The International Basketball Federation in America (FIBA Americas), with headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, announced the new competition format for the 2008/2009 Edition of the FIBA Americas League.
With the national and international competition schedules as the main reason for this new change, the 2008/09 FIBA Americas League shall be held under a new game system.
La Palma - Caceres 80-70 Second victory for La Palma mostly owing to Francis Koffi and Thomas Terrel, which scored 17 points each. Diego Guaita collected 21 points and 7 rebounds for Caceres but it remains on just one win so far.
Rosalia - Vic 80-69 After 3 defeats at the beginning, Beirasar Rosalia finally made it in LEB Gold. Patrick Caroll led his team to victory against CB Vic scoring 17 points. One point less than Caroll had Nana Harding and Georgios Dedas. CB Vic, which got 18 points from Jose Miguel Garcia, after this failure dropped on 2-2.
Melilla - Plus Pujol 89-76 Mellila grabbed third win in LEB Gold thanks to wonderful last quarter against Plus Pujol, 27-14. As a reminder, Melilla suffered tight 2-point defeat in the last game against La Laguna on the road and it was the only one so far. Hector Garcia and Victor Cuthbert netted 22 points apiece for the winning team. Alberto Miguel added 17 points for Plus Pujol, which currently has 2 wins and 2 defeats.
Tenerife - La Laguna 87-71 Tenerife had an easy job against La Laguna at home celebrating third victory in LEB Gold, 3-1. This match is decided already at the half time as the host created plus 18. Antwain Barbour was totally the best player of the game nailing 30 points and grabbing 8 boards. Jose Manuel Coego had 14 points and 9 rebounds for La Laguna, which now has 2-2.
Burgos - Cl.Rincon 64-101 Clinicas Rincon trashed Burgos as a visitor much easier than anyone expected. The winning team had couple of players in a game mood but the best scorer was Michael Willians, who delivered 19 points. On the other side, Diego Garcia was the leading scorer in Burgos with just 11 points. Clinicas Rincon improved its score to 3-1 while Burgos has 2-2.
Valladolid - Los Barrios 83-81 Third victory for Valladolid in LEB Gold mostly owing to Federico Van Lacke, who scored 13 points, as well as Robert Battle, who stopped on 18 points and impressive 14 rebounds. Ricardo Guillen added 20 points and 11 boards for Los Barrios, which remains winless after four rounds.
Leon - Mallorca 61-51 Leon also took care for the home victory, third this season in total. Craig Bradshaw had 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winners while Eulis Baez followed him with 13 points and 12 boards. Mallorca got 20 points and 8 rebounds from Jason Blair but he was the only one with more than 10 pts in his team. Mallorca currently has 1-3 in LEB Gold.
Gandia Basq. - Illescas 62-81 Unexpectedly easy victory for Illescas on the road against Gandia, which still waits for the first joy. It was the second one for Illescas, which earned it mostly owing to 22 points by Jose Alonso. Jan Vrecko collected 13 points and 5 rebounds for Gandia.
Alicante - Leche Rio 79-78 Extremely tight victory for Lucentum Alicante, enough for top of LEB Gold with perfect score 4-0. Jose Urtasun had 16 while Kyle Hill scored 14 points for the winners. Leche Rio Breogan got 20 points from Jose Fernandez but unfortunately his team dropped on 2-2.
Quincy Wadley (193-G-78, agency: CAA Sports, college: Temple) ended the Liga de las Americas with the crown of Champion, thanks to the win of his team, Penarol Mar del Plata, and also as the competition top scorer, having scored 86 points in the three games of the Final Four, for a very good 28,6 ppg percentage. This Temple University alumnus confirmed to be a very good scorer and a team leader. In our opinion, he was also the MVP of the competition.
Quincy Wadley (193-G-78, agency: CAA Sports, college: Temple) ended the Liga de las Americas with the crown of Champion, thanks to the win of his team, Penarol Mar del Plata, and also as the competition top scorer, having scored 86 points in the three games of the Final Four, for a very good 28,6 ppg percentage. This Temple University alumnus confirmed to be a very good scorer and a team leader. In our opinion, he was also the MVP of the competition.
Even if Soles de Mexicali defeated Penarol Mar del Plata 84-79 in the last game of the competition, the Argentinean team was crowned champion of the first edition of the Liga de las Americas thanks to the best points difference between the three teams tied with a 2-1 record on the tournment table. The Argentinean team showed all its experience during the last part of the game, when all its players were very careful in limit the points difference.
Even if Soles de Mexicali defeated Penarol Mar del Plata 84-79 in the last game of the competition, the Argentinean team was crowned champion of the first edition of the Liga de las Americas thanks to the best points difference between the three teams tied with a 2-1 record on the tournment table. The Argentinean team showed all its experience during the last part of the game, when all its players were very careful in limit the points difference. Greg Lewis (198-F-78, college: Winthrop) was the last game top performer, leadin Soles with 22 points and 12 reboundes, De Juan Wheat (183-G-73, college: Louisville) added 20 pts and Richard Lopez (192-G-78, college: Cal.Baptist) 15 to keep alive the dream. Penarol Mar del Plata was led by a great Quincy Wadley (193-G-78, agency: CAA Sports, college: Temple), who ended the game with 28 points.
