Volleyball action at the City Center
Good evening, I’m James Adderly and you’re in tuned to Sports Monday. The mad dash for the best position in the volleyball playoffs set to begin this Tuesday brought a monster ticket to the City Center Saturday night.
We pick up the action in the first set between Cayo Wolverines and Sagitun and it’s the young boys of Sagitun in control early as Manuel Aguilar smashes through the Cayo defense. Of course volleyball is not only a game of strength and speed, it is played above the neck as the veteran Paul Wagner demonstrates. That point gets driven home with even more emphasis off this extended rally that ends not with a smash, but a well placed push from Joe Supal.
However, the youngsters do show some poise, displaying sound defense in this exchange, which helps them to cut the deficit to one. Folks it’s a point to tie and a point win when Oscar Quiros finds the soft side of the Sagitun defense, to grab the opening set 25-23.
In the 2nd set, Sagitun enjoys a 2-point lead, when the guys from the West get busy – Joe Supal hits the pill to the right spot. Luis Navarro then comes up with this super defensive play as Cayo Wolverines go on to take the match by winning the 2nd set 25-18.
We now go to game two on schedule and its Tropic Air Flyers in action against Corozal. And with Calvo Usher of football fame serving, Corozal jumps to a quick 7-1 lead. But the flyers come back – the nice tip by Wallace Tillett is good for a point. Amado Badillo then sets Tillett, who responds and Tropic Air flies. This wicked smash from Anthony Williams gives Tropic Air the lead and they’d never look back as they go on to take the first set 25-21. In the 2nd set, its more Flyers – Amado Badillo with the ticklish move and it impresses the scoreboard. Calvo Usher tries to respond for the North, but winds up smashing into the net, as Tropic rallies to 7 points in a row.
Nuff respect to Derrick Miller, who turns back the challenge from Usher – Tropic wins 25-18 handing the North its 2nd season loss. Thus the seeding going into the playoffs which gets off on Tuesday looks like this. Scorpions first, Corozal second, Cayo third, Sagitun fourth, Tropic Air fifth, Rookie sixth and BDF Defenders seventh.
Turning to the cricket scene – it was a historic moment at the MCC Grounds Saturday afternoon when the Belize Cricket Association launched the first ever Secondary School Cricket Competition in an effort to attract new blood to the sport. Governor General, Sir Colville Young gave the keynote address. And then there was the marching pass of the participating schools.
Enita Castillo Principal of Gwen Lizarraga bowled the first ball and then Wesley College took the pitch against Belize Rural High. It proved to be a no-contest with Belize Rural opening with 137 runs for 6 wickets, while Wesley College could only respond with 27 runs for 9 wickets.
In football news, Sagitun bombed Real Verdes 4-zip at Independence Saturday night as the BFL playoffs resumed over the weekend, while San Pedro Dolphins drowned La Victoria 2-nil. Thus the standings looks like this. Sagitun shows 6 points, Dolphins also 6 points, Yabra 5 points, Grigamandala 5 points, La Victoria 0, Real Verdes 0, all from three games apiece.
