La Liga Round 24 (Regular Season): Olimpico beat Riachuelo by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Thirteenth-ranked Riachuelo (10-12) was very close to win a game against second ranked Olimpico (16-4) in La Banda on Friday. Olimpico managed to secure only one-point victory 72-71. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for the former international guard Nicolas Romano (200-1987) who saved his team from a defeat with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Forward Alex Negrete (192-2001) contributed with 17 points for the winners. Colombian forward Andres Ibarguen (200-1996, college: Angelo St., agency: Helping Ballers) replied with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for Riachuelo. Riachuelo LR's coach Sebastian Gonzalez rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Olimpico maintains second position with 16-4 record having just one point less than leader Quimsa. Riachuelo lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eleventh place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Ferro. Olimpico will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Riachuelo will play at home against Zarate (#15) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Instituto (16-6) against fifteenth ranked Zarate (9-14) on Saturday night. Host Instituto was defeated by Zarate in a tough game in Cordoba 70-79. Worth to mention a great performance of point guard Lucas Andujar (185-1996) who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists and Julian Aprea who added 14 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) during the contest. Zarate's coach Juan Anglese allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was guard Nicolas Copello (193-1992) with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Newly promoted Zarate maintains fifteenth position with 9-14 record. Instituto at the other side keeps the third place with six games lost. Zarate will play against higher ranked Riachuelo (#11) in La Rioja in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Instituto will play at home against Penarol (#16) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Corrientes between Ferro and San Martin. Fourteenth ranked Ferro (10-12) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked San Martin (12-9). Ferro managed to escape with a 2-point win 81-79 on Sunday evening. The winners were led by Emiliano Lezcano who scored that evening 17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Ferro's coach Federico Fernandez used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Even 16 points and 6 assists by Agustin Perez did not help to save the game for San Martin. Ferro moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Riachuelo. Loser San Martin dropped to the seventh position with nine games lost. Ferro will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. San Martin's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Corrientes Regatas.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 24: Argentino was smashed by Instituto on the road 87-67. Regatas destroyed Ferro on its own court 93-47. Penarol managed to outperform Comunicaciones in Mar del Plata 80-74.
The most impressive performance of 24th round was 15 points and 12 rebounds by Valentin Bettiga of Ferro.



Instituto - Argentino 87-67

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Instituto (16-6) crushed 19th ranked Argentino (4-17) in Cordoba 87-67 on Thursday. Instituto forced 24 Argentino turnovers. The winners were led by the former international point guard Leandro Vildoza (180-1994) who scored that evening 14 points and 9 assists and the former international forward Bautista Lugarini (203-2001) supported him with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Four Instituto players scored in double figures. Even 18 points and 5 rebounds by naturalized American Johnatan Slider (192-1987) did not help to save the game for Argentino. American forward Richard Granberry (203-1993, college: Virginia St.) added 7 points and 11 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Instituto maintains third position with 16-6 record having just one point less than leader Quimsa. Argentino lost third consecutive game. They keep the nineteenth place with 17 games lost. Instituto will meet at home Penarol (#16) in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Argentino will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Argentino: J.Slider 18+5reb+1ast, M.Poole 11+5reb, A.Facello 10, F.Centeno 8+5reb, R.Granberry 7+11reb+2ast, G.Augusto 5+2reb
Instituto: P.Nicola 15+4reb+1ast, L.Vildoza 14+4reb+9ast, B.Jefferson 14+2reb, N.Hoover 14+3reb+2ast, J.Saiz 10+10reb, B.Lugarini 9+9reb+3ast

Regatas - Ferro 93-47

Everything could happen in Corrientes at the game between two tied teams. Both ninth ranked Regatas and 14th ranked Ferro had identical 10-11 record. This time Regatas used a home court advantage and smashed the opponent from Buenos Aires 93-47 on Friday night. Regatas held Ferro to an opponent 25.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 50.0 percent accuracy of the winners and made 25-of-31 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. Regatas outrebounded Ferro 42-29 including a 37-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. The winners were led by American power forward Charles Thomas (203-1986, college: Arkansas) who scored that evening 15 points and the former international forward Facundo Pinero (202-1988) supported him with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Four Regatas players scored in double figures. Even 9 points and 8 rebounds by naturalized Italian center Damian Tintorelli (205-1981) did not help to save the game for Ferro. Point guard Rodrigo Gallegos (186-1991) added 11 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Regatas maintains ninth position with 11-11 record. Loser Ferro dropped to the eleventh place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Riachuelo. Regatas' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Corrientes to the arena San Martin.
Top scorers:
Ferro: R.Gallegos 11+3reb+2ast, L.Emiliano 11+2reb+1ast, D.Tintorelli 9+8reb+1ast, M.Luchi 7+4reb+1ast, V.Bettiga 6+5reb+2ast, B.Felipe 2
Regatas: C.Thomas 15+4reb+2ast, S.Safar 12+1reb+1ast, F.Pinero 12+9reb, X.Carreras 10+8reb+1ast, L.Juan 8+3reb+3ast, F.Vieta 7+5reb+1ast

