It’s here! Opening Week of National Elite Basketball League
The cream of the crop in Belize basketball will be in action this weekend, as the much anticipated National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) tips off its 2014 regular season with games at 4 different venues across the nation. Eight (8) teams are participating in this first ever National Elite competition, which basketball enthusiasts are hoping will bring back the quality of play and enthusiasm the sport enjoyed during the glory days of the now defunct “semi-pro” basketball league.
All 8 teams will see action in the opening weekend of competition, with two games on Friday, February 7, and two more on Saturday, February 8. And the regular season schedule calls for similar action each weekend, with all teams busy, except for a break in competition during the Easter weekend.
Week 1 schedule:
Friday, February 7
9:00 p.m. – Belize City (Smart) No Limit vs San Pedro Tigersharks – Bird’s Isle in Belize City
9:00 p.m. – Belmopan Bandits vs Orange Walk Running Rebels – UB Gymnasium in Belmopan
Saturday, February 8
9:00 p.m. – Corozal Heats vs Cayo Western Ballaz – Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal Town
9:00 p.m. – Dangriga Warriors vs Toledo Diplomats – Y-Not Island in Dangriga
An opening ceremony will be held at Bird’s Isle in Belize City before tip-off on Friday night.
NOTE: The venue for the opening game in Dangriga has been changed to Y-Not Island from its originally scheduled venue at Ecumenical High School, whose facility upgrade should be completed in time for Week 2.
Looking ahead, Week 2 will see Corozal Heats hosting Belize City No Limit at the Andres Campos Civic Center on Friday night, February 14; and there will be 3 games on Saturday night, February 15 – Dangriga Warriors hosting Belmopan Bandits at Ecumenical High Auditorium; Orange Walk Running Rebels hosting Cayo Western Ballaz at the OW Multi-Purpose Complex; and Toledo Diplomats hosting San Pedro Tigersharks at the PG Sporting Complex.
(Information courtesy Isaac John Rhys, Commissioner, NEBL)