The Miami Tropics ended their participation to the Liga de las Americas defeating Pitagoras/Minas Tenis Clube 67-65 at the end of a close game. The two points difference in the score, however, wasn't enough to hope to win the competition in case of a defeat of Penarol. Another time more, Jermaine Watson (193-G-81, college: Boston Coll.
The Miami Tropics ended their participation to the Liga de las Americas defeating Pitagoras/Minas Tenis Clube 67-65 at the end of a close game. The two points difference in the score, however, wasn't enough to hope to win the competition in case of a defeat of Penarol. Another time more, Jermaine Watson (193-G-81, college: Boston Coll.) was the Tropics top scorer, ending the game at 15 points, while Marcus Barnes (188-G-81, college: Northeastern) scored 12 points and Terence Shellman (201-F-78) 10. Wanderson Trigueiro (203-F/C-81) and Soro Pinto (190-F-80) were the best in Minas, with 15 and 21 points, respectively, but the Brazilian team ends the competition in a disappointing way, with three defeats.
The Miami Tropics took an immediate revenge from yesterday night loss prevailing over home team Soles de Mexicali, 116-108 after an overtime, in Day 2 of the Liga de las Americas. Jermaine Watson (193-G-81, college: Boston Coll.) and Marcus Barnes (188-G-81, college: Northeastern) were the main scorers in the Tropics, with 32 and 29 points, respectively, while Cornelius Mitchell (180-G-82, agency: Worldwide Hoops, college: Charleston) added 18 points at the winning side.
The Miami Tropics took an immediate revenge from yesterday night loss prevailing over home team Soles de Mexicali, 116-108 after an overtime, in Day 2 of the Liga de las Americas. Jermaine Watson (193-G-81, college: Boston Coll.) and Marcus Barnes (188-G-81, college: Northeastern) were the main scorers in the Tropics, with 32 and 29 points, respectively, while Cornelius Mitchell (180-G-82, agency: Worldwide Hoops, college: Charleston) added 18 points at the winning side. With 26 points and 13 rebounds, veteran Horacio Llamas (211-C-73, agency: Interperformances) was the best in Soles, Richard Lopez (192-G-78, college: Cal.Baptist) and Greg Lewis (198-F-78, college: Winthrop) added 22 and 20 pts resectively, but it wasn' t enough. The Final standigs see now Penarol at the top, with a 2-0 record, Miami and Mexicali at 1-1 and Minas at 0-2.
Soles are now forced to defeat Penarol in the last Day of games. If they win, and Miami will defeat Minas, the three teams will be tied at the to of the table, and the first Liga de las Americas will be decided by the points difference, but, if Penarol will win even tomorrow, the title will go to Argentina.
Penarol Mar del Plata defeated Minas Tenis Clube 97-85 in the opening game of the Day 2 of the Liga de las Americas, confirming its good shape. Juan Locatelli (198-F-75) performed for 24 pts, 7 rebs and 5 assists to lead the Argentinean team, while Quincy Wadley (193-G-78, agency: CAA Sports, college: Temple) was the game top scorer at 25 points.
Penarol Mar del Plata defeated Minas Tenis Clube 97-85 in the opening game of the Day 2 of the Liga de las Americas, confirming its good shape. Juan Locatelli (198-F-75) performed for 24 pts, 7 rebs and 5 assists to lead the Argentinean team, while Quincy Wadley (193-G-78, agency: CAA Sports, college: Temple) was the game top scorer at 25 points. The main losing efforts came from Facundo Sucatzky (176-G-72, agency: Interperformances), who scored 19 points and dished 14 assists and from Jasper Johnson (201-C-83, college: Delta St.), who scored 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Soles delight the home crowd
by Eurobasket News - Feb 8, 2008
Soles de Mexicali - Minas 95:83
The hosts of the Liga Americas Final Four Soles de Mexicali put an exclamation mark after the exciting Day 1 of action as they overcame Minas in a thrilling game. Brazilian side got to a better start of the encounter. Minas silenced the crowd with a 26:22 first frame as Jasper Johnson (201-C-83, college: Delta St.) fired 10 points to pace the visitors. But Soles quickly bounced back and ignited a 31:16 rally that saw them grab a 53:42 advantage at the break.
Soles de Mexicali - Minas 95:83
The hosts of the Liga Americas Final Four Soles de Mexicali put an exclamation mark after the exciting Day 1 of action as they overcame Minas in a thrilling game. Brazilian side got to a better start of the encounter. Minas silenced the crowd with a 26:22 first frame as Jasper Johnson (201-C-83, college: Delta St.) fired 10 points to pace the visitors. But Soles quickly bounced back and ignited a 31:16 rally that saw them grab a 53:42 advantage at the break. Minas stay contestant and pretty soon trimmed the margin to minimum. Jasper Johnson connected from afar and Soro Pinto (190-F-80) added some important buckets for Minas to enter the fourth term trailing by just a single point at 66:67. But the support of the home crowd allowed Soles to exert a final effort and run away with a win. Greg Lewis (198-F-78, college: Winthrop) was outstanding for Soles with 27 points and 16 boards. Richard Ortega (188-G-82) provided 19 points, 6 assists and 4 boards for the winners. Jasper Johnson posted 23 points for Minas. Soro Pinto finished the game with 18 points for the visiting side. Soles had an overwhelming dominance under the rims 42:29. They also converted 47% from the field, while liming their opponents to only 38% accuracy. So today Minas will take on yesterday's winners Penarol. Soles will try to extend their winning streak against the Miami Tropics.
