Weekend Sporting Highlight with Sportscaster, James Adderley
James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is sports Monday.
The tension in the camp was painfully obvious as the defending champions Belmopan Bandits hosted FC Belize Saturday night in the final leg of the home and away series that would determine which of the 2 makes it to the 2013 PLB finals. The fact that FC Belize went in with a 1-nil lead from game 1 made today’s match even more crucial. Most pundits said 1 goal wasn’t enough for FC to advance while the bandits knew it was a must win situation to repeat.
So the Bandits roar out of the blocks as Deon McCauley attacks off the right wing to fire at the goal only to be denied by goal keeper Glenford Chimilio who comes up with a good save.
It’s the home team pressing again when Victor Morales unselfishly turns provider for Jerome James whose right away left foot launch is right at the goalkeeper.
Some 20 minutes in FC Belize finally gets some offense going when Stephen Baizar fires this half Volley that is handled by goal keeper Woodrow West.
At the other end McCauley keeps this ball alive to Jerome James who should have done better with the header.
The Bandits then look for the opening goal off this set piece and despite attempt from 3 different players they come away empty.
So Jerome James tries to make amends after being freed up by this wonderful pass from Denmark Casey Jr. but 0 points for power instead of accuracy.
On the very next Bandits press Casey beats Chimilio to this ball only to see the ball inch over the crossbar.
So we go to second half and the Bandits are now frantically searching for a goal when Brandon Peyrifitte beats two defenders but is eventually crowded out by good defense.
For FC Belize today’s outing is all about defense and this is a perfect example when Luis Arriola tunes Denmark Casey for the block.
Meanwhile in one or their few offensive forays FC Belize gets two beautiful opportunities off the feed from Michael Hernandez but ends up squandering those chances.
It’s getting late now and desperation is the name of the game for the Bandits- Deon McCauley’s attempt is stopped; Denmark Casey Jr. fails to comment with the left foot while David Madrid is blocked.
The mad press for Belmopan continues- McCauley finds James who keeps it alive to Leon Cadle- it’s a good shot but right at the keeper.
Pushing players forward inevitably brings danger and it’s the case when Mark Leslie deals around Lincoln Wiltshire to Jason Young who gets the best look of the match and is denied by a finger touch from West.
For Jerome James today is just not his day after he gets a nice feed from Leon Cadle and misses the target from pointblank range just when the Bandits needed a hero most.
FC Belize gets past the defending champion with the nil -nil draw after last weeks 1- nil victory and is headed to the finals.
Also making the finals is Police United who mashed up the Belize defense Force 3-1 after winning game 1 in a 2-1 final score.
So the finals begin this Sunday 4 pm inside the MCC Grounds. FC Belize takes on the Police in game 1 of a 2 game series and it’s big.
Now here is the latest result from the OW 1st division season. Denys athletics and Crystal FC battled to 2-2 draw, San Jose handled San Felipe in a 3-zip blast, Progress FC pummeled Carmelita 4-nil Sinbad FC sunk San Estevan 3-nothing San Lazaro and Guinea Grass settled for a 2-2 stalemate and Yo Creek blanked San Felipe Unite 3-zip.
In basketball news we take you out to Bird’s Isle for Friday nights big match-up between the Police and BTL in Inter office play as Sheldon Williams jumps against Cladwick Yseguirre.
The 1st bucket of the outing comes from Devon Lozano who gets BTL going with a triple and strike for 12 points and 5 rebounds.
The Police immediately answer with a deuce from Venard Clarke who would hit 6 points early a Lupito Acosta strike for 2 of his 8 game points.
Lozano then pulls up for another three and he knocks it down.
Still at the end of the 1st quarter we’re tied at 24 apiece.
In the 2nd half the Police begin to pull away big man Clarke deals to Shane Rosales who knocks down the three pointer. He would shoot for 12 game points.
BTL answers when Acosta goes to his big center Lennox Cayetano who muscles his way on for 2 of 12 points to go along with the 6 rebounds, but like we said its Police rolling.
Rosales dishes to Orlando Bowen who sinks the bucket in heavy traffic for two of his game highly 19 points and would also 7 rebounds.
At the half Police leads 39-34. We’re in 3rd quarter when Cayetano finds Karim Thompson open and the big man hits for 2 of his 8 points for BTL.
Lennox Cayetano then dishes to Linworth Graham whose conversion makes it a 43-41 score- but that’s the closes the phone company would get.
Linton Broaster goes coast to coast for the Police for the bucket- he would contribute with 8 points – 6 rebounds.
Sheldon Williams goes through the paint for 2 of his 14 points and missed.
