The Moen Stars remain undefeated as they triumphed over the newcomers to the senior female competition, Summit Dolphins, in three consecutive sets. Precelia and Emma Hoare and Marion Bull led the Stars’ attacks. They were ably supported by Vivianne Avila, Jennifer Perez and Rebecca Rath, who received, scooped up returns and served with effect to take the first set 25-20.

The Melissa Vanzie, Vanessa Lynch and Shamera Usher-led Dolphins’ offensive, (with the help of the Sabal sisters Aretha, Jacky and Clara, and Crisel Castillo who received and set the ball for Vanzie and Lynch’s spike attacks), challenged the Stars’ dominance in the second set, but Marika Zuniga and Sherlene Johnson reinforced the Stars’ attacks to prevail 25-21 in the second set. The Stars swept all opposition aside in the third set 25-11.

Team 313, the defending champions of the Mixed Division, exacted payback from the First Caribbean Diamonds, who had handed them their only loss in this year’s competition. Allan Sharp, David Vasquez and Nolan Michael led the attacks ,hammering spikes on plays set by Babsy Cadle, Tanesha Encalada, while Jasmine Anderson served with effect to win the first set 25-23. The FCIB diamonds were not about to go belly up so easily, though, and Victor Hernandez, Wallace Tillett, Mario Aguilar and Albert Humes led the counterattacks hammering home kills on balls set by Irene Hernandez and Crisel Castillo as they were determined to win the second set.

They indeed came close, reaching matchpoint 24-20, but they could not put it away. Paul Perriot and Patrick Bennett reinforced the 313 offensive to take the set to several extra points before they prevailed 30-28.

BNE Jaguars have demonstrated overwhelming energy on their attacks and rubber-like resilience in their defense this season, but Mirab’s wily veteran crew of Gillian Smith, Albert Humes, Lawrence Bennett and Paul Perriot hung in there to prevail in a grueling match that went to five sets.

Shane Gentle, Patrick Bennett, Jaleel Mariano and Jaleel Lino got up the vertical to hammer home kills on balls set by Kegan Ack and Albert Bradley to take the lead and the first set 25-20. But the veterans Smith and Humes were reinforced by Ernest “Power” Broaster, Eros Dawson, and the Thomson brothers, Kevin and Francis, to take the second set 25-18.

Karym Coleman and Onaji Sandiford then countered with the Jaguars attacks clawing their way back into the lead by taking the third set 25-23. Mirab, however, though were without the services of veteran Arthur Butler, demonstrated the net savvy to take the next two sets 25-18 and 15-7.

In the nightcap, the defending champions Scorpions quelled any rumor of rebellion from the Rebels in three consecutive sets. Germain Audinett, Shane Armstrong and Jamal Galvez led the attacks hammering kills while Oscar and Raul Arnold, and David Vasquez received and set the ball to win the first set 25-21. Rebels’ Joseph Enriquez, Tariq Campbell, Kleon Coleman and Elton Anderson got in their spikes on balls set by Martin Gongora and Khalid Encalada as they mounted a real challenge in the second set, but the Scorpions still won 25-22, and then stung the Rebels in the third set: 25-19.

Earlier in the day, the U-19 girls competition began with the Simon Quan Stars dominating the Baby Jaguars in two sets.  Kyrstie and Krystal Bevans and Emma Hoare led the attacks on plays set by Vivanni Avila Jennifer Perez and Kaitlyn Woods to win 25-15 and 25-10.

SCA CODICADER team was more of a challenge and the SQ Stars had to go to extra points to win the first set: 28-26. SCA’s Emily Evans, Kristal Jones and Tichelle Solis rallied and got in their points on plays set by Lila Estephan, Rebecca Rath and the Sabal sisters, Jacky and Clara, to win the second set 25-16, before the Stars took the third set 15-7.

The SCA girls had no trouble with the Baby Jaguars as they took the first set 25-7, but the Jaguars’ Tisha Solis, Aretha Sabal and Antoinette Alvarez rallied in an effort to win at least one set, and with the help of Gorlee Marin, Mari Novelo and Ena Encalada, they won some points before the SCA girls prevailed 25-17.

The two days of intense competition concluded on Sunday, July 25, 2010 with winners in all four categories. In the A – Division, Zhi Chen of Dangriga placed 1^st, Ernesto “Brother” Rivero of Belize City took 2^nd, Tux Vasquez of Belize City was 3^rd and Francisco Ming of Dangriga ranked 4^th.

