New court installed at City Centre
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
First came the NBA coach, David Greenwood then came the brand new basketball court for the Civic Centre as Belize prepares to host the fourteenth CARICOM Basketball Championship. Of course then came the first of June which brought the first rains of the month which brings up the question: Is the Civic Centre ready for prime time?
In fact we’re at the right play at the right time today to answer just this question. The bustle of activity you see is the laying down of the court by the work crew. Two special features that makes this truly Belizean is our court of arms in the center and of course in big blue bold letters – the legend on the court reads – Belize.
Still outside finds a serious downpour and this is the effect it has inside. The bleachers in this northen section is drenched by rain which may spell inconvenience for some fans. But more importantly there’s this consistent drip on the brand new court. It’s the only leak over the court but it’s unacceptable and the organizers have promised to stop every drip before opening night June 19th. So to answer our opening question – the Civic is not quite ready for prime time.
In the meantime folks Olin Simpliss of the U.S. has accepted the challenge to represent his country, Belize in the CARICOM Basketball Championships.
Olin Simpliss
“Well I am here, to come down and play, to come down and do what I can to help win the tournament. My understanding is basketball is fall off down here in the past decade, I guess. You know they got some guys here from the states, some that I know of, to come down here and be competitive and do what we can to bring home that goal.”
Q: “Tell us a little bit about your game. You’re a guard, what kind of game do you play?”
Olin Simpliss
“My game, I love to pass the ball and I can shoot it also – keeping the defenders honest. Although I pass the ball, I am also a big guard so I do well on the boards. That’s one of the adds that I bring for being a guard. I rebound well and basically I know to pass and if you leave me alone I’m a shooter.”
Q: “Can you compete with the best in the Caribbean from what you think you have achieved?”
Olin Simpliss
“Right now, well, I think, confident, I can play with anybody. That’s my attitude, I can play with anybody. I haven’t seen the level of competition so I’m not going to be ignorant and boast on myself. I’m just gonna come out here and give what I got, play with my heart.”
Of course we’re gonna keep you posted as plans and preparations continue for opening night at the City Centre June 19th, the CARICOM Basketball Championships.
Turning to football scene week 3 of the B.F.L. Knock-Out Tournament found new comer Sagitun of Mango Creek in its first events with national champion-Juventus of Orange Walk, and yes you’d better believe it – that’s Tony Zabaneh in the middle of the Sagitun circle. Tony is a softball heavyweight, but let’s find out if he can bring that punch to football at the People’s Stadium.
It’s only ten 10 minutes deep when Esteban Hall sets table but Juventus’ new Mexican striker can’t convert to goal. It’s Esteban Hall again with this nice play this time dishing to Marcelino Tun and he too fails to deliver.
It’s all Juventus right now as Freddie Tun fires from long range but only to be stopped by the far upright. At the sixteenth minute Marcelino Tun breaks through with this right foot and Juventus goes up 1-zip. Five minutes later the O.W. team goes up 2-zip as the Mango Creek defense begins to collapse. Indeed goals are being given away today but Esteban Hall is not quite ready to cash in.
Juventus certainly won’t miss these second chances too often people – as Freddie Tun smashes this rebound for goal 3. Well for Marcelino, you know, this is like taking candy from a baby, and he increases the Juventus lead to 4. And it gets worse for Sagitun when Marcelino Tun gets his third for a 5-zip Orange Walk lead which goes up to intermission.
After intermission Sagitun immediately looks for a goal, but if they can’t convert these ones, what will happen when the degree of difficulty occurs. At the other end Marcelino Tun finds Deon Flowers and just like that it’s a 6-zip ballgame. Deon Flowers gets his second of the match a few minutes later.
And yes, folks this header by number 14, was second of the match, forces arrests eight-nil final score and yes Tony, football is rough.
In other B.F.L. matches, yesterday Juventus Benquena hurt the Yabra Sporting Club 3-1 at the Marshalleck Stadium while out at La Isla Bonita the San Pedro Dolphins and Real Verdes battled to a 1-1 tie.
And of course all six teams will face each other again next week Sunday; only difference is the venue for the ballgame switches. The journey team becomes the host team.
Hey, that’s it. Thanks to our cameramen for their great work this weekend. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
