Berger United Defends Title Against Longtime Rivals Belize United  

Goodnight and welcome to this week’s installment of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We kick things off tonight with a look back at the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament Championship Match. Or should we say championship rematch? For some time, Belize United dominated the league, earning numerous championship titles. But that changed recently, after Berger United stepped onto the stage. They one the last tittle and this time around they were defending the defending champions facing off against Belize United.

 

Just five minutes into the first period, Berger United found themselves in hot water after a costly handball by Lionel Soberanis inside the penalty box. The ref didn’t hesitate, whistle blown, yellow card out, and Soberanis was sidelined. That opened the door for Belize United’s Shae Gordon, who stepped up to the spot and calmly buried the penalty, putting his team on the scoreboard early. Talk about setting the tone! But at the eleventh minute Soberanis atoned for his early error, with a timed kick off a high-flying ball. That one goes into the goal and ties the game.

 

Both teams were tied at one goal apiece going into the third and final twelve minutes period.  But only three minutes in, Errol Peters for Berger United launched a rocket towards goal from just outside the penalty box. The ball rolled directly past the goalkeeper and into the net. Berger United erupted in celebration.  Here is the goal of the match. A goal kick across the field to Zadlen Jones. And just like that, Jones delivers a moment of magic. He slips past one defender, and just as a second one closes in, he lets it rip. The ball sails high, right over the keeper’s head and into the net. That makes it three to one with only five minutes left on the clock. What a strike, and what a statement as this match nears its final whistle. Three minutes later, Belize United found some life off this sideline throw in. Kayden Castillo got that goal.  Well folks that is how this one ended. Berger United successfully defended their title. They are the 2025 Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament Champions.

 

Let’s take a quick trip to Switzerland, where Belize just made basketball history once again. Our Over-55 Men’s National Team went head-to-head with Brazil in the gold medal match at the 17th World Maxi Basketball Championships. And guess what? Belize came out on top, eighty to seventy, clinching yet another gold on the international stage. A huge win and a proud moment for Belizean basketball.

 

Now, back home, week seven of the Belize Premier Basketball League is heating up. Friday night saw the undefeated San Pedro Tiger Sharks take on the EZ Investments Dangriga Dream Ballers at the Belize City Civic Center. Let’s dive into the highlights from that showdown. Jihad Wright exploded in this one for the Tigersharks, finishing with eighteen points and six rebounds from twenty-nine minutes of playtime. But he was not the only Tigersharks player to end the night with double digits. Keon Rowland finished with sixteen points, just ahead of Malik Hunt who had fourteen points at the end of the match and the balling junior minister, Devin Daly with twelve points. And Brian White may not be putting up big points, but he is efficient with the rebounds and the stats do not lie. White ended the night with fourteen rebounds.

 

Friday night brought a bit of drama before tip-off for the Dangriga Dream Ballers and not the kind you’d expect on the court. Kirk ‘Shabba’ Smith Jr. made his much-anticipated debut, but things got off to a confusing start when both teams showed up wearing the same color jerseys. That’s right, same colors, same court, total mix-up! The Dream Ballers had to improvise fast, throwing on red jerseys over their uniforms. But here’s the kicker, Smith didn’t get his red jersey until late in the first half. Talk about a debut with a twist. The Dream Ballers down double digits at this point and they were unable to work their way back. Despite the late start, Smith entered the game off the bench and finished with eighteen points and nine rebounds. It shows that Smith could have made a bigger difference to this one, had he entered the game at the start. Daniel Conorquie finished with fourteen points, though he was not his usual self from the three-point line, scoring only one of four attempts. MVP candidate, Deshawn Brackett may see another fall in his MVP ranking after finishing with eleven points and three rebounds.

 

Ultimately, the San Pedro Tigersharks came out of this one with the big W, defeating the EZ Investments Dream Ballers, ninety to eighty-two points. The Sanpedro Tigersharks now holds on two eight wins to zero loss record. They are the only undefeated team in the league and the favorites to make it to the Jaguar Cup in their division.

 

Also, the Cayo Western Ballers overcame the Belize City Thunderbolts in Belize City on Friday night, eighty-seven to eighty-two points, while the Corozal Cerros Suns blew the Punta Gorda Panthers away inside the Andres Campus Civic Center. That match ended with seventy-two to forty-nine points. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.