Monday Sports: Football, Cycling, Bodybuilding and Basketball
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
PLB Football found Police United FC hosting its bitter rival Belmopan Bandits inside the Norman Broaster Stadium yesterday in the west. We’re 22 minutes in when Elroy Smith powers this set piece at goal; Amin Guerra’s defensive stretch slices the ball away from Jose Mil Dos Santos and the Bandits take a 1-zip lead. John King looks for the equalizer for the Police with this header only to see the ball bouncing past the near upright. At the other end, Aloisio Teixera gets the chance to double the Belmopan lead but this time, Santos comes up with a necessary save.
At the 31st minute, John King punch at goal atop the eighteen is poorly handled by Shane Orio; Kafu Roches recovers for the Police and picks out Devon Makin whose header forces the 1-1 tie. 7 minutes into 2nd half, the Police Defense allows Aloisio Teixera to get this touch inside the box; Santos cannot control. Outside of nowhere, Jairo Roches beats all to the ball and Belmopan Bandits take a 2-1 lead thanks to his push that hits the back of the net. Teixera then gets this shot to get on the scoreboard, but his launch is right at Santos. The Police send for Danny Jimenez and he should have done better in this one on one situation against goalkeeper Orio.
Dalton Thomas then gets this chance at the equalizer; Orio couldn’t handle the shot, but is rescued by his defense. Jairo Roches could push the Bandits lead to 3 instead he is upstaged by a great save from Santos. The Bandits would hang on to the 2-1 big win and remain undefeated. In other results from the weekend, the Placencia Assassins marched past OW FC 4 to 1; Verdes FC blanked Freedom Fighters 2-ip on a pair from Jarret Davis and the B.D.F. scorched Wagiya FC in a 1-zip sizzler.
In cycling news, the Belmopan City Council staged a massive cycling race yesterday at the Capital. On the ladies side, Alicia Thompson dominated the 20 laps ride and here she completes her sweep of the station prizes. If that wasn’t enough, Alicia Thompson rode to the finish line uncontested in a time of 51 minutes 25:44 seconds riding for Belize Bank Swoosh. 3 minutes later, Gina Lovell of Digicell 4G beats out Lisa Berger of El Pecador and Taralee Ordonez of Belize Bank Swoosh in that order. While Paulita Chavarria of C Ray rounds out the top 5. Meanwhile, 26 riders suited up for the youths and juniors 20-lap race, but it settled into a 5 man lead. In money time, Ernest Bradley, riding unattached, takes Shawn Codd to the races for top honors and yes, Ernet enjoys the moment.
Gian Lino then rides in uncontested for 3rd place. The weekend warriors also participated in the all day event and 16 riders are off. Without a trace of doubt, Kent Gabourel dominates this event as he takes all 3 station prizes in a sweep. And then its cruise control into taking top honors in the 25 laps. We’ll just have to call him Mister Kent Gabourel of Kulture Tours Megabytes who won in 56:22:20. 2 minutes later, the battle for the runner up spot rages—and it’s Preston Martinez edging out Daniel Cano of Santino’s. Meanwhile, the 40 lap feature brought out 40 of the most talented riders in the elite class and it wouldn’t be a walk in the park for anybody. Byron Pope grabs the 10-lap prize. Orvin Middleton claims the 20-lap premie; Geovanni Lovell of Digicell steps up the 30-lap win and it’s John Borland of Digicell 4G grabbing the 35th lap station prize. Now here comes money time and its Brandon Cattouse riding for Smart with the big win, forcing Joslin Chavarria of Westrac Alliance into 2nd. Geovanni Lovell of Digicell 4G is 3rd. Nissan Arana of Westrac Alliance is 4th, while Byron Pope of bennys rounds out the top 5. Certainly was a good day for cycling.
In bodybuilding news, we say hats off to Oyinkro Akpobodor who represented Belize in the 8th annual NPC?FBB Dayana Cadeau Classic staged at Miami, Florida on October 21st to the 23rd. And with his sizzle to the chisel finished 1st in novice physique, 2nd in open class physique and 3rd in classic physique. Now how do you like them results.
Turning to the basketball scene, undefeated Jumanji in 25 and under play of Sugar City Hoops blew past Devils in a 24 pt blowout yesterday. Roman Alvarez of the Devils kept his team in the ballgame early, knocking down this triple and would finish with the game high of 14 pts. Shemar White answers for Jumanji with this finger roll finish for 2 of his 11 pts. At the end of the 1st quarter, Jumanji is down by a point. Late in 2nd quarter play, Flowers gives Jumanji the lead with the overhead lay off the glass. It would be Elias Crawford who sinks this three pointer from the left side to make it a 46 to 33 lead at the end of 3. In the 4th quarter, it’s all Jumanji; Shemar White deals to Michael Shaw off the steal and Shaw has an uncontested bucket. Alvarez continues to play big for Devils, but he needed a whole lot of help. Elias Crawford ranges for another triple and Jumanji would post the 74 to 50 final score.
On the U-17 undercard, Kristan Puerto scored 22 pts and pulled 10 boards to lead East Coast Ballerz to a 54 to 49 victory over Technical High School despite a 38 pt performance from Clinton Shaw.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