Daniel Habet of San Ignacio won the B – Division, with Hector Lopez of Belize City placing 2^nd, Peter Wong of Belize City taking 3^rd and Amir Vasquez of Belize City finishing 4^th.

Luigi Heredia of Belize City won the C – Division, with Fareed Ahmad of Belize City taking 2^nd, Michael Sanchez of Belize City 3^rd and Harold Young – Belize City 4^th.

Steve Flowers won the 15 and Under Cadet Division with Harim Ochaeta taking 2^nd, Victor Quan 3^rd, and Rahim Pitzold  4^th.

Gian Lisbey won the consolation round in the 15 and Under Cadet Division with Zaheer Sukhnandan took 2^nd .

A representative from RF&G Insurance was on hand to present medals to all winners. More information and photos is available on the web site http://belizetabletennis.webs.com/.

Registration is already open for the next tournament coming up on August 15, 2010.

In Game 2, the Survivors U-15 squad drilled Alberts FC U-15 3-1 in the first game with Khambrell Blease scoring the 1^st goal for the Survivors early in the first half and then adding another shortly after for a 2-0 lead. Kadeem Anderson blasted in a 3^rd goal to give Survivors a 3-0 lead at the half.

Alberts FC’s Tariq scored a consolation goal but he choked on other scoring opportunities when he had the chance to equalize the ball game. Although Survivors’ defenders goofed in conceding a penalty, their goalie Keiron Willoughby stopped the try to hold on to the 3-1 big W.

In Game 2, Tropical FC U-19 of San Pedro blew out the BWEL Flames 6-3 in a score-fest. Tropical drew first blood when defender Steven Arnold’s forward pass to their top goleador Jesse Guerrero allowed him to run the legs off the Flames defense for an open look at goal. Flames’ goalie Armand Luna came out to forestall the attack but was out-manouevered when Guerrero’s cross to Travis Eiley for the finish was on the money.

Raheem Staine and Joseph Pandy led the Flames’ counterattack, with the help of midfielders Misael Canul, Marshall Nunez, David Ramos and Nathaniel Sedacey, but they got no sympathy from the Island’s defense anchored by Franklin Orellano, Steven Arnold, Joshua Esquivel and Elvis Castellanos. Canul blasted off a bullet of a shot that might have equalized the score but Tropical’s goalie Samir Itzab coolly collected the ball.

Tropical’s George Barrera made a solo drive on goal to drill a 2^nd goal past Luna before Jael Ottley put the Flames on the scoreboard to trail 1-2 at the half time break.

In the 2^nd half, Barrera scored a 3^rd goal in the 48^th minute, but Flames’ Kadeem Courtney cut the lead back down with a 2^nd goal in the 57^th minute.  Courtney then delivered the equalizer in the 60^th minute.

It was whole new ball game with the score tied at 3-3 until Samuel Figueroa scored Tropical’s 4th and what would prove to be the winning goal. Jesse Guerrero made it 5-3 with a 5^th goal in the 70^th minute and Steven Arnold added a 6^th goal in the 78^th minute for the 6-3 win.

Earlier in Game 1, SCA girls salvaged a 1-1 draw after being down 1-0 to the Ladyville Rural Strikers. Faith Maheia and Mertell Bailey led the Ladyville attacks, with the help of midfielders Janine Henry, Kristen Fuentes, Kayla Sabal and Daniella Palacio but were held at bay by the SCA defense anchored by Ashley Pelayo with the help of Tyra Moreira, Symone Foreman and Samarie Samos. Something had to give, and Faith Maheia found the space to blast the ball past SCA goalie Ashley White to take a 1-0 lead into the half time break

Shaheda Young, Chelsea Wagner and Gilda Estrada led the SCA counterattacks, with the help of midfielders Christiane Rodriguez, Courtney Duran and Shantell Castillo, but they could not get though the tenacious  Ladyville defense of Janicka Ferguson, Angela Usher, Iris Moh and Tanisha Ogaldez, who were reinforced by fresh legs when Dania Casey, L. Gomez, and L. Hyde entered the ball game. They could not stop SCA’s Christiane Rodriguez bullet of a shot which equalized the score before the long whistle

The competition continues with Survivors hosting Hattieville United in the U-15 game, while Brown Bombers will take on Tropical FC in the U-19 game at the MCC grounds on Saturday, July 31.

