Ball kicking, hoop shooting Sports Monday highlight

Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is sports Monday.

The 2013 PLB playoffs got off to a roaring start over the weekend so we took in game 1 of the home and away series between Police United and the Belize Defense Force inside the FFB Stadium at the Capital City Saturday night.

Folks we’re only 4 minutes in when Amin August Jr. strips the BDF defender Paul Nunez of the ball and then picks out the near corner of goal defended by Frank Lopez to give Police a 1- zip lead.

The BDF immediately seek out the equalizer off this set piece as Vallan Symms picks out Trevor Lennon whose header forces a big time save from Japhet Young.

However here’s the corner kick off repeat save Shane Flores fires at goal but fins Tyrone Pandy ho smacks it into the far corner to the ball game at 1 a piece at the 11^th minute.

A few minutes later Shane Flores gets this beautiful pass from Harrison Tasher for this open look at goal and he blows it.

Now here’s a bit of controversy, the BDF keeper Frank Lopez handles this ball just outside the 18 and the referee makes the call. After failing to convince the referee to reverse his decision. Lopez says the wrong thing for which he is promptly chased off the field of play.

Delroy Roaches takes over and the BDF is up to 10 men on the field of play. So we go to 2^nd and Andres Makin sets up Daniel Jimenez for this open look which he raises over the cross bear.

Jimenez tries to make amends off the set piece and is denied by only the finger tip touch of the BDF goal keeper. Folks we’re into extra time when this ball rebounds off Shannon Flowers to Amin August and he powers it home for his 2nd goal of the match to give Police a 2-1 lead.

A minute later Jimenez raises this set piece to find Trevor Lennon whose header is mishandled by Roaches and Police United after losing 2 straight to the BDF exact sweet revenge at the right time to post a 3-1 big win take a 1 game lead in this semi- final series. In the other match up in this home and only race to the finals Avian Crawford’s 2^nd half goal propelled FC Belize to a 1-zip win over to defending champion Belmopan Bandits.

So its money time this weekend in the PLB. Saturday at 7:30 pm Belmopan Bandits will host FC Belize and on Saturday the Belize Defense Force makes it final stand against Police United, The 2013 finals expected to kick off on the 18^th May.

In other football news results from week 3 in the OW 1^st division season shows that Sinbad FC crushed Yo Creek Sol, San Estella beat San Felipe 3-1, San Lazaro doubled Carmelita, San Felipe fell 3-4 to Crystal FC, Deny’s Athletics and San Jose battled to a scoreless stalemate and Progresso blanked Guinea Grass 2- zip.

Turning to the basketball scene IBL play Friday night at Bird’s Isle found Tuff E Nuff in action against CYDP and immediately Tyrone Edwards of Tuff Enuff shows off his rage striking for 3 of 13 game points. His teammates Jamal Velly then goes coast to coast to hit for 2 of his 25 points as Tuff Enuff shows a 3 points lead at the end of the 1^st quarter. CYDP looks to come alive in the 2ndbut they had Larron Tillett, Louriano would post a 2 doubles of 10 points and a game high 17 rebounds. Point guard Bernard Felix then deals to Leroy Louriano and he would strike for the game high of 27 points with 9 rebounds.

Bernard Felix attacks right down the heart of the Tuff enuff defense for 2 of his 25 points. He would post a 3 doubles of 25 points 13 bra…. To go along with 13 turnovers and at the half Tuff E Nuff has a 4 points lead.

We’re in 3^rd quarter play when Winston Pratt gets the feed from Tyron Edwards to strike for 2 of his 17 game points- he would make it a 2 double with 10 rebounds.

Jamal Kelly strikes for 3 as Tuff E Nuff continues to roll and it’s a 6 points lead at the end of 3. Tuff E Nuff goes on to post the 86-79 by to remain undefeated despite a 2 double of 16 points and 14 from CYDP Jermaine Tillett.

Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.

Channel 5

Weekend Sporting Highlight with Sportscaster, 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 1^st 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 1^st 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 1^st quarter we’re tied at 24 apiece.

In the 2^nd 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 3^rd 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.

Channel 5

Good evening folks, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.

