La Liga Round 5 (Regular Season): Gimnasia is defeated by Olimpico

La Liga is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 5 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Gimnasia (1-1) in Comodoro Rivadavia on Friday night. Hosts were edged by twelfth ranked Olimpico (2-2) 70-67. 25 personal fouls committed by Gimnasia helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. International center Gonzalo Bressan (205-2001) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and Venezuelan forward Jose Ascanio (204-1996) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Carlos Rivero (207-2003) responded with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). Olimpico moved-up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. Gimnasia at the other side dropped to the thirteenth position with one game lost. They share it with Obera. Olimpico will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gimnasia will play at home against the league's second-placed La Union (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Important game to mention about took place in Mar del Plata. Fifteenth ranked Penarol (2-3) saved a 2-point victory at home edging second-ranked Instituto (3-2) 85-83 on Sunday evening. Point guard Facundo Vazquez (185-1998) nailed 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side and Luciano Guerra accounted for 17 points. Penarol's coach Leonardo Costa allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Naturalized Italian point guard Gaston Whelan (187-1994) came up with 20 points and 4 assists for Instituto in the defeat. Penarol moved-up to eleventh place. Instituto at the other side dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Atenas and Boca Juniors. Penarol will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Instituto will play on the road against Platense in Florida and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Boca Juniors (3-2) against seventh ranked Atenas (3-2) on Saturday night. Visiting Boca Juniors was defeated by Atenas in Cordoba 87-71. The best player for the winners was Juan Cruz Oberto who scored 19 points (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). Francisco Caffaro produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. Atenas have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Boca Juniors and Instituto. Atenas will meet Quimsa (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Boca Juniors will have a break next round.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 5: winless Union lost to La Union on the opponent's court 80-83. Bottom-ranked Racing Ch. managed to outperform Obras in a home game 75-69. San Martin managed to beat San Lorenzo on the road 81-63.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 17 points by Victor Fernandez of San Martin.



Gimnasia - Olimpico 67-70

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Gimnasia (1-1) in Comodoro Rivadavia on Friday night. Hosts were edged by twelfth ranked Olimpico (2-2) 70-67. 25 personal fouls committed by Gimnasia helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. International center Gonzalo Bressan (205-2001) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and Venezuelan forward Jose Ascanio (204-1996) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Four Olimpico players scored in double figures. Carlos Rivero (207-2003) responded with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) and the former international Mauro Cosolito (192-1988) scored 11 points and 6 rebounds. Olimpico moved-up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. Gimnasia at the other side dropped to the thirteenth position with one game lost. They share it with Obera. Olimpico will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gimnasia will play at home against the league's second-placed La Union (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Gimnasia: C.Rivero 19+8reb+4ast, T.Emiliano 11+2reb+2ast, M.Cosolito 11+6reb+3ast, M.Chacon 8, S.Carrasco 6+3reb+4ast, J.Cardenas 4+5reb+1ast
Olimpico: F.Vieta 15+2reb, G.Bressan 15+10reb+3ast, J.Ascanio 13+5reb, F.Agustin 10+1reb+1ast, R.Granberry 7+6reb+1ast, E.Mijares 4+3reb+3ast

Atenas - Boca Juniors 87-71

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Boca Juniors (3-2) against seventh ranked Atenas (3-2) on Saturday night. Visiting Boca Juniors was defeated by Atenas in Cordoba 87-71. Atenas shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was power forward Juan Cruz Oberto (200-1997) who scored 19 points (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). chipped in 12 points and 6 assists. point guard Facundo Vazquez (185-1998) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and the former international point guard Lucas Faggiano (188-1989, college: LIU Brooklyn) added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Atenas have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Boca Juniors and Instituto. Atenas will meet Quimsa (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Boca Juniors will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Boca Juniors: C.Francisco 19+10reb+1ast, S.Scala 16+2ast, L.Faggiano 9+5reb+6ast, S.Vega 8+5reb, F.Giorgetti 7+2reb+1ast, N.Stenta 7+4reb+1ast
Atenas: J.Cruz Oberto 19+4reb+2ast, L.Ramiro 12+4reb+6ast, A.Lucas 11+1reb+2ast, J.Montero 9+2reb+2ast, Z.Nicolas 9+6reb+3ast, C.Buendia 9+4reb+4ast

