Round 14 (Regular Season): Obras hand first defeat to Sesi Franca

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Brazilian Vivo/Franca (4-1) in Buenos Aires on Wednesday night. Visitors were edged by Argentinian Obras (3-2) 97-96. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Vivo/Franca. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Obras forced 20 Sesi Franca turnovers. 24 personal fouls committed by Sesi Franca helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was Cameroonian forward Rodrigue Andela (203-1999, college: Oregon St.) who scored 19 points and 9 rebounds. Peruvian point guard Juan Venegas (183-2000) chipped in 20 points and 4 assists. Center Lucas Silva (208-1995) produced 33 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds for the guests. Vivo/Franca's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Obras keep a position of league leader, which they share with Halc.Xalapa. Sesi Franca at the other side still keeps top place with one game lost. Obras will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Sesi Franca will play at home against Concepcion and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Xalapa. First ranked Mexican Halcones UV Xalapa faced second-ranked Venezuelan Gladiadores. Host Halcones UV Xalapa (3-2) defeated guests from Caracas (2-3) 91-87. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Austrian-Slovenian center Rasid Mahalbasic (210-1990) orchestrated the victory by scoring 9 points and 8 assists. Alexis Elsener contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Spanish-Dominican power forward Jhonatan Araujo (206-1996, agency: BMS Sport Agency) replied with 17 points and 5 rebounds for Gladiadores. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Halcones UV Xalapa have a solid three-game winning streak. Halc.Xalapa maintains first position with 3-2 record, which they share with Obras. Defending Venezuelan champion Gladiadores dropped to the third place with three games lost. Halc.Xalapa will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gladiadores will play at home against the league's second-placed Real Esteli and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

The best stats of 14th round was 15 points by Anthony Perez of Gladiadores.



Obras - Sesi Franca 97-96

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Brazilian Vivo/Franca (4-1) in Buenos Aires on Wednesday night. Visitors were edged by Argentinian Obras (3-2) 97-96. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Vivo/Franca. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Obras forced 20 Sesi Franca turnovers. 24 personal fouls committed by Sesi Franca helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was Cameroonian forward Rodrigue Andela (203-1999, college: Oregon St.) who scored 19 points and 9 rebounds. Peruvian point guard Juan Venegas (183-2000) chipped in 20 points and 4 assists. Five Obras players scored in double figures. Center Lucas Silva (208-1995) produced 33 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds and Wesley Ferreira (200-1995) added 15 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. Vivo/Franca's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Obras keep a position of league leader, which they share with Halc.Xalapa. Sesi Franca at the other side still keeps top place with one game lost. Obras will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Sesi Franca will play at home against Concepcion and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Obras: V.Juan 20+1reb+4ast, A.Spight 20+2reb+3ast, R.Andela 19+9reb+1ast, J.Solarin 15+5reb, I.Felipe 10+5reb+3ast, L.Cerminato 9+3reb
Sesi Franca: L.Silva 33+9reb, W.Ferreira 15+6reb, C.Hinkle 12+3reb+2ast, S.Scala 9+4reb+2ast, D.Jackson 7+5reb+4ast, S.Marcio 7+4reb+2ast

Halc.Xalapa - Gladiadores 91-87

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Xalapa. First ranked Mexican Halcones UV Xalapa faced second-ranked Venezuelan Gladiadores. Host Halcones UV Xalapa (3-2) defeated guests from Caracas (2-3) 91-87. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Halc.Xalapa made 21-of-27 charity shots (77.8 percent) during the game. Gladiadores were plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. Austrian-Slovenian center Rasid Mahalbasic (210-1990) orchestrated the victory by scoring 9 points and 8 assists. Argentinian forward Alexis Elsener (195-1988, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Elsener is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Spanish-Dominican power forward Jhonatan Araujo (206-1996, agency: BMS Sport Agency) replied with 17 points and 5 rebounds and forward Anthony Perez (205-1993, college: Ole Miss) added 15 points in the effort for Gladiadores. Four Halc.Xalapa and five Gladiadores players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Halcones UV Xalapa have a solid three-game winning streak. Halc.Xalapa maintains first position with 3-2 record, which they share with Obras. Defending Venezuelan champion Gladiadores dropped to the third place with three games lost. Halc.Xalapa will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gladiadores will play at home against the league's second-placed Real Esteli and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Halc.Xalapa: D.Cubillan 16+2ast, G.Giron 14+1reb+1ast, A.Elsener 14+7reb, D.Bejarano 12+3reb+5ast, J.Glynn 10+8reb, T.Fernandez 9+1reb+1ast
Gladiadores: J.Araujo 17+5reb+2ast, A.Perez 15+3reb+2ast, G.Vargas 13+2reb+4ast, J.Crawford 13+2reb+4ast, C.Garcia 10+5reb+3ast, J.De Jesus 6+1reb+5ast