Ashley Torres delighted the Placencia fans when he drew first blood for the home squad in the 16^th minute and the Assassins looked ready to assassinate the Nizhee’s hopes leading 1-0 up to the half.

Corozal’s Sergio Villanueva took a hand in things in the 2^nd half when he blasted in the equalizer in the 48^th minute. The Placencia boys counterattacked furiously in a vain attempt to regain the lead, but the Placencia defense fell down big time in the final minutes of the ball game when they allowed Villanueva space to blast in the winning goal in the 87^th minute for the 2-1 win.

On Sunday Haitian import Dienmercy Pierre surprised Hattieville when he blasted in the wining goal in the 14^th minute to give the City  boys’ a 1-0 lead. City Boys’ Raymond “Killa” Gentle and Dalton Cayetano smelled blood and pressed for more goals, with the help of wingers Tyrone Muschamp and Jason Young and midfielders Pierre and Jack Dawson, pushing Hattieville defenders Ralph Spain and John Smith back on their heels.

Hattieville’s Leon “Lem” Jones and Floyd counterattacked furiously with the help of midfielders Jarret Davis, Albert Arnold and Paul Smith at midfield, but they could not get a play going as the City Boys’ defenders Mark Grant, Tyrone Linares and Shawn Thurton locked up shop and gave no quarter to secure their 1-0 win.

The City Boys hit the road to visit Nizhee at the Ricalde Stadum, while Hattieville United will host the Placencia Assassins at the MCC garden when the playoffs continue on Sunday, August 1.

In Game 1, Atlantic Bank got the easy bye to a 20-0 win over Belize Healthcare Partners Ltd/ Central Cablevision when their opponents were a no show.

In Game 2 Port of Belize also posted a 20-0 win over the K.H.M.H. squad who had to forfeit their game for want of sufficient players.

In Game 3, Alamilla’s/Cellular Plus pumped B.W.S.L. 58-46 with Michael Plunkett leading the attack with 18 pts and 6 rebounds, while Marlon Middleton added 14 pts, grabbed 5 rebounds, and snatched 2 steals while he handed out 6 assists. Veteran Charles Armstrong led BWSL with 12 pts and 6 rebounds and a steal, and Lawrence “Teach” Young added 11 pts, snagged 3 rebounds and handed out 4 assists.

On Sunday morning in Game 1, Tuff ‘e Nuff took Belize Healthcare/Central Cable to school for a 73-40 lesson. Tuff ‘e Nuff’s Ashton Edwards top-scored with 17 pts, grabbing 2 rebounds and a steal while dishing out 2 assists and Eugene Jex added 15 pts, snatched 5 rebounds and blocked a shot. Keith Neal led Healthcare with12 pts, 8 rebounds and an assist, while David Moody tossed in 6 pts and grabbed 5 rebounds and a steal while handing out 3 assists.

In Game 2, Police “bangled” Bowen & Bowen 68-47. Kenard Clarke topped the scoring with 20 pts and 5 rebounds, while snatching a steal and handing out an assist. Maurice Martinez added 11 pts and grabbed 4 rebounds and 2 steals and also dished out an assist. Bowen’s David Cruz led his crew with 22 pts, 12 rebounds and a steal, and Jason Jones added 7 pts and grabbed a rebound

In Game 3, Guardian/Housing cut off B.E.L. 68-55, with Bernard Felix leading with 15 pts and 5 rebounds, while handing out 3 assists and stealing the ball 5 times. Calbert Carcamo added 17 pts and grabbed 7 rebounds and a steal. Both Brandon Cadle (15 pts, 11 rebounds and a steal) and Hershell Armstrong (13 pts, 13 rebounds and 2 assists) were magnificent in the losing effort for the power company.

It was double your scorer, double your pleasure for the Running Rebels who left tire marks all over the Truckers in a 82-41 blast in the first semifinal. Rebels Omar and Jamal Tesecum each scored 12 pts and both captured 8 rebounds to give the Rebels a 26-13 lead in the 1^st quarter.

The Rebels almost double their lead at halftime 53-28 with team captain Randy Usher, Roger Reneau and Michael Martinez each scoring 10pts.  Truckers’ Kadeem Tam scored 12 pts and Steven Smith added 10pts.

The Rebels extended their lead 70-38 by the end of the 3^rd quarter as Marcel Richards added 9 pts, and Jarrel Velasquez added 8 pts, while Truckers  Steven Wade scored 8pts and their star Oliver Solis was held to only 7pts.

The Rebels then outscored the Truckers 12 -3 down the stretch.