La Union - Union SF 83-80

Very expected game in Formosa where bottom-ranked Union (0-1) was edged by fifth ranked La Union (3-1) 83-80 on Saturday. However just three-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. La Union made 26-of-32 free shots (81.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Union 38-22 including 28 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was Venezuelan center Windi Graterol (204-1986) who had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. American guard Tomas Nuno (196-1998, college: CMU) chipped in 11 points and 8 rebounds. Four La Union players scored in double figures. The former international point guard Franco Balbi (189-1989) produced 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and swingman Emiliano Basabe (195-1992) added 16 points and 5 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) respectively for the guests. Union SF's coach Maximiliano Seigorman rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. La Union have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Regatas. Loser Union SF still closes the standings with one game lost. They share the position with Platense. La Union will meet Gimnasia (#13) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Union will play against Obera (#14) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Union SF: C.Vogt 16+5reb, E.Basabe 16+5reb+1ast, F.Balbi 12+6reb+4ast, Y.Guerra 8, J.Alessio 8+1reb, F.Chamorro 7+2reb
La Union: W.Graterol 15+10reb, A.Elsener 14+5reb, J.Machuca 12+1reb+1ast, T.Nuno 11+8reb+3ast, A.Franco 9+4reb+1ast, S.Acevedo 9+5reb+1ast

Racing Ch. - Obras 75-69

There was a surprise result in Chivilcoy where nineteenth ranked Racing Ch. (1-3) defeated higher ranked Obras (2-2) 75-69 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was swingman Santiago Assum (194-1998) who scored 15 points and 5 rebounds. chipped in 7 points and 8 rebounds. Racing Ch.'s coach Carlos Beguerie used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Andrew Corum (201-1997, college: Virginia St.) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds and the former international point guard Pedro Barral (187-1994) added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the guests. Four Obras players scored in double figures. Racing Ch. left bottom position moving up to fifteenth place, which they share with San Lorenzo. Loser Obras dropped to the seventh position with two games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Racing Ch. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Obras will play against Argentino (#19) in Junin and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Obras: A.Corum 15+11reb+1ast, T.Sabin 13+2reb+2ast, P.Barral 12+6reb+5ast, F.Zezular 10+1reb, F.Inyaco 7+4reb, M.Mata 5+3reb+1ast
Racing Ch.: S.Assum 15+5reb+3ast, T.Fermin 10+2reb+1ast, T.Cooper 10+4reb+1ast, J.Peralta 9+2reb, A.Barrales 8+2reb+6ast, S.Norberto 7+8reb+2ast

Penarol - Instituto 85-83

Important game to mention about took place in Mar del Plata. Fifteenth ranked Penarol (2-3) saved a 2-point victory at home edging second-ranked Instituto (3-2) 85-83 on Sunday evening. Point guard Facundo Vazquez (185-1998) nailed 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side and point guard Luciano Guerra (184-1997) accounted for 17 points. Penarol's coach Leonardo Costa allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Naturalized Italian point guard Gaston Whelan (187-1994) came up with 20 points and 4 assists and the former international Tomas Monacchi (198-1997) added 15 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Instituto in the defeat. Five Penarol and four Instituto players scored in double figures. Penarol moved-up to eleventh place. Instituto at the other side dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Atenas and Boca Juniors. Penarol will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Instituto will play on the road against Platense in Florida and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Instituto: G.Whelan 20+2reb+4ast, K.Boone 16+1reb, T.Monacchi 15+8reb, J.Saiz 14+4reb+4ast, N.Copello 9+6reb, V.Leandro 4+4reb+6ast
Penarol: F.Vazquez 19+5reb+6ast, L.Guerra 17+1reb+3ast, A.Thornton 11+3reb, A.Perez 11+4reb+2ast, B.Ivan 11+8reb+2ast, F.Tolosa 7

San Lorenzo - San Martin 63-81

Everything could happen in Almagro at the game between two tied teams. Both fourteenth ranked San Martin and 13th ranked San Lorenzo had identical 1-2 record. But San Lorenzo was not able to use a home court advantage and was defeated by the opponent from Corrientes 81-63 on Sunday night. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Lautaro Berra (208-1998) who had a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds. chipped in 17 points. point guard Lucas Perez (184-1987) produced 15 points and 5 assists and forward Facundo Rutenberg (195-2001) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. San Martin (2-2) moved-up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. San Lorenzo lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifteenth position with three games lost. They share it with Racing Ch.. San Martin will meet higher ranked Ferro (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. San Lorenzo will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
San Lorenzo: L.Perez 15+3reb+5ast, S.Safar 12+1reb+2ast, F.Rutenberg 12+9reb+1ast, J.Nally 12+4reb, I.Bednarek 6+5reb+1ast, A.Alonso 4+3reb
San Martin: F.Victor 17+2reb+2ast, L.Berra 12+10reb, L.Schattmann 12+6reb+3ast, F.Aguerre 11+5reb, B.Reginal 10+2reb, F.Mendez 9+4reb