Football and basketball highlights with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is sports Monday
The PLB completed regular season play in the 2013 football competition by staging four matches across the nation. With defending champion Bandits, BDF and FC Belize already assured of appearing in the post season Police went into the MCC grounds Saturday night needing at least a draw against San Felipe Barcelona to secure its playoff appearance. A loss by Verdes to the BDF would also get the Police into the four team double round robin format from which the champion would emerge.
The Police look to determine their own destiny early in the ballgame when Orlando Jimenez tries to find the four corner of the goal only to be denied by the San Felipe keeper Benito Martinez. It’s the Police pressing a minute later when Amin August tries the right foot push that doesn’t get pass the goal keeper Martinez. At the 17th minute Police defender Trevor Lennon badly misplays this ball and tries to compensate in taking down #9 Oscar Acevedo inside the eighteen for which the referee rightly awards a penalty kick.
The veteran Derys Benavides gets the call for Barcelona and does not disappoint as he beats Japhet Young for the 1-zip lead. 12 minutes later the Police again concede a penalty when Filadelfo Perez is brought down inside the box and again the referee points to the penalty spot. For a 2nd time Denys Benavides beats the Police keeper to give Barcelona a commanding 2-nil lead at the 29th minute. The Police triggered by Evan Moriano but the Barcelona keeper comes up with a good save.
Martinez appears to be hurt and instead of staying down commits an infraction according to referee Spooners Hall for which another spot kick is given. Naturally there’s a howl of protest from San Felipe but the referee stands firm.
During the confusion the Police attack of the set piece the ball is touched to Danny Jimenez and the home team pulls one back just before intermission and are back in the ballgame.
7 minutes after intermission Orlando Jimenez deals to Evan Mariano as the visitors look for an off side whistle. The referee says play on Mariano’s shot is dug out of the goal by good defensive play but the rebound comes directly to Evan Mariano who tries the ballgame at 2 apiece.
Folks that’s the way it ended and Police United are in the 2013 PLB playoffs. They would have made it anyway because the Belize Defensive Force beat Verdes FC
3-1. In the meantime the Bandits crushed San Ignacio 5-1 and Placencia Assasins jerked FC Belize 3-2.
Thus Belmopan finished regular season atop the standings with 32 points, BDF is next with 29, both Police United and FC Belize gets in 20 points a piece but Police is the #3 seed on goal difference. The playoffs get underway this weekend. On Saturday night at the MCC grounds the Police take aim at the BDF while on Sunday again at the MCC grounds, Belmopan Bandits take on FC Belize.
Turning to the Basketball scene the interoffice basketball league opened its annual season at Bird’s Isle Friday night and we caught the confrontation between Belikin and CYDP as Kevin Domingo and Deon Leonardo battle at the tip off.
Belikin goes immediately to the 2 man game as Ryan Zuniga goes back to Steve Beumel who surf for 2.
Ty Bradley then rises up for three and he would put up 15 points tonight for the Brewery. At the other end Leroy Lourianna looks smooth as he strikes for 2 of his game high, 25 points for CYDP who would lead 20 to 11 at the end of the 1ts quarter.
In the second quarter CYDP would expand its lead behind the sharp play of Bernard Felix who would put up a 2 double of 18 points, 11 rebounds and on this play up the look wishes. Lincey Lopez ads to the lead with this move for 2 of his 9 points.
Ian Lennon then shows off his skills with this monster dunk for 2 of his 16 game points and at the half CYDP leads Belikin 42 to 72.
In the 3rd CYDP would push its lead to 24 points Bernard Felix wants 3 he gets 3.
On the next play he finds Ian Lennon who goes glass for 2.
Scrapping In traffic Dorian Jones comes up with possession to strike for 2 of his team high 22 points.
However Leroy Louriano is unstoppable as he streaks in for a lay off the glass and at the end of 3 the score is 69 to 45. In the 4th Belikin makes a run Leon Williams grades the rebound and finds Ty Bradley who sinks the easy bucket.
Dorian Jones scores this rebound off the miss by Bradley and he put back is good.
Big man Leon Williams gets in on the act as he strikes for 2 off the put back. Sherwin Garcia then launches the triple and its good and now his team is only down by 5.
It’s down to 2 Dorian Jones sinks this bucket.
However this bucket by Leroy Louriano who if fouled forces the rally to fall short as CCYDP Bo Holes Belikin in an 84 to 78 final score.
Finally folks the results from the 28 mile speed race posted by weekend Warriors yesterday saw Isaiah Willacey of Digicel 4G grab top honors, Maurice Kelly finished 2nd and Antonio Escarpeta 3rd. In the C class Manuel Equiliano top the #1 spot will Lawrence Craig.
