them into the championship round. We continue to marvel at the best venue in Belize. In money time the game of football goes to the next level. Humberto Requena sends this ball into the danger zone and BDF’s keeper Tevin Gamboa is forced to give up his body to make a needed intervention. Elroy Smith of the bandits is next to get shaken up in this midfield lash with Raymond Ramos and all we can say is ouch! Folks the military with its first legit chance to open the scoreboard when this weak defensive clearance gives Shane Flores the opportunity to unleash this diving bomb that’s not far off and the defensive attempt to clear almost creates the auto goal forcing goalkeeper Shane Orio to preach caution. This awakes the home team. Khallil Velasquez unattended lets loose the left foot atop the 18 and isn’t too far off from the target. 17 minutes in Jordy Polanco picks out Kevin Johnson and the left side who fires from inside the box. Tevin Gamboa should have handed this one. He didn’t. Belmopan Bandits take the 1 – zip lead. In the meantime Khalil Velasquez’s corner kick is right on the money. 
Ian Gaynair cometh with the header and Belmopan grabs the 2 – zip lead at the 27th minute. We’re in the 2nd half play when Marlon Mesa volleys this all and goal only to see it rise over the crossbar. The BDF then gets this chance to finally move the scoreboard when Paul gets this open look but the ball doesn’t bend enough to cause Shane Orio too much problem. Folks this long distance set piece launch by Captain Elroy Smith is a beauty but it’s not good enough to give the Bandits a 3 – zip lead. It’s more Belmopan when Khalil Velasquez gives Kevin Johnson the opportunity to double his total only his turn on the ball is hindered by the defensive effort from Tevin Gamboa. Hey you football fans this is as majestic a goal you will see and it comes off the boots of Rickey who hands it from an acute angle to get the BDF on to the scoreboard. Meanwhile Paul Nunez is the fortunate pone with the chance to square the score at 2 a piece but close power over placement. Belmopan Bandits hang on to the 2 – 1 big W but this playoff is being staged under CONCACAF Championship rules which makes this score a technical draw due to the away goal. Game 2 of the series comes to the MCC Grounds this Sunday 3:30 PM. Two teams enter on team makes it to the championship round even if we must go to penalty kicks. In the other semi-final match Police United travelled to Placencia on Saturday and walked away with a 3-2 big W over Placencia Assassins. The Assassins will have its work cut out in game 2 inside the Norman Broaster Stadium facing a 6 – 2 deficit. Game time is 4:00 PM. By the way guys Police United gets all 3 points from last Thursdays disputed win against Placencia and it propels them to the CONCACAF Championship series. We say congratulations.
In other football news, play in the Orvin Stud Hendricks Tournament say Sinbad double Barrio Boy 2 to 1 at the Trial Farm Football Field. Looking to April 17th a triple header is on the schedule. Progresso faces Trail Farm New Site, Barrio Boys take on Untouchables and Trinidad Levis take aim at Trail Farm Uprising.
In Table Tennis news Latrell Solis overcame Carlos Cui to take the A Division title in the 2016 RFG National Ranking Tournament staged at BES Auditorium yesterday. Taye Perkinson snatched 3rd place. Amiri Hoare emerged the B Division champion after rolling past Joshua Gegg with Taye Perkinson again settling for 3rd place while Kevin Chun beat Robert Pagaranic to win the C Division title and Tarique Reyes finished third.
Turning to the NEBL scene, a deadly serious San Pedro Tigersharks arrived at Big Birds Isle o face the Belize City No Limit and they went to work immediately. Gene Myvette deals to Caleb Sutton who stays with the interception and deals to Paul Roches who strikes for 2 of his 13 game points and would also pull 9 rebounds. Gregg Rudon stops the bleeding going left to the glass for 2 of his team high 15 points, leading his team in efficiency rating with 14. At the end of the 1st the visitor leads 18 to 10. 
Gregory Rudon starts off the 2nd with this triple but would go 3 for 12 from beyond the arc. Marcel Orosco would cut the deficit to 4 in the quarter with this effort. Hitting the shot on the foul, but misses the and 1. The score shows 19 to 15. It would be the closest No Limit would get. Jamal Kelly looks up to find, Gene Myvette unattended. Myvette would get the easy dance and would lead all players with 5 assist, pull 10 boards and sink 6 points and would lead all players with an efficiency of 20. Douglas Valley spots up for the triple and hit it and would put up 9 points, going 3 for 9 beyond the arc after hitting 3 in a row. At the half San Pedro leads by 9. In the 3rd the visitors extend the lead to 22 – Gene Myvette finds Caleb Sutton and he banks it for 2. Caleb would lead the Tigersharks with the game high of 20 points. Myvette intercepts this pass by Danny Reynolds and goes all the way to slam it home. Raul Roches would cap a run of 13 unanswered points with this in your face dunk by Raul Roches for the 22 point lead. Gregory Rudon leads the charge back by No Limit with this triple. Keith Acosta also dialed long range and would score double digit 10 points and pull 7 boards. Kevin Domingo then gets into the 3 point barrage with this offering for 3 of his 6. At the end of 3 San Pedro lead is 13. 
The defending champion San Pedro goes on to post the 68 to 55 final score and are into the playoffs as the #3 seed after crushing OW Running Rebels 89 – 49 in the end of a back to back. Of course the Smart Belize Hurricanes are the #1 seed with, Dangriga Warriors 2nd and Belmopan Bandits makes it in at the 4th spot. As soon as we get the post season schedule we’ll pass it on. There are a couple ballgames to compete the season. On Friday Smart Belize faces Belize City No Limit; San Pedro Tigersharks travels to Belmopan Bandits and Cayo Western Ballaz take on Orange walk Running Rebels. On Saturday Belmopan Bandits goes on to face Independence Thunderbolts and the Running Rebels travel to San Pedro. On Sunday Independence come to Belize City No Limit and Dangriga Warriors take on Running Rebels at Orange Walk. We must mention that while the 4 playoff teams have emerges these ballgames could affect the seedings. In other scores from over the weekend Smart Belize Hurricanes beat Independence 92 – 64 and then hurt Orange Walk Running Rebels 72 – 59 who were also defeated 89 – 49 by San Pedro.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