Olimpico - Riachuelo LR 72-71

Thirteenth-ranked Riachuelo (10-12) was very close to win a game against second ranked Olimpico (16-4) in La Banda on Friday. Olimpico managed to secure only one-point victory 72-71. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for the former international guard Nicolas Romano (200-1987) who saved his team from a defeat with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Forward Alex Negrete (192-2001) contributed with 17 points for the winners. Four Olimpico players scored in double figures. Colombian forward Andres Ibarguen (200-1996, college: Angelo St., agency: Helping Ballers) replied with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) and American Anthony Young (200-1989, college: KWC) added 17 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Riachuelo. Riachuelo LR's coach Sebastian Gonzalez rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Olimpico maintains second position with 16-4 record having just one point less than leader Quimsa. Riachuelo lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eleventh place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Ferro. Olimpico will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Riachuelo will play at home against Zarate (#15) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Riachuelo LR: A.Ibarguen 22+16reb+1ast, A.Young 17+5reb+1ast, B.Mateo 7+2reb, N.De los Santos 6+3reb+7ast, A.Castillo 6+6reb+1ast, J.Maldonado 6+1reb+3ast
Olimpico: N.Alex 17+3reb, T.Zanzottera 13+4reb+2ast, J.Arengo 13+2ast, N.Romano 12+7reb+2ast, P.Tabarez 8+4reb, N.Aguirre 5+3reb+3ast

Instituto - Zarate 70-79

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Instituto (16-6) against fifteenth ranked Zarate (9-14) on Saturday night. Host Instituto was defeated by Zarate in a tough game in Cordoba 70-79. Zarate outrebounded Instituto 42-31 including a 36-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of point guard Lucas Andujar (185-1996) who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists and center Julian Aprea (210-1987) who added 14 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) during the contest. Four Zarate players scored in double figures. Zarate's coach Juan Anglese allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was guard Nicolas Copello (193-1992) with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Uruguayan-Italian swingman Nicola Pomoli (195-1999) scored 17 points and 5 rebounds. Newly promoted Zarate maintains fifteenth position with 9-14 record. Instituto at the other side keeps the third place with six games lost. Zarate will play against higher ranked Riachuelo (#11) in La Rioja in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Instituto will play at home against Penarol (#16) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Instituto: N.Copello 20+5reb+4ast, P.Nicola 17+5reb+1ast, M.Cosolito 12+2reb+4ast, B.Lugarini 8+3reb, N.Hoover 7+1ast, J.Saiz 4+5reb+1ast
Zarate: A.Brocal 16+4reb+2ast, J.Aprea 14+7reb+2ast, D.Pineda 13+5reb+2ast, L.Andujar 10+6reb+8ast, M.Edgar 9+8reb+1ast, S.Chaine 8+3reb+3ast

Comunicaciones - Penarol 74-80

There was a small surprise when sixteenth ranked Penarol (8-14) won against their close opponent Comunicaciones (7-14) in Mercedes 80-74 on Saturday. The winners were led by American forward Al Thornton (203-1983, college: FSU, agency: BIG) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds and the former international Tomas Monacchi (198-1997) supported him with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Even 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists by American point guard Keron DeShields (190-1992, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) did not help to save the game for Comunicaciones. Forward Rodrigo Sanchez (200-1989) added 22 points and 5 rebounds. Penarol maintains sixteenth position with 8-14 record. Loser Comunicaciones dropped to the seventeenth place with 14 games lost. Penarol will meet higher ranked Instituto (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Comunicaciones will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Comunicaciones: K.DeShields 22+6reb+4ast, R.Sanchez 22+5reb, M.Thomas 12+7reb+2ast, J.Strings 7+6reb+1ast, R.Glenn 6+8reb, D.Garcia 5+1reb+2ast
Penarol: A.Thornton 23+10reb, T.Monacchi 22+7reb+1ast, J.Valinotti 11+2reb+4ast, D.Simpson 8+10reb+1ast, K.Barlow 7+2reb+4ast, V.Fernandez 7+1ast

San Martin - Ferro 79-81

A very close game took place in Corrientes between Ferro and San Martin. Fourteenth ranked Ferro (10-12) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked San Martin (12-9). Ferro managed to escape with a 2-point win 81-79 on Sunday evening. It was a great shooting night for Ferro especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 58.8 percentage. The winners were led by point guard Emiliano Lezcano (187-2001) who scored that evening 17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and point guard Rodrigo Gallegos (186-1991) supported him with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Ferro players scored in double figures. Ferro's coach Federico Fernandez used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Even 16 points and 6 assists by the former international guard Agustin Perez (192-1999) did not help to save the game for San Martin. Naturalized Italian Vicente Garello (203-1997, agency: BIG) added 18 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Ferro moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Riachuelo. Loser San Martin dropped to the seventh position with nine games lost. Ferro will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. San Martin's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Corrientes Regatas.
Top scorers:
San Martin: V.Garello 18+4reb, A.Perez 16+4reb+6ast, G.Garcia 13+5reb+1ast, L.Gargallo 9+3reb, M.Franco 8+4reb+1ast, V.Rolando 8+2reb
Ferro: L.Emiliano 17+5reb+6ast, R.Gallegos 16+7reb+5ast, V.Bettiga 15+12reb, M.Fierro 11+9reb+3ast, M.Luchi 10+2reb+1ast, D.Tintorelli 9+1reb