Even the third round of of the Liga Metropolitana 2008 - Clausura was happy for Elite Sport, winner over Zencas team 118-63. The best performer was again Alejandro Carrillo (191-F-88), who scored 40 points, followed by opponent Edgar Franco with 21 pts and by teammate Jorge Arias with 20 pts.
Even the third round of of the Liga Metropolitana 2008 - Clausura was happy for Elite Sport, winner over Zencas team 118-63. The best performer was again Alejandro Carrillo (191-F-88), who scored 40 points, followed by opponent Edgar Franco with 21 pts and by teammate Jorge Arias with 20 pts.
Elite Sport Pollo Rey prevailed over Universidad Rafael Landivar 95-50 (24-10, 25-18, 22-10, 24-12) in Day 2 of the Liga Metropolitana 2008 - Clausura. Thanks to this win, Elite Sport is at the top of the table with a 2-0 record, followed by SAT Markvision, Le Mans and Estudiantes.
Elite Sport Pollo Rey prevailed over Universidad Rafael Landivar 95-50 (24-10, 25-18, 22-10, 24-12) in Day 2 of the Liga Metropolitana 2008 - Clausura. Thanks to this win, Elite Sport is at the top of the table with a 2-0 record, followed by SAT Markvision, Le Mans and Estudiantes. Another time more, Alejandro Carrillo (191-F-88) was the top scorer in Elite, with 26 pts, the other best performers were Jose Luis Burbano (186-G/F-85) with 18 and Juan Jose Rosales (181-G-82) with 15; Marlon Figueroa led URL with 10 points.
The past weekend restarted the Liga Metropolitana 2008, with its 'Clausura Tournment'. The Day 1 of the competition scheduled immediately a top match, between Elite Sport and Leones de Marte, and Elite Sport took the win, 102-94, thanks to 32 pts from Alejandro Carrillo (191-F-88), 18 from newly added Oscar Rivera (186-G-80) and 11 from Paulo Castillo (199-C-78), while Fernando Marroquin (180-G-81) scored 18 in Leones and Luis del Cid (183-G-86) added 12.
The past weekend restarted the Liga Metropolitana 2008, with its 'Clausura Tournment'. The Day 1 of the competition scheduled immediately a top match, between Elite Sport and Leones de Marte, and Elite Sport took the win, 102-94, thanks to 32 pts from Alejandro Carrillo (191-F-88), 18 from newly added Oscar Rivera (186-G-80) and 11 from Paulo Castillo (199-C-78), while Fernando Marroquin (180-G-81) scored 18 in Leones and Luis del Cid (183-G-86) added 12.
In what was one of the most exciting games of the year, Sat-Cybertech triumphed over Leones de Marte in Game 2 of the Finals of Torneo de Apertura, with a final score of 111 to 110 (in overtime), and concluded its participation undefeated in the first 2008 tournament organized by Liga Metropolitana. The top scorers for the winners were Oscar Salguero (37 pts), Enrique Samayoa (24 pts) and Ricardo Amaya (16 pts).
In what was one of the most exciting games of the year, Sat-Cybertech triumphed over Leones de Marte in Game 2 of the Finals of Torneo de Apertura, with a final score of 111 to 110 (in overtime), and concluded its participation undefeated in the first 2008 tournament organized by Liga Metropolitana. The top scorers for the winners were Oscar Salguero (37 pts), Enrique Samayoa (24 pts) and Ricardo Amaya (16 pts). But it was in the hands of Pablo Cano (11 pts) that the winning streak and final blow came over the former champs, as in the finals seconds of the game this young player signed two consecutive 3-pointers that erased the advantage that Leones de Marte had produced in overtime with the intent of taking the Finals to a decisive Game 3 on Thursday. A full recap of the game serves justice to both teams: When the game started, Sat-Cybertech comfortably showed a strong play both at the boards and at their outside shooting, and Leones de Marte seemed to have yielded to their rivals' motions when the score showed at half-time a 15 points lead that favoured Sat-Cybertech. HOWEVER, a 33-16 come back from Leones de Marte in the 3rd Quarter demonstrated the validity of the old advice that wisely says: 'Never underestimate the heart of the champion'. In that manner, when the 4th Quarter started, the game came back to a practical tie, as the spectacular play of Walter Morales and Luis del Cid, who scored 30 and 26 points each at the losing side, seemed to have given Leones de Marte enough momentum to steal Game 2. But, Oscar Salguero, with only 4.39 seconds to end regulation, nailed a traditional 3-point play for Sat-Cybertech, and gave the now champions the chance to go into overtime, and win there their well-deserved, hard-worked championship. So, fans and media from Guatemala now have a new Champion team, Sat-Cybertech, and proclaim: 'The King is dead. Long live the King'.
Liga Metro reschedules Games 2 and 3 of the Finals
As a proof of the current good standing between the National Basketball Federation of Guatemala (FNBG) and the new authorities of Liga Metropolitana de Baloncesto, the pending games of the Finals of Torneo de Apertura have been rescheduled for Tuesday July 15th and Thursday July 17th, 2008. Yesterday, Mr. Marlon Hernandez, President of Liga Metro, announced their decision in response to this request from the President of FNBG, Mr.
As a proof of the current good standing between the National Basketball Federation of Guatemala (FNBG) and the new authorities of Liga Metropolitana de Baloncesto, the pending games of the Finals of Torneo de Apertura have been rescheduled for Tuesday July 15th and Thursday July 17th, 2008. Yesterday, Mr. Marlon Hernandez, President of Liga Metro, announced their decision in response to this request from the President of FNBG, Mr. Manuel Matzer, in order to allow the Men's National Team to participate in the International Tournament that will take place during this weekend at the northern city of Huehuetenango, with the following visiting teams: Icevic Tegucigalpa, from Honduras, 4th place at the recently concluded Liga Centroamericana de Baloncesto; the National Team of El Salvador, led by Mr. Vladimir Aguilar , and host team, Huehuetenango. Guatemala's national team will be lead by Head Coach Otto Larios , and will include players from the two finalist teams, Leones de Marte and Sat-Cybertech, as well as an outstanding list of young players from the Summer Training Camp organized by FNBG this year.
