May 5, 2019. The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) bounced into week two of its playoffs this past weekend in the second game of a best-of-three semi-final series. In the semi-finals the home teams have a combined record of 0 – 4 where the road squads have won all four games. The two winners of these will advance to a best-of-five series for the finals.
Deja vu as Louriano hits game winner to send Verdes back home for Game 3
On Friday night, the # 1 seed going into the playoffs, Verdes, was faced in a must-win game as they travelled to Belize City to take on the defending champions Mirage/Smart Belize Hurricanes at the Belize Civic Centre. As this rivalry continues to magnify, the level of excitement welcomed all fans who made it out to the Civic Centre to witness this match-up. At the end of the first quarter, the game was knotted at 15 points, with the loss of back-up point guard from Verdes, Lisaney Lambey, who had to be carried off the court with an arm injury. In the second quarter Clency “Coope” Lopez suffered an ankle injury and was forced to leave the game for an extended period of time. At intermission, the home squad, Mirage/Smart Belize Hurricanes had a razor thin lead, 36 – 35, where the first 20 minutes of play was defined by physicality and toughness. At the end of the third quarter, Verdes jumped out to a 63 – 56 lead, which was later extended to 10 points. However, Hurricanes defensive intensity forced Verdes to cough up some crucial turnovers, giving Hurricanes a one-point lead down the stretch. With 9.3 seconds remaining on the clock, Verdes’ Leroy Louriano sank the game winning shot from behind the three point arc to give the visitors the win. Richard Troyer was the top scorer for the game with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals while this year’s regular season MVP Kris Frazier tallied 19 points and nine rebounds. Elsworth Itza finished the game with 12 boards and nine points while Elvis Usher Jr. stat line was nine points, five assists and two rebounds. Devin Daly was the top scorer for Belize Hurricanes with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals while Tyrie Orosco had another huge game off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds. Eyan Rene finished with 13 points, five rebounds, five dimes and three steals for the Mirage/Smart Belize Hurricanes. The third and decisive Game 3 now moves out west this coming weekend, as the winner will advance to the NEBL finals.
Griga grabs win over Tiger Sharks to force a game 3 in Griga
With the main pistons of their offensive engine, sparkplug guard Jamal Kelly and super forward Daniel Conorque both with four fouls, and a resurgent San Pedro Tiger Sharks with an eight-point lead, things looked dicey for the Griga Dream Ballers at the Civic by the Riva last night. Time was running out on their season, their tournament, their playoff hopes, and championship dreams.
But unlikely heroes emerged. Captain Edgar Mitchell grabbed the steering wheel to score 16 hard driving points, dish seven assists and grab seven boards whilst Delvon “Hendo” Henderson hit three threes from deep just when they needed it most, to finish with a team-high 20 points. San Pedro’s big man Martavius Adams had a game-high 23 points, nine boards, and along with Jihad Wright’s 22, they were their team’s balky, creaky, sputtering offense. They also played too long minutes trying to stay with Griga’s speed and did not have the legs just when the needed it most. After Griga had clung to narrow leads nearly the entire game, it fell behind by a point 43-42 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Adams soon had the Tiger Sharks up by eight in less than a minute, the largest lead of any team so far in the game, and threatening to run away and moving on in the playoffs. But remarkably by halfway through the quarter the combination of Edgar Mitchell driving and dishing, and Delvon Henderson raining threes mostly from deep, Griga was up by ten. When an obviously exhausted Adams picked up three quick fouls, his second, third and fourth, and Darren Bovell sent him to the bench with them trailing by eight, Griga only had to protect its lead over the final two minutes. Jamal Kelly picked up his fourth foul near the end of the third quarter and did not return. Daniel Conorque picked up his third and fourth fouls in the fourth quarter but finished the game on the court. His block outs and defensive effort on Adams were key though.
The third edition of this trifecta presumably in Griga will be another barn burner. No offense Griga fans, and knowing that I have yet to attend a game at the Russel Chiste Auditorium, but the players love performing at the Civic by The Riva. I have fallen for the games there, so don’t mind me but I could imagine what it would be like if there were bus loads of Griga’s passionate fans, and boatloads of Pedro’s passionate fans. There were two modest contingents of each there last night and boy, were they loud!
The on-court play almost evenly divided the city fans present who alternately at times joined both cheering sections in their loud and raucous applause. To quote Miss Jenny, “I just loved, loved, loved it!”
And oh, kudos to Teddy Andrewin, Dwight Cadle and Jevon Robateau for a well-officiated game. During timeouts, I saw them exchanging laughs as they huddled on court ‘cause it was that kind of game. Game 3 will be in Dangriga where the winner will advance to the NEBL finals.
Upcoming game 3 schedule
Friday, May 10 at 9:00 p.m.: Verdes (#1) vs. Mirage/Smart Belize Hurricanes (#4) at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town.
Saturday, May 11 at 8:30 p.m.: Griga Dream Ballers (#2) vs. San Pedro Tiger Sharks (#3) at the Russel Chiste Garcia Auditorium in Dangriga Town.
