BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 23, 2023
The Belize Elite Basketball League in a rare press release yesterday said that, “On the heels of the disruption of the game scheduled last Friday, February 17, 2023, the Office of the Commissioner of the Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL) convened a special team owners’ meeting on February 21, 2023 to devise a preventative interruption plan for the season. The team owners agreed with and signed a participation accord signalling their unwavering support for the tournament’s continuation. In addition to the signed document, all team owners verbally expressed their assurance to the fans, partners, and the league to provide high-quality sporting entertainment for the remainder of the season.”
The release concluded that “During the meeting, the owners of the Cayo Western Ballaz also apologized for the events that unfolded in their match with the Belize Hurricanes last Friday at the Belize City Civic Centre. This weekend’s schedule features hotly contested matchups for regional crowns across the country.”
Off the record the Western Ballaz management has disputed that characterization of their explanation of the said events. The BEBL has also not officially released any information as to whether that game or the San Pedro vs Belmopan opening night game which was cancelled, would count in the standings, be rescheduled or be replayed.
There has been no word yet as of press time if there will likely be a repeat of the disruption when the City’s teams play this Friday night at the Belize City Centre.
The Defenders’ (3-1) head coach Matthew Smiling is on record as saying that he may only be able to field 5-6 players because his two star players were hurt in last Saturday night’s 87-82 loss, their first, to the previously winless Punta Gorda Panthers, (1-3), and that the team may suspend another player, among other “logistical” issues. Smiling did not say that they would be boycotting Hurricanes’ home games, as it had been rumoured that 5 BEBL teams have or had agreed to do.
Coincidentally, the then NEBL 2020 tournament was first suspended and eventually cancelled in early March 2020, with the Defenders riding a six-game winning streak, and set to play the Hurricanes; with the Western Ballaz (then Verdes), also defending a six-game winning streak, to be challenged by then Belmopan Bandits now Belmopan Red Tigaz; San Pedro Tiger Sharks to clash with the Orange Walk Running Rebels; and the Griga Dream Ballers and Punta Gorda Panthers, which were both then mired at the bottom of the standings with only 1 win apiece, to play at the Toledo Sporting Complex.
This time, Griga will again be hosting the PG Panthers, and our reports are that the BEBL teams’ arms race intensified this week as rosters must be finalized by this Friday. Our reliable sources indicate that San Pedro Tiger Sharks still have not been able to bring in their big man Martevuius Adams, but that Griga is expecting the imminent arrival of a big man, rumoured to be Dominic Woodson, a 6’ 11″ center who has played in semipro leagues such as The Basketball League, USA; the Costa Caribe League, Nicaragua; and the FIBA Americas League for Men’s Clubs in El Salvador.
Griga is also expecting the return of standout Daniel Conorque who has not yet played any game this season.
Western Ballaz expect to have a full squad Friday night with the exception of Tuts Molina, who has not yet recovered from a knee injury, while Belmopan is pleased with the development of its young core led by Jayden Lopez, Lisanie Lambey, Kerwin Palacio and Brandon Flowers, who, along with Jevaughn McKenzie (Belize Coast Guard), led Galen University to the recent Association of Tertiary Level Institutions in Belize (ATLIB) and Ahmadiyya Basketball League championships.
Orange Walk’s imports James Stanback and Bryan Hudson have fully recovered from food poisoning (Stanback had to be kept out of their last game, he was so sick) and will be at full-strength against the so-far nomadic San Pedro Tiger Sharks, who have yet to play at home.