The Belize Bulldogs chomped down on Hold On Smart 63-56 to also enter the finals. Kashief Thomas drained in 2 long treys to lead the Bulldogs with 24pts, while Elvis Olivera led Hold On Smart with 13pts.

Belize Bank led 15-16 in the 1st quarter, but Jamaal Kelly’s 12pts and Marshall Nunez’s 10pts turned things around as Hold On Smart seized a 32-23 lead at the half time break.

Samrt’s Lyndon Arnold added 8 points, Kendice Williams chipped in 6 points and Hughson Tillett drained in a long trey to add 5 points, as the Smart boys continued took a 46-40 lead into the 4^rd quarter.

But the Bulldogs outscored Smart 23-10 in money time, as Luis Barcelona added 12 pts, Matthew Young scored 11pts on yeoman’s work off the offensive glass. Sherwin Garcia also added 8 pts, Alejandro Baptist chipped in with 6pts. Raheem Flowers added one bucket for the 63-56 win.

On Friday night, July 23 the UB Jaguars dispatched the Belize Bank Senior Bulldogs 86-69.

UB led from the get go (17-7 after the 1^st quarter). Winston Pratt top-scoring 23pts and Stephen “Muerte” Williams hit 4 long treys as the Jaguars continued to lead 34-32 at the half.

But the Bulldogs’ Darwin “Puppy” Leslie, who scored 20pts and grabbed 5 rebounds, Rupert Brown who hit 2 long treys as he added 16 pts and grabbed 8 rebounds, Marcel Orosco who drained in 3 treys and Lennox Bowman who followed suit with a trey to add 7 pts, rallied to give the Bulldogs a 54-51 lead at the end of the 3^rd quarter.

UB’s Leroy Louriano, who tossed in 14pts and had 3 steals, dependable Farron Louriano who added 9pts and grabbed 5 rebounds, veteran Daren Bovell, who added 7 pts and grabbed 9 rebounds, led a fourth quarter comeback for the 86-69 win. (Jarret Jones added 4pts, while Daniel Nolberto and Kirk “Shabba” Smith scored 3pts each).

On Sunday Belmopan Bandits plundered the San Pedro Tigersharks 78-72.

Ivan Jackson drained in 5 treys in a game that saw him lead his Islanders with 24 pts, and grab 6 rebounds, while Lester Cadle drained in 3 treys to add 13 pts and 5 rebounds. San Pedro led 16-11 after one quarter.

The Bandits’ Dorian Jones who scored 21 pts and grabbed 8 rebounds, let the bandits comeback in the second as they were up 38-34 at the half.

The score remained close throughout the game with the Sharks leading by a single digit 52-51 at the end of the 3^rd, and eventually prevailing at the end 78-72

Bandits’ Mark Wagner scored 14pts, and Isani Enriquez and Kirk “Chengo” Burgess each added 13 pts. Burgess also grabbed 15 rebounds.

For the Tigersharks Stretch Marcellus scored in 11 pts and grabbed 12 rebounds, Gene Myvett added 9 pts and grabbed 11 rebounds, Damion Staples scored 8 pts and grabbed 7 rebounds, and Doug Penland drained in 7pts.

For the Bandits’ Christian Rodriguez and David Laing finished with 6 pts each while Evan Salazar chipped in one bucket and grabbed 9 rebounds for the win.

The venues are for Lake Independence and Pickstock the field behind the District Education Centre (adjacent to the Charles Bartlett Hyde building), for Albert and Port Loyola the Yabra Field, and for Collect, Queen’s Square and Mesopotamia, Rogers Stadium.

The tryouts are in connection with the up-coming Junior Tournament scheduled to commence on Monday, August 16, 2010, at Rogers Stadium.

The Federation extends an invitation to all young people (male and female) from ages 13-19 to the tryout.

Please bring along Birth Certificate, Passport or Social Security card for verification purposes.

Kursha Pollard, Tyra Moreira and Gilda Moguel led the SCA attacks, supported by Christiane Rodriguez and Shaheda Young at midfield, and Kursha Pollard soon drilled home SCA’s 1^st to lead 1-0, and Shaheda Young added a 2^nd goal and Tyra Moreira delivered a 3^rd to lead 3-zip at the half.

Faith Maheia, Mertell Bailey and Sherren Flores led Ladyville’s counterattack, but could not get by the SCA defenders Inga Woods, Ashley Pelayo and Diedra Gill who helped goalie Ashley White secure the 3-0 lead up to the break.

