Weekend Warriors Crash, IBL Champions Crowned, and Belize Shines in Jiujitsu

Good evening and welcome to this week’s installment of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez. We begin tonight’s coverage by sending well-wishes and a speedy recovery to the Chief, Santiago Castillo Jr. He took a nasty spill on Sunday while participating in the Annual Weekend Warriors Ham and Turkey Cycling Classic. But, according to the Chairman of the Weekend Warrior Club, Troy Gabb Junior, even with a broken rib and a punctured lung, Castillo has been in high spirit while hospitalized.

 

On the Phone: Troy Gabb Jr, Chairman, Weekend Warriors Club

“What happened around mile eleven there was a crash that happened with him and two other guys. He was right behind and got caught up in the little spill which caused him to go over the handle. Because of that, I think he has a broken rib, which caused a puncture to one of his lungs. It was quite a scare. It took a while to get through Bert and it took a while for them to get there. By last night he was his usual self, high spirited, so he was much better.”

 

 

And like any other cycling competition, the race went on. Brandon Cattouse ultimately won the race in the male category. His sister, Kaya Cattouse, took home first place in the female category.

 

And from cycling we move into some basketball action. The Interoffice Basketball League ended on Friday night. Ministry of Health and Wellness/ Belize Tax Service team took on Bowen and Bowen Brewers in a best-of-three series. B&B Brewers went into game two on Friday night, up by one game. And folks, they did nothing but dominate the competition in game two. The Brewers finished the match with seventy-eight points. Their biggest lead was thirty-three points. They made thirty points off turnovers. So, the Bowen and Bowen Brewers are your 2025 IBL Champions. Here are some remarks from tournament MVP Joshua Westby.

 

 

 

Joshua Westby, MVP, Bowen and Bowen Brewers

“Well I feel good, I win it, the second year I win MVP, last year regular season and now this year finals. This is what I set out to be and it is my birthday to, I win it on my birthday.”

 

 

 

Shane Williams

What did it take?

 

Joshua Westby

“A lot of work, six months of workout, training, the coach got us in shape.”

 

Bowen and Bowen Brewers were led to victory by Head Coach Troy Gabb Junior.

 

 

Jiujitsu is one of those disciplines that rarely gets the spotlight it deserves. But, since the formation of a national team, several Belizean Jiujitsu fighters have been making waves across the region. Most recently, the national team competed in the Bahia Open 4 Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Mexico. After an impressive showing, they brought home eight gold medals, seven silver medals and five bronze medals.  We spoke with a couple of the fighters.

 

 

 

 

William Robinson, Belizean Jiujitsu Fighter

“Winning gold in Mexico was a huge honor and a proud moment for me. Competing internationally and coming out on top does speak volumes as it pertains to our level year in Belize. Jiu-Jitsu has been a part of my life for the past four years. all that preparation has prepared me for what I have now.”

 

 

 

On the Phone: Herlshell Baldres, Belizean Jiujitsu Fighter

“It was a fun experience, very nerve wrecking, because to go out and compete and represent Belize is not something you take lightly. You go out and do what you have to do. It was a very fun experience and honestly a very tough match.”

 

 

 

 

In high school sports, The National Secondary School Sports Association hosted its national tournament over the weekend inside the Orange Walk Sporting Complex. The 2025 high school basketball champions were crowned following two days of intense competition. Maud Williams Male Team won gold after defeating Sacred Heart College, fifty-nine to forty-one. Russel Bailey was recognized as the Most Valuable Player.  In the female category, Bishop Martin High School were declared national champions following a dominant victory over Georgetown Technical High School. The MVP Award went to Jahzara Pascual.

 

 

 

 

And finally for tonight, Belize’s National Female Under-Fifteen Volleyball Team secured a bronze medal in the Second Annual Central American Volleyball Invitational. Belize’s Miley Armstrong was named the Best Libero and Best Defense. The games were held in Managua Nicaragua.

 

 

 

 

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