Last night, the stage was set for a great basketball show in Guatemala as Liga Metropolitana presented its best teams at the Finals of Torneo de Apertura 2008: Leones de Marte, the 2007 Champions and Sat-Cybertech, the only undefeated team during this year's competition. And the show did surpass all expectations, as fans of both teams witnessed how team Sat-Cybertech defeated Leones de Marte with a score of 86 to 76.
Last night, the stage was set for a great basketball show in Guatemala as Liga Metropolitana presented its best teams at the Finals of Torneo de Apertura 2008: Leones de Marte, the 2007 Champions and Sat-Cybertech, the only undefeated team during this year's competition. And the show did surpass all expectations, as fans of both teams witnessed how team Sat-Cybertech defeated Leones de Marte with a score of 86 to 76. With a game play designed by Coach Otto Larios to take advantage of his team's superior rebounding skills, and taking great care on defense of all perimeter shooters of Leones de Marte, the winners accomplished their victory #1 of the Finals, with Victor Padilla (22 pts), Ricardo Amaya (20 pts), Oscar Salguero (17 pts) and Thomas Gillespie (15 pts) charging over Leones since the match began, and demonstrating that their key weapons against their rivals were correctly chosen. And that is why the early lead taken by Sat-Cybertech at the start of the game was never challenged by Leones de Marte, although Joaquin Ortiz and Walter Morales, with 18 and 16 points each, tried to respond without success at the losing side. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, and it is yet to see if Leones de Marte will be able to change the current course to the Finals that now seem to belong to Sat-Cybertech.
No surprises! Leones and Sat-Cybertech to meet in the Finals
Leones de Marte and Sat-Cybertech fulfilled everybody's expectatives by surpassing Lemans and Corpoevisa, respectively in the Semi Finals of Liga Metro Torneo de Apertura 2008. Leones won 92 to 64, and Sat-Cybertech did its own with 59 to 42. Therefore, it is now up to the two winningest teams of Liga Metro to prove who will get the crown of Champions in this first tournament of the year.
Leones de Marte and Sat-Cybertech fulfilled everybody's expectatives by surpassing Lemans and Corpoevisa, respectively in the Semi Finals of Liga Metro Torneo de Apertura 2008. Leones won 92 to 64, and Sat-Cybertech did its own with 59 to 42. Therefore, it is now up to the two winningest teams of Liga Metro to prove who will get the crown of Champions in this first tournament of the year. The Finals are to start next Tuesday July 8th, will continue on Thursday the 10th and, if necessary, will end on next Tuesday July 15th, when Liga Metro will finally get its new 2008 champion.
Two more semi-finalists for Liga Metro Torneo de Apertura 2008
The 2007 Champions, Leones de Marte, and Corpoevisa (YBOA) advanced over their rivals to complete the four semi-finalists of Liga Metro's Torneo de Apertura 2008. In the first game, Leones de Marte easily overcame Compusys with a 81 to 58 victory that gained them the chance to face Lemans, the surprise of the playoffs, in the first key of the semifinals.
The 2007 Champions, Leones de Marte, and Corpoevisa (YBOA) advanced over their rivals to complete the four semi-finalists of Liga Metro's Torneo de Apertura 2008. In the first game, Leones de Marte easily overcame Compusys with a 81 to 58 victory that gained them the chance to face Lemans, the surprise of the playoffs, in the first key of the semifinals. But, in a more vibrant game that had to go into overtime, Corpoevisa defeated Estudiantes 103 to 97, in spite of the huge effort displayed by Alexis Mazariegos who poured 31 pts for the losing cause. The youngest team of the league is now set to face Sat-Cybertech, so it is yet to see if Rudy Del Valle, a former National Team player and now coach of Corpoevisa, will be able to find a strategy to beat the #1 ranked team in the league, so to earn a chance to play the Finals for the first time in their history.
Sat-Cybertech wins again and Lemans outroots Elite Sport with a solid victory
Sat Cybertech easily overcame Creaciones RL with a score of 107-60 in the first playoff game of Torneo de Apertura. With quick transition plays and a full-court press, the winners demonstrated once more to be a favorite to take first place.
Sat Cybertech easily overcame Creaciones RL with a score of 107-60 in the first playoff game of Torneo de Apertura. With quick transition plays and a full-court press, the winners demonstrated once more to be a favorite to take first place. Pablo Cano (176-G-88) poured 19 points in this game, and received the usual help from Oscar Salguero (196-F-87), Thomas Gillespie (204-F/C-74, college: Regis) and Victor Padilla (196-G/F-70) (each with 15 points) in a match that resulted as expected to the fans that attended Gimnasio Universidad Popular (UP). However, in the second game of the night, an unexpected surprise took place as Lemans convincely defeated the strong Elite Sport, 94 to 89. Adrian Lemcke led his Lemans team with 33 points of high-quality perimeter play, and 'Momo' Barrios contributed with his strong inside play and with 27 points on his own. On the contrary, Elite Sport found only in Alejandro Carrillo (21 pts) and Juan Jose Rosales (19 pts) a reply at the losing effort, in a match that was Lemans' since half time (43-39), and where the former 2007 Torneo de Apertura champions forgot to take care of their defensive boards.