Kirsten Fuentes turned things around for the Ladyville girls in the 2^nd half, blasting the 1^st goal past Ashley White. The Ladyville girls were still down 1-3, but Faith Maheia and Mertell Bailey kept the pressure on and Faith scored a 2^nd goal and Mertell a 3^rd to tie the score at 3-3 before the final whistle.

In Game 2, the Brown Bombers U-15 continued their victory roll, bombing Survivors FC 4-zip. Survivors’ Louis Alvarez and sweeper Khambrel Blease could not contain Devaughn Zuniga, who broke through their defense to boot in the 1^st winning goal in the 1^st half to lead 1-zip at the break. Kadeem Anderson and Jonathan Guardado led the Survivors’ counterattack, but the Survivors’ defense goofed in giving up a penalty in the 2^nd half when they brought down Zuniga in the goal area and Jarron Myvett converted for a 2-0 lead. Myvett set the play for Zuniga to score a 3^rd goal and Myvett added a 4^th goal for the 4-0 win.

In Game 3, the Ladyville Rural Strikers U-15 posted a 3-0 win over the Alberts boys. Oscar Ponce scored Ladyville’s 1^st goal, and while Gary Young, Raheem Flowers and Jamal Augustine led Alberts’ counterattack, they made no impression in the Ladyville defense. Leon Sedacy got through the Alberts’ defense to add 2 more goals for the 3-0 win.

In Game 4, the B.W.E.L. Flames upset the U-19 Brown Bombers 3-2, leading 2-0 at the half time break on strikes by Raheem Staine and Ronald Galvez.

In the 2^nd half, the Bombers tied the ball game when their counterattack produced goals first by Andres Makin, and a 2^nd goal by Clinton “Pin” Jorgenson. Daniel scored the winning goal for the Flames in the closing minutes of play.

The competition continues with a rematch between SCA and Ladyville Strikers, Alberts face Survivors in the U-15 game, and BWEL Flames will challenge Tropical FC of San Pedro at the M.C.C. grounds on Saturday, July 24.

Nizhee Corozal has a better goal average than Synergy, but needs to win against Belize United on Wednesday night, as a win would give them 23pts and the 4^th spot; a draw allows Synergy to advance. Belize United had transportation problems and could not make it for their scheduled game at the Ricalde Stadium on Sunday.

In Santa Elena, Placencia took an early 1-0 lead on Sunday when Rollin Burgess scored the Assassins’ 1^st goal in the 32^nd minute to lead 1-zip at the half.

In the 2^nd half, Santa Elena’s Dean Flowers delivered the equalizer in the 57^th minute, and the Santa Elena squad moved in for the kill. Their persistence paid off in the 87^th minute, when Placencia defender Ernie White erred in that dreaded autogoal to give the Santa Elena boys the 2-1 win.

San Felipe Barcelona was already out of the running and their chances of qualifying depended on both Nizhee and Santa Elena losing, as they stood to score a maximum of 22pts by a win against the City Boys. San Felipe’s Oscar Ascevedo drew first blood with a header in the 13th minute of play. City boys’ Tyrone Linares tied the ball game at 1-1 in the 16^th minute and a strike from City Boys’ Jack Dawson gave the home squad a 2-1 lead in the 20^th minute. Then Harvey Cruz scored the village boys’ 2^nd goal to tie the ball game 2-2.

The field was wet after a heavy downpour 2 hours before game time, and City Boys’ goalie Charlie Slusher could not hold onto the pill when  Christopher Hendricks blasted in a 3^rd goal for the village from point blank range in the 38^th minutes to lead 3-2 at the half.

In the 2^nd half, the San Felipe goalie also had trouble holding on to the ball on a long lob from the corner. He fumbled and Raymond “Killa” Gentle did not forgive, booting the ball into the net to tie the ball game at 3-3 in the 46^th minute.

Gentle then set table for 1^st division MVP Dalton Cayetano to race downfield, beat San Felipe’s Eric Rodriguez and nail home a 4^th goal in the 78^th minute.

The village squad now had their backs to the wall, but the City Boys’ defenders Mark Grant, Jack Dawson, Merlin Diaz and Shane Thurton had all run out of gas and could not keep up with Harvey Cruz when he penetrated up the right sideline and centered the ball for Victor Morales to finish with a header, tying the ball game at 4-4 before the final whistle.

The playoffs begin on Sunday, July 25.