Belize Bank team tops field in Ruta Maya
Good evening, I?m James Adderley with this hefty version of Sports Monday. The Baron Bliss weekend brought with it a plethora of sporting activity and we?ve got most of it for you.
First we head west to the Hawkesworth Bridge in San Ignacio for the ninth running of this La Ruta Maya event. This year?s race features some one hundred and four teams in eight categories to kick off the one hundred seventy miles of paddling along the Macal and Belize rivers. And as we always say, they?re off!
Folks, four days later we?re at the Belcan Bridge here in Belize City for the big finish and the excited fans discern three vessels with their respective three-man crew approaching at high speed. Team Belize Bank headed by veteran Armin Lopez appears to posses a slight lead. With adrenaline pumping, the bank team goes to its vast deposit of experience and begins to pull away.
Pine Lumber set chase, while the Atlantic Bank?s gallant effort falls a bit short. Nevertheless, the well-oiled machinery of the Belize Bank team surges to the big W. Pine Lumber thus has to settle for second, and Atlantic Bank pulls up third. Agro Teck and Hardware Supplies paddle in fourth, and the Boomers of Burrell Boom rounds out the top five in the male category.
Armin Lopez, Team Belize Bank, Ruta Maya Winner
?A lotta people like seh, well dah Armin dah the man. But dah noh Armin dah the man, the three a we inna the canal, because my brother and Daniel, Amado and Daniel, they the pump hard. I believe them bally good, so dah noh only one man. I noh like when they seh Armin dah the man, I like when they say the team di work good.?
Meanwhile, the female race was taken by Playerade. The U.S. Embassy won in the mixed class; team Snickers took the masters category; the dory category went to 3 CB?s; the intramural class win was taken by U.B.-PACT Environmental Ambassadors; and the pleasure craft category was won by Buffalo soldiers.
For the complete results people, please go to www.larutamayabelize.com.
Turning to the cycling scene, we are at the Constitution Park here in Belize City for Sunday?s start to the twenty-fifth annual Belmopan Cycle Classic sponsored by Santiago Castillo Limited. Some sixty riders are making a bid in the one hundred mile journey that takes them to capital city Belmopan and back to finish line in front of the City Centre.
Going in to Belmopan Fred Banner of C.B. Misfit controls the pace, but by the time the race exits Capital City, Banner has been joined by Elbert Pope of Megabytes and Jose Choto of Santino?s.
Nevertheless, outside Hattieville it?s Juan Gonzalez, Ernest Meighan, Quinton Hamilton, Gregory Lovell, Mateo Cruz, and Ian Smith controlling things.
We now come to the finish in front of the City Centre and its Juan Gonzalez with the afterburners to grab the win in four hours, twenty-eight minutes, forty-two seconds. Ernest ?The Golden One? Meighan looks for his rival Gregory Lovell and beats him for second. Mateo Cruz of Santino?s pulls up fourth. Andrew Smiling of Smiling Seahawks, fresh out of retirement, takes fifth place; while Jose Choto rounds out the top six.
Folks here are six of the females who competed in the Belmopan Classic, which ran sixty miles. We obviously don?t have any pictures, but here?s the winner: Gina Lovell of Team Lovell won in three hours, twenty-three minutes, thirty seconds. She beat out Shalini Zabaneh in the sprint, Marinette Flowers took third place, Alicia Thompson fourth, and Fiona Humes pedalled in fifth.
Now let?s head to the City Centre for Friday night?s semi-pro basketball clash between B.T.L. Nets and the Belize Bank Bulldogs.
And it?s Roscoe Reeves hoping the Bulldogs jiggy with the big three. For the phone company, A.C. Augustine comes right back with two off the glass. He would finish with an impressive two doubles of nineteen points, twelve rebounds.
Hey folks, Paul Swasey is a much improved player today and this reverse in heavy traffic speaks volumes. He would lead all scorers with twenty-six points.
At the half it?s a 20-17 score in favour of B.T.L.
In second half action Darwin ?Puppy? Leslie gets busy for the bank as he strikes for two of his fourteen game points. Paul Swasey splits two defenders right here in the paint to get two more for B.T.L.
Folks, Edward Baptist display real skill going to the hoop. He would give B.T.L. fourteen points tonight. It?s more Edward Baptist as he picks Eden Serrano?s pocket and goes glass for two.
Hey A.C. Augustine, didn?t you see Darwin Leslie in the paint? Maybe he didn?t … and obviously he pays for it.
It?s a nine point B.T.L. lead in the fourth quarter when Puppy Leslie gets three for the bank.
However, after that the phone company really closes out the show. Swasey comes up with the turn around two. Of course we must show you this two-hand jam from Leslie, but it?s only good for two points.
Edward Baptist responds with this easy two after being left unattended. The phone company goes on to post the 71-63 big W.
In the other semi-pro game staged over the weekend, Northern Uprising blew past Sugar City Eagles 81-65.
Turning to the football scene, week two in RFG Insurance Trophy Tournament saw Hankook Verdes fall to New Site Erei 3-1 at the Norman Broaster Stadium. Out at the Placencia field, the Placencia Pirates used to home field advantage to blank Cayo Avengers 2-zip. Inside the People?s Stadium it was F.C. Belize and the home team Alpha to a 2-2 stalemate. It was a scoreless stalemate at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga when Wagiya met Benque Viejo United. Kremandala Penta simply blew out Belmopan United 3-zip.
Now looking to week three one the RGF schedule, it?s gonna be Benque Viejo United playing host to Kremandala Penta at the Marshalleck Stadium; Belmopan United will play host to Alpha of O.W. at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. These ballgames come up on Saturday. On Sunday, F.C. Belize will tackle Hankook Verdes inside the M.C.C. Ground. New Site Erei will be at home in the Carl Ramos Stadium hosting the Placencia Pirates. And of course Cayo Avengers and Wagiya of Dangriga will get together at the Norman Broaster Stadium. If you are anywhere near any of these venues at these particular times, please make that effort. it?s turning out to be a good show.
That?s it for today. We invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I?m James Adderley.
