Round 7 (Regular Season): Minas lose to Boca Juniors

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Brazilian Minas (4-2) in Belo Horizonte on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by Argentinian Boca Juniors (4-2) 77-67. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Minas. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Boca Juniors looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Agustin Barreiro (205-1999) fired a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American guard Michael Smith (193-1995, college: CBU) chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds. Guard Danilo Fuzaro (193-1994) produced 16 points for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending Argentinian champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Sesi/Franca and Minas.
Important game to mention about took place in Sao Paulo. Third ranked Chilean Univ.Concepcion (1-4) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging leader Brazilian Vivo/Franca (4-2) 80-79 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Vivo/Franca. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Stephen Maxwell (201-1993, college: CSUN) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 9 rebounds. Isaac Hamilton contributed with 23 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Univ.Concepcion's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. American guard David Jackson (192-1982, college: Penn State) answered with 17 points and 8 rebounds for Sesi/Franca. Univ.Concepcion maintains third place with 1-4 record having just two points less than leader Sesi/Franca. Sesi/Franca at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. They share it with Boca Juniors and Minas. Univ.Concepcion will play against league's second-placed Instituto in Cordoba in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Sesi/Franca will have a break next round.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Cordoba. First ranked Brazilian Vivo/Franca faced their biggest opponent Argentinian Instituto. Guests from Sao Paulo (4-2) smashed host Instituto (3-2) 89-68. It was a key game for the top position in the league. It was a great evening for David Jackson who led his team to a victory scoring 23 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side Tomas Monacchi responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Vivo/Franca have a solid series of four victories in a row. Sesi/Franca maintains first place with 4-2 record, which they share with Boca Juniors and Minas. Loser Instituto keeps the second position with two games lost. Sesi/Franca will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Instituto will play against Univ.Concepcion and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 7 Nacional defeated Obras in Montevideo 77-73. Nacional beat Flamengo at home 89-79.



Minas - Boca Juniors 67-77

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Brazilian Minas (4-2) in Belo Horizonte on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by Argentinian Boca Juniors (4-2) 77-67. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Minas. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Boca Juniors looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Agustin Barreiro (205-1999) fired a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American guard Michael Smith (193-1995, college: CBU) chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds. Guard Danilo Fuzaro (193-1994) produced 16 points and American forward Erik McCree (202-1993, college: La Tech) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending Argentinian champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Sesi/Franca and Minas.
Top scorers:
Boca Juniors: S.Michael 16+7reb+2ast, W.Langston 14+2reb+4ast, B.Agustin 14+10reb+2ast, V.Sebastian 10+2reb+2ast, C.Martin 9+4reb+4ast, F.Lucas 6+2reb+8ast
Minas: D.Fuzaro 16+4reb+2ast, E.McCree 12+9reb, W.Braga 10+4reb+1ast, P.Alexandre 8+5reb+2ast, R.Rafael 7+5reb+1ast, A.Juan 6+1reb+1ast

Instituto - Sesi/Franca 68-89

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Cordoba. First ranked Brazilian Vivo/Franca faced their biggest opponent Argentinian Instituto. Guests from Sao Paulo (4-2) smashed host Instituto (3-2) 89-68. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Sesi/Franca made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for American guard David Jackson (192-1982, college: Penn State) who led his team to a victory scoring 23 points and 9 rebounds. Panamanian guard Luis Rodriguez (198-1999, college: UNLV) helped adding 17 points and 6 rebounds. Four Vivo/Franca players scored in double figures. At the losing side Tomas Monacchi (198-1997) responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds and Javier Saiz (206-1994) scored 11 points and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Vivo/Franca have a solid series of four victories in a row. Sesi/Franca maintains first place with 4-2 record, which they share with Boca Juniors and Minas. Loser Instituto keeps the second position with two games lost. Sesi/Franca will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Instituto will play against Univ.Concepcion and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sesi/Franca: J.David 23+9reb+2ast, L.Rodriguez 17+6reb, C.Bennett 15+4reb+2ast, B.Paulo 10+2reb, d.Georginho 10+6reb+4ast, J.Laterza 7+1reb+1ast
Instituto: T.Monacchi 12+11reb, V.Garello 11+5reb+2ast, J.Saiz 11+8reb+2ast, A.Cook 10+2reb, J.Loveridge 7+4reb+1ast, G.Whelan 7+1ast

Obras - Nacional 73-77

There was no surprise in Buenos Aires where 3rd placed Argentinian Obras (0-5) were defeated by leader Uruguayan Nacional (6-0) 77-73 on Saturday. It was a great evening for American forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds. American-Dominican center James Feldeine (193-1988, college: Quinnipiac) helped adding 15 points. Four Nacional players scored in double figures. At the losing side American forward Andrew Corum (201-1997, college: Virginia St.) responded with 20 points and 6 rebounds and Federico Zezular (198-2001) scored 11 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Nacional have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending Uruguayan champion maintains first place with 6-0 record. Loser Obras still closes the standings with five games lost. Nacional will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Obras will play against the league's second-placed Flamengo and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Nacional: Z.Connor 21+14reb+2ast, F.James 15+4reb, B.Barrera 13+1reb, P.Luciano 11+2reb+4ast, M.Agustin 4+2reb, O.Ernesto 4+6reb
Obras: A.Corum 20+6reb, F.Inyaco 13+2reb+2ast, F.Zezular 11+7reb, J.Respaud 7+2reb+4ast, V.Finetti 7+1reb, P.Barral 5+4reb+5ast

Sesi/Franca - Univ.Concepcion 79-80

Important game to mention about took place in Sao Paulo. Third ranked Chilean Univ.Concepcion (1-4) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging leader Brazilian Vivo/Franca (4-2) 80-79 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Vivo/Franca. Univ.Concepcion dominated down low during the game scoring 44 of its points in the paint compared to Vivo/Franca's 22. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Stephen Maxwell (201-1993, college: CSUN) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 9 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Isaac Hamilton (196-1994, college: UCLA) contributed with 23 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Univ.Concepcion's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. American guard David Jackson (192-1982, college: Penn State) answered with 17 points and 8 rebounds and point guard Georginho de Paula (197-1996) added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Sesi/Franca. Five Sesi/Franca players scored in double figures. Univ.Concepcion maintains third place with 1-4 record having just two points less than leader Sesi/Franca. Sesi/Franca at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. They share it with Boca Juniors and Minas. Univ.Concepcion will play against league's second-placed Instituto in Cordoba in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Sesi/Franca will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Univ.Concepcion: M.Stephen 27+9reb+3ast, H.Isaac 23+8reb+3ast, E.Jerry 8+2reb+1ast, R.Kevin 7+7reb, S.Vander 7+1reb+1ast, M.Rivera 3+3reb
Sesi/Franca: D.Jackson 17+8reb+2ast, G.de Paula 15+6reb+4ast, L.Juan 13, M.Rafael 10+12reb+1ast, B.Cordero 10+2reb+3ast, R.Luis 7+5reb

Nacional - Flamengo 89-79

The game between closely ranked teams ended with leader Uruguayan Nacional's (6-0) home victory over their biggest opponent Brazilian Flamengo (2-3) 89-79 on Sunday. Nacional shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