James Adderley with the stats on semi-finals and playoffs

Good evening, I’m James Adderley with this week’s portion of Sports Monday.

Eight teams made it to round one of the B.P.F.L. playoffs which featured a home and away elimination format, which means all eight teams saw action over the weekend. At the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday undefeated F.C. Belize hosted Wagiya of Dangriga who was the last team to make cut from the south. Immediately into the action, Christopher Gilharry pushes the F.C. offence with this good center into the danger zone but Byron Usher fails to beat the Griga keeper, Anthony Requeña. In fact, F.C. Belize looks bound to take the lead when number ten Deon McCauley fires this left foot that is somehow stilled by the keeper Requeña. On this F.C. press it’s Christopher Gilharry with the open look at goal; he just didn’t launch a good shot. We are in early second half play when Roberto Bernadez powers this ball at goal only to see the ball veer outside the target. A few minutes later Wagiya gets its first legit look at goal but Thomas Suazo simply can’t provide the finish. At the sixty-second minute Bernadez picks out Byron Usher with this center and his header gives F.C. Belize a 1-zip lead. Off this defensive error, Deon McCauley tries to double the lead with this left foot volley but he can’t get it between the sticks. It’s another chance for F.C. Belize to move the scoreboard off this set piece. However, Delroy Andrews can’t keep the header down. Again F.C. Belize presses for more as Tyrone Muschamp sets table for Deon McCauley whose attempt to score is thwarted by Anthony Requeña. Here’s a weak moment for the Griga keeper when he mis-times his jump on this spot kick but Tyrone Muschamp fails to capitalize on this look at goal. Folks we’re not sure what Deon McCauley has in mind right here but he should have done better on this individual effort. Wagiya might have brought its defensive team to town people because their offense in this one was missing. F.C. Belize picks up the 1-zip W.

In other playoff matches over the weekend, Georgetown Ibayani and Nizhee Corozal settled for a scoreless tie, Suga Boys Juventus jolted Hankook Verdes 1-zip while the Belize Defence Force and Scorpions battled to a nil-nil stalemate. Round two of this sudden death playoff will conclude this weekend people. On Saturday Scorpions will host the B.D.F., while on Sunday Georgetown travels to Nizhee Corozal, Hankook Verdes will host Suga Boys Juventus and F.C. Belize travels to Wagiya. At the end of next week’s schedule, only four teams will be left standing.

In other football news, here are the results from the Mayors Cup 2008 tournament in Dangriga. Triple ‘N’ United beat Silk Grass 3-1, Silk Grass Roots 3. Coco Strikers two, Tren Settaz routed 199 Degrees 6-1 and XYZ handed Valley Stars a 4-1 punch. On Friday’s schedule Harlem takes on Valley Stars and Benguche F.C. takes on Tren Settaz while on Saturday Valley Pride goes up against Southside Youths and Seine Bight takes the field against Hopkins.

Now let’s head to the City Center where the Inter-Office Basketball League staged game three of its semi-final series Friday night. It’s AC Augustine jumping against Jason Augustine as the Port of Belize tries to force a game three against the Belize City Council, who come in with a one game lead after beating Port 61-58 Wednesday night. This state of affairs motivates Warren Garcia who gets this assist from Wilfred ‘Chiki Blue’ Nicholas to land the triple. At the other end, doing the hard work for the City Council is Arthur Neal Jr. who grabs the offensive rebound and sinks the bucket. Gadsden Ferguson then fires for three and gets it to fall as the City Council show a five point deficit at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter Darwin Myles gets two tries to deliver two points as the City Council continues to roll. But here comes Floyd Burgess and he gets a big three for the Port of Belize. Angus ‘Walla’ Charrington deals to derrick Francis who goes to the left for two points. Meanwhile folks, Floyd Burgess leaves no doubt about his three point shooting skills when he lands this baby from the opposite side. He would finish with eleven points. Warren Garcia is having a breakout game today as he sinks the easy bucket here. Garcia would lead his team with thirteen points and at the half the Port is up 34-20. Of course, the City Council has Kenroy MVP Usher and he leads the comeback hitting the triple right here. MVP Usher comes right back and sinks another three. He would finish with the game high of fifteen points. Like we said though, Floyd Burgess has three point range and this display leaves no doubt. At the end of three the Port lead is seventeen. On their first possession in the fourth, AC Augustine dishes to Jason Wade. He knocks the tre. The Port of Belize goes on to post the 60-45 big W to tie the series at one apiece, which brings up the decisive game three Wednesday night at the City Center.

Meanwhile folks, the nightcap finds Alamilla’s Furniture/FirstCaribbean looking to tie the series with Atlantic Bank after they lost game one. But it’s Dave Apolonio of Atlantic opening the scoreboard with the long three from atop the key. It’s Wes McKenzie who gets Alamilla’s going by going glass. He would put up nine points and pull eight rebounds in this one. At the other end Andrew ‘Head’ Staine dishes to Jermaine Tillett who gets the Bucket. Tillett would record thirteen points and six rebounds in this outing. Andrew Staine then gets busy as he beats four members of the opposition to lay this one off the glass. At the end of the first Atlantic Bank leads 22-16. In the second, the shot clock is about to expire when ‘Head’ Staine launches this three from half court. He would lead all players with a twenty-four point output. That is Andrew Staine. Wes McKenzie replies by beating the Atlantic defense to pick up two points but it’s a nineteen point Atlantic Bank lead when the third quarter concludes. At the other end Andrew Staine sports up for three as Atlantic Bank continues to cement the lead. Folks we’ve got to give credit to Michael Staine who posted a doubles of seventeen points, ten rebounds for Alamilla/FirstCaribbean but it wasn’t enough. Atlantic Bank wins game two 71-58 and sweeps the series to become the first team to arrive at the Inter-Office Basketball finals 2009. The finals will get off Friday June eighteenth at eight p.m. inside the City Center so stay tuned.

That’s it for now. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.