James Adderley has the rundown in sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
Week seven of the Belize Football League saw the leading undefeated F.C. Belize host the San Pedro Bullsharks inside the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday as the action in the north zone continues to tighten. It’s the visitors looking for the early lead when Olvin Serano fires this left foot that inches outside the far upright. Two minutes later, this innocent floater by Christopher Gilharry should have been handled by goalkeeper Cambel Reyes; instead it crashes into the net to give F.C. Belize a 1-zip lead at the nineteenth minute. The San Pedro Bullsharks try to respond off this corner kick but Tondra Okpobodor raises the shot over the crossbar. F.C. Belize then looks to extend the lead when this center reaches Mark Leslie, who misses the target with the header. In the meantime, this corner kick sees goalkeeper Elroy Rawley mis-time his jump but he is rescued by good defense from Albert Thurton. At the other end, Mark Leslie picks out Deon McCauley, whose header crashes against the horizontal bar. On this set piece, Al Thurton creates all kinds of problems for Reyes, who is rescued by a fortuitous bounce. Folks, we’re some twenty minutes into second half when Mark Leslie gets this open look at goal and chooses to gift this ball to the keeper. Meanwhile, for a second time in the match, Elroy Rawley is rescued by his defense as Shannon Flowers rejects Olvin Serrano’s attempt to tie the ballgame. On this scoring opportunity for F.C. Belize, Floyd Jones should have done better as he fails to impress the scoreboard. We’re at the ninety-first minute of the ballgame when Delroy Andrews mounts this individual effort that gives F.C. Belize the 2-zip lead. We must say the Bullsharks saved the best for last when Olvin Serrano finally breaks through with this right foot splice. It’s a consolation goal as F.C. Belize goes on to post the 2-1 big W to remain atop the north zone with eighteen points from eight outings.
Other results from this zone saw the B.D.F. march over the San Pedro Dolphins in a 2-zip finish and Suga Boys Juventus shocked Nizhee Corozal 2-1. In the south zone Hankook Verdes mashed Scorpions 2-zip, Tafari and Llagulei settled for a 3-3 stalemate and Georgetown Ibayani edged Wagiya 3-2.
In other football news, here are the results from play in the Female Football League from over the weekend. At Esperanza, Gentle Touch was held to a 2-2 draw with Pumas. At Dangriga, Millennium Girls issued a 5-zip blast on Ambassadors and here in Belize City, the Belize Defence Force edged All Season Stars 3-2.
Turning to the basketball scene, we take you to the City Center where Friday night Belize Telemedia find themselves down by fourteen to Home Protector in the third quarter as Marvin ‘Bay’ Castillo hits the put-back. He would lead all players with sixteen points, twelve rebound in this one. Of course, Home Protector has their big man Michael Plunkett who would finish with ten points, eight rebounds. Tariq Diaz penetrates into the painted area for this bucket. Diaz would finish with ten points. Lupito Acosta, who was plagued by turnovers in this ballgame hits for three here. Acosta would put up thirteen points to pull his team within five. Late in the fourth quarter, Marlon Middleton outruns the B.T.L. defense for the easy deuce. And then Milton Flores benefits from the Acosta turnover with this lay-up. He would also hit ten points. Home Protector takes its record to four and two with a 58-50 final score over B.T.L.
We now join game two of the night as defending champion Aero Dispatch faces off against Tuff e Nuff with both teams coming in with three and one records. And it’s Ronald Alarcon opening the scoreboard as he hits the hard lay off the glass to get Aero Dispatch going. Tuff e Nuff answers with this three pointer from Rico Black, his only three of the match. Glen Flowers also wants three and he gets three. Mach would finish with a healthy twelve points tonight. And to the end of one, Tuff e Nuff leads 14-13. In the second quarter, Densmore Edwards spots up to sink this triple. ‘Wabble’, who scored thirty-four points in his last outing, would put up half that total today. It’s still a one point lead in the third when Myron Flowers picks out Charli ‘Dunk’ Armstrong who would finish with twelve points, ten rebounds. He gives Aero Dispatch its first lead of the night. In the fourth quarter, this tre from Myron Flowers gives Aero Dispatch a six point lead. It’s a two point ballgame when Flowers successfully launches another three. He would finish with the game high of twenty points. And this easy lay up by Charlie ‘Dunk’ Armstrong seals the victory in a 55-47 final score for the defending champion, Aero Dispatch.
We now turn to the nightcap show as five and one Belize City Council gets going on this quick bucket from Gadsden Ferguson in its confrontation with the Port of Belize. Kenroy ‘MVP’ Usher then gets this easy bucket off the glass. At the end of one the City Council is up by five. In the second quarter, Virgil Miller gets busy for two of his thirteen game points right here. AC Augustine then gets two at the other end of the court. AC would hit thirteen points, pull eighteen rebounds; the most in a league game this season. We must admire the determination of Darwin Myles, who stays with this rebound until he gets the put back to fall for the Belize City Council. He would total eleven points in this outing. Going into the fourth quarter, the Council is up by one when AC Augustine changes that with this three pointer. Leroy Forbes then penetrates the baseline to give the Port two more points. Still, this bucket by Darwin Myles gives back the lead to the City Council and with two minutes to go, the Port is down by five. Wilfred ‘Chiki Blue’ Nicholas then gets going. He gets two points off the glass to get his team to within one points. AC Augustine then ties the ballgame with this baby jumper. It’s ‘Chiki Blue’ in the final minute working hard for two points which gives his team a one point lead people. Kent Marfield is fouled in the closing seconds. He hits both free throws and would finish with twelve points. Port of Belize gets its fifth win in a 55-51 final score.
In other action over the weekend, B.T.L. rebounded with an 84-31 blow-out of Grace Kennedy, Atlantic Bank got the default from Central Bank, Port of Belize stopped Cellular Plus/Customs 57-52 in overtime and Alamilla’ Furniture/FirstCaribbean took Belize Electricity Limited in a 75-49 blowout.
On Wednesday’s Schedule Alamilla/FirstCaribbean takes on Grace Kennedy, Brodies Milo goes up aganst Tuff e Nuff and Aero Dispatch matches up with guardian/Housing Department. Meanwhile folks, the Inter-office Basketball League will present its All Star Show this Friday and we caught up with Public Relations Director, Armin Arana.
Armin Arana, PR Director, Inter-Office Basketball League
“It’s all about All Star Friday Night this Friday, May twenty-ninth at the Belize City Center. It all gets underway at seven-thirty and before I get into what’s gonna take place on Friday night, the fans—it’s all about the fans of inter-office basketball. They have the chance to vote for the starting five and the league voted for the next seven and players for east division. We’re having the eastern division versus the western division on Friday night. We want to invite friends to come on out on Friday night starting at seven-thirty, James, we have the Busta drink skills challenge. That starts off the night following at eight o’clock with the Cellular World Free Throw Challenge and at nine, it’s the Smart three point shootout and of course following those festivities, is the big game where we see showcasing all the players of the Inter-Office Basketball League that made it to the All Star.”
Finally folks, Leroy Cassasola won the Santino’s Birthday Tour for a second year in a row. Glen O’Brien took second and Collet Maheia rounds out the top three.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