The Premier League of Belize football sporting event continued over the weekend. In this Police Press Devon Mckay fires at goal – the ball is headed out by Jorge Estrada to Lemmot Castillo who can’t do anything with it. Fortunately in the second half play the action picks up. Orlando Jimenez beats his man on the line but does not put enough on the shot to get it past goalkeeper Glenford Chimilio. Here’s another questionable event from the ballgame – did Keshane Pech intentionally go back to goalkeeper Keith Allen and as a result did the keeper have the right to handle the ball? Of Course that is the referee’s decision. In the meantime the Police continue its search for the goal so Danny Jimenez fires at goal on to see Chimilio come up with a big time save. Now check it; this nice penetration by Lemmot Castillo who does everything right except get his ball to the waiting Danny Jimenez. We’re at the 62^nd minute of the ballgame when Andres Makin Jr. gets away from Stephen Baizar to fire this right foot riser that drops below Chimilio to give Police a one zip lead. Two minutes later Orlando Jimenez gets his chance to double the lead; will this open look but fails to make the proper connections from point blank range. Herman Pipersburgh then looks for the F.C. equalizer with this nice move between two defenders – unfortunately for F.C. the veteran carries a bit too long before firing which allows Amin August Jr. to come up with the stop. This nice corner from wing provides a nice opportunity for the equalizer but he Police defense does its job. Now here’s a bit of controversy. Avian Crawford deals to Norman Pipersburgh and from this camera angle – there’s no offside. Nunez swings the left and has the equalizer. Pipersburgh rethinks because referee Irfan Basvenir blows the offside whistle. Pipersburgh who already has a yellow card approaches the linesman – we don’t see him saying anything but he gets another yellow card and then is ejected off the field. We try not to speculate but we must say the picture doesn’t support either of the rulings made by Basvenir. A word to the wise – these types of events can lead to major problems off and on the field. Dylan Jones on F.C. Belize is also chased because of his protest. At the reception of play by Danny Jimenez gets the chance to double the Police lead only to see his launch rise over the crossbar. In the closing mounds Jorge Estrada has this look at the goal for the tie but the Police defense crowds him off the shot. Police United goes on to post the one zip victory.

The scene now shifts to the Isidoro Beaton Stadium for game two Saturday night at seven for the P.L.B. 2013 champion emerges this weekend at Capital City Belmopan. In other football news -  play in the Orange Walk first division season over the weekend was San Estevan and Yo Creek settle for a 2-2 tie, San Lazaro blanked Progresso 2-0, Dennys Athletics bombed San Felipe United 2-1, Crystal F.C. edged San Jose Puma 1-0 while Guinnea Grass and Carmelita Athletics battle to a 1 all stalemate.

Turning to the Table Tennis scene, the 2^nd Smart Bi-Annual Jr. ranking Tournament Stepped at the B.E.S. auditorium saw Daniel Sanchez win the 18 and under category with Fabio Carballo 2^nd and Mishek Musa 3^rd. Fabio Carballo nevertheless won the U-15 less with Joshua Gegg and Gian Lisbey 2^nd and 3^rd respectively while the U-12 category was taken by Bjourn Gabourel as winner, Alexis Tun 2^nd and Demiri third.

In cycling news all hail to the 2013 female cross country champion, Shalini Zabaneh who beat the field by twenty-two minutes to claim the win yesterday in the sixty-five mile race from San Ignacio to Belize City. Nevertheless her time of 3hours 55mintues 21seconds is some distance from the time of 3hours 7minutes 29seconds set by Brenda Aquayo. Shalini displayed her power by taking 28 of the 30 station prizes en-route conceding only Esperanza & Central Farm to Marinette Flowers of C-Ray. In the battle for second place Kaya Cattouse of C-Ray out sprinted Kirah Eiley who had to settle for 3^rd place. Meanwhile folks, the Belize Cycling Association continues under a cloud as President Emil Moreno lat term of office has expired, he has launched an injunction against the National Olympic Committee who were overseeing the election process for the new president. Of course sooner rather than later something will have to give and we will keep you posted.

Turning to the basketball scene, the Police found themselves in a serious battle against CYDP in IBL play at the Birds Isle Saturday night. So Orlando Bowen finds Sheldon Williams unattended who goes glass for 2 of his 15 game points. In the meantime Leroy Lauriano shows us why he is a force in the IBL with this penetration. He would record 14 points and 5 rebounds for CYDP tonight. Jermaine Tillett grab the record off the missed shot and puts it back for 2 of his 10points and at the end of the 1^st CYDP is up 16 to 11. We’re in the 3^rd quarter when Bernard Felix penetrates for 2 of his game high 17 points as he tries to maintain the lead for CYDP. However the Police would not be denied tonight. Shane Rosales wants 3 – Shane Rosales gets 3 and he would lead the Police with 16 points. And at the end of three the Police now leads 46 to 42. We’re late in the 4^th quarter tied at 61 points apiece when Lauriano is stripped by Rosales who gives Police the 63 – 61 lead. Lauriano comes back and ties the game at 63 apiece with this lay off the glass but misses the go ahead free throw. And this is the bucket that wins it for Police – Rosales to Jason Augustine and his only 2 points of the outing is the game winner as Police won 65-63. The other results from Saturday; Tuff E Nuff hurt Youth Services 88-79 and folks 8 teams in regular season and 8 teams in the playoffs just don’t make good sense to me.

Finally folks results from play in the Belize Rural female softball; U.B. Jaguars pummel St. Paul’s 15-4, Lords Bank surprise Walloped Village Gyal 12-1 so Ladyville Rising Stars routed Butler Cup Uprising 13 – 4.

Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.

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