Belize Wins Historic Gold; William Dawson Basketball Returns

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Tonight, the nation is celebrating Belize’s National Women’s Under-Twenty-One Volleyball Team’s historic gold medal win in the Under-Twenty-One Central American Volleyball Tournament. The highlight match of the entire week took place on Saturday night between Belize and Guatemala. This was for the gold medal. We bring you these highlights courtesy Go Live Belize.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Zion Henderson opened the match with an excellent serve. A huge dig from Dasailyn Thurton. Kaleigh Cardinez finds Gareth “Might Mouse” Bruce, who gave Belize its first point in this one. Up nine to eight points, Blessed Omamurhe with the serve. Belize sought to block, and the ball went out on the block. The point went to Guatemala. Jevia Leslie with the serve. Gareth Bruce with the dig. Henderson sets Nisan Martinez. Belize’s lead went up to seventeen. Match point for team Belize, with Guatemala at seventeen points. That serve from Guatemala went straight into the net. Set number one went to Belize.

 

 

 

Tied at the start of the second set, Guatemala served, and that one was too strong for team Belize to stop. Guatemala down by one point up to serve. Henderson again to Martinez. It is blocked, but Jevia is alert and she brought it down to give Belize a point.  Game tied at eighteen a piece, Bruce picks up the serve, Henderson back to Bruce and “Mighty Mouse” did what she does best. Because of their excellent performance throughout the week, Team Belize only needed to win two sets to secure the gold medal.

 

 

 

 

Akili Jones with the serve. Jevia Leslie with a block. Guatemala sent the ball out of bounds, and Belize secured the gold in the second set. But the game was not over. A win for team Belize would put Guatemala in third place and Nicaragua in second place in the tournament.  We fast forward this one to match point for team Belize in the third set. With everyone inside the Civic Center on their feet, Bruce serves the ball. Ball back to Belize’s side. Bruce to Avianka Avila, over to Martinez for the spike, and that one went out of bounds, off Guatemala. The entire stadium erupted in celebration.

 

 

 

Along with the gold medal, team Belize also took home three individual awards. The Most Valuable Player Award went to Nisaan Martinez. Gareth Bruce received the Best Attacker Award, while Zaine Henderson received the Best Setter Award.

 

 

 

 

 

Nelissa Martinez, Coach, National Women’s Volleyball Team

“To start with we had two workouts every day, Monday to Friday. And the preparation was real tough. They did weights and had to do preparation with other coaches like Larry, Kyle, Ms. Lupita. And for me I teach them what I know, as a player and a coach.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What was it about this week’s competition that Belize clicking on all cylinders in order for them to go undefeated with a perfect score?”

 

Nelissa Martinez

“First of all I must say home advantage. We must say thanks to the fans. We really appreciate you guys. Also everyday we spoke with the girls and made sure they understood, you know what, we got to take this home. And they did just that. Congratulations to the team. They certainly made the entire country proud. And that was not Guatemala’s only defeat on Saturday night in Belize. Belizean boxer Amir “King Mir” Rudon defeated Guatemala’s Juan “El Torro” Mendez by unanimous decision. Rudon fought Mendez in a six-round super lightweight bout inside Swift Hall. We also send our congratulations to Rudon and his entire team.”

 

 

Let us now move into some basketball action. The William Dawson Sprite/Digi Basketball Tournament is back. The first two games of the 2024 season were played on Friday night at the Yabra Green Sporting Complex. Here are some highlights from a matchup between defending champions Hard Rock Boys and 2.0 BZE.

 

An early two pointer for 2.0’s Oliver Solis. Travis Bernardez returned the favour under the rim at the other end. Back again for another season, Earl “Bolo” Johnson with the layup off the breakaway. Marcel Richards with the wide open two-point shot. Alrick Olivera gets it and puts an end to Hard Rock’s run with a two-point jumper. Down by two points at the start of the second quarter, Joshua Franklin with a hail Mary of the backboard. Johnson again fumbles the ball, manages to get it back, spins around, and quickly puts it up. Franklin passes off to his teammate on the fastbreak, and that’s a smooth two-point layup. Bolo Johnson with the turnout jumper. What a beautiful shot! Solis to the rim; find Donovan Baird who puts up the layup to end the first half. Ultimately, Hard Rock took home their first win of the season with thirty-four points, while their opponent was only able to secure twenty-nine points.

 

Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.