James Adderley has sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’re into a fresh slice of Sports Monday. The long awaited championship series of B.F.L. football finally got off the ground yesterday at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk where 3-time defending champion Juventus played host to former champ La Victoria of Corozal.
Needless to say the large crowd is dense when Esteban Hall finds Christopher Hendricks in the opening minute of the ballgame but the striker fails to convert. La Victoria responds with a drop from Pedro Barrahona which finds Oliver Hendricks, who unleashes a header that travels wide of the target. At the opposite end, Christopher Hendricks gets another opportunity to score and again he goes a-squandering.
Folks it’s 23 minutes deep when Clifford Usher takes the defensive left side and unleashes a left foot head burner that beats Charlie Slusher for the 1-zip La Victoria lead. For Christopher Hendricks it’s strike 3 when he fails to provide the equalizer but we’re not talking softball. Meanwhile a spotkick by Esteban Hall frightens the Corozal fans but Delmar Sutherland rises to make a spectacular save and at the half it’s a 1-zip Corozal lead.
After intermission it’s a more focussed Juventus team that returns to the pitch. Tubos Flowers finds Esteban Hall who goes to the far corner but the ball inches outside the sticks. The equalizer comes for O.W. when Ian Henry catches up with a floater for a right-away blast which crashes into the net and his teammates let Henry know it’s a big goal. Corozal tries to regain the lead off this spotkick by Oliver Hendricks but Charlie Slusher is well positioned in goal.
A vicious close range bomb by Dean Flowers sends the ball between the sticks but through the net and causes some controversy about its legitimacy. And maybe the Orange Walk Sports Council should check its equipment to avoid confusion. But it’s back to the ballgame as Flowers punches this long range missile that crashes against the crossbar behind Slusher’s outstretched hands. It’s Flowers again searching for the equalizer but this right foot launch produces a high riser as the long whistle brings a 2-1 big “W” for Juventus.
This home and away series now moves to Corozal on Easter Sunday and the 1999 B.F.L. champion will emerge even if it means going to the golden goal rule.
Turning to semi-pro basketball, the City Centre housed the confrontation between Kremandala Raiders and Cristal Pirates Friday night.
Very early in the outing Bart Sanchez establishes his game going to the high arch to get Kremandala on to the scoreboard. On a trip down court Bart wants 3, Bart gets 3. Down by 11 points, the Pirates go to Vince “the postman” Estrada who goes behind the back and finishes with a left hand for 2.
Nevertheless the Raiders get much needed legwork from Maino Bevans who beats all Pirates to the glass. The Pirates begin to close the deficit before intermission as Paco Neal knocks down a timely tre and at the half it’s a 33-31 ball game.
After intermission the Raiders look to break the game open: Evan Garnett drops short but Bart Sanchez rescues for 2. Off a miss shot, Keith Acosta hits the putback for 2 of his game high 30 points and also pulled the game high of 17 rebounds. Kenroy Smith answers at the end with this 3; he would finish with 16 points, 16 rebounds.
The Pirates gets its first lead of the ball game off this tip in by Denzel Castillo. But Maino Bevans comes off the launch to give the Raiders a lift. Now Bevans intercepts a mean pass and smashes it home for 2 of his 10 points before fouling out, still the Raiders go on to win 71-67.
Q: “You were able to get the quick step a couple of times and you made the Pirates pay every time. Any comments?”
Maino Bevans, Kremandala Raiders
“The way how I see it, it’s not a personal thing when it comes to playing the Pirates. It’s personal for me because many people out there, a lot of critics, think that Maino Bevans is washed up and doesn’t have any game. Right now I’m kinda tired and stuttering but I’m rough and I’m coming harder.”
Keith Acosta, Kremandala Raiders
“The first game was kinda rough since I didn’t have any sleep in the last two nights and you really need your legs when playing. And so I just gave it all I had tonight.”
Q: “Keith, 30 point, 12 board – a massive for you. Almost seemed like your were out to prove to the man Kenroy Smith who was the man at the CARICOM Games on the Belize side?”
Keith Acosta
“Kenroy Smith is a good player; I know he has a lot of talent and hopefully he will get a chance to get the opportunity to play. I really had to come out and show everybody that Keith Acosta could play.”
A word of advice to the Pirates: you will never win a ball game committing 34 turnovers that could lead to 68 points.
At Saturday night’s ticket at the Civic it was the Lakers taking it’s season record to 1 and 1 getting past the Southern Bombers in a 66-53 final score. Now the Semi-Pro League takes an Easter break until April ninth.
That’s our show. We invite you back same time, same place next week. You know it’s Cross Country time. Jah over all; I’m James Adderley.
