Volleyball tournament ends with a bang
Good evening I’m James Adderley and allow me to welcome you to this brand new version of Sports Monday. After a year in the semi-pro ranks, Sir George and the Brown Bombers find themselves locked in a quadrangular tournament fighting for survival at the highest level of Belizean football play. That campaign began yesterday at the M.C.C. Grounds, where the Bombers played host to red-hot Lazio F.C. of Orange Walk.
Always brimming with coaching tips, Sir George Brown gives his youths one final word before the action begins and he knows today he’s facing an array of all star players, who have been hired to get Lazio right back into the Belize Premier Football League.
Fourteen minutes in, this corner kick from the Bombers yields the opening goal of the match off this mean scalp from Sylvan Lions and the Bombers are off to a good start against goalkeeper Giovanni Rodriguez. Freddie Tun looks for the O.W. answer by finding Sergio Quinonez, but he is easily contained.
This right away shot from Assisi Suazo somehow reaches Mark “Kello” Leslie, who goes too hard to Quinonez as the opportunity simple passes.
This time it’ Leslie pressing the O.W. offence, but he can’t get the pill past the Bombers’ keeper. Again Leslie makes a move and again he gets cheated at the very last second.
Meanwhile folks, Assisi Suazo, formerly a Dangrigan, should have done better with this particular opportunity as he crashes the pill against the crossbar. It seems that sometimes one error leads to another; first the defensive error, then the misplay on offence as Suazo and Quinonez can’t get their game right.
At the half the Bombers show a 1-zip lead.
Immediately into second half Tyrone Muschamp finds the opening he had been waiting for and just like that it’s 2-zip, the Bombers lead.
Down by two goals and down to a ten-man team, Lazio sees Suazo eat this goal and no one’s laughing right about now. Keep your eyes on this throw in people, as the Bombers defender brings down his man inside the eighteen, the referee rules penalty. Elroy Smith steps up, he’s the man and O.W.’s Lazio gets on to the scoreboard.
Some fourteen minutes later, Suazo plays dummy on this spotkick, as Nelson Moss fires for the equaliser.
It’s late, but it’s also a new ballgame, and then Christopher Hendricks connects with this vicious header to break the heart of the feisty Brown Bombers in a 3-2 final score.
In the other relegation match, San Pedro edged La Costena 2-1. Of course, all four teams will see action next weekend. It’s a home and away series, the winner advances to the final, which will produce the one team to make it into the Belize Premier Football League.
Turning to the volleyball scene, Miller’s Girls took the female Friday night at the City Centre, beating archrival Bradley’s Scorpions in four sets: 25-16, 21-25, 25-26 and 25-22.
In the firms competition, Belikin bombed Barclays Eagles in two sets: 25-21, 25-22, and they are champions in 2002.
On the male side, S.Q. Enforcers knocked off Habet Scorpions: 16-25, 25-22, 27-25, and 25-23, to emerge number one in this competition. And hey, number one anywhere in the world is number one. We certainly send our congratulations.
Checking in on the post season awards in the Volleyball Association Competition: David Vasquez was selected the male server, Taiko Inoue is best female receiver, Gillian Smith is the best male receiver, Miriam Usher is the best female setter, Albert Bradley is the best male setter. Ernest Broaster won both the best defensive male player award, and the best attacker, while Shirlene Young won both best female server and best blocker. Barbara Cadle emerged as the best female attacker, Tanya Usher, best defensive player and Ian Galvez, best defensive male player.
Hey, congratulations to the entire volleyball community for keeping the dream alive and for have a very successful season.
In cricket news, the Harrison Parks Cricket Competition finally gets underway this weekend at the Bermudian Landing, where undefeated Wicked 11 goes up against Sunrise of Lord’s Bank to kick off the three games series. You won’t want to miss it.
That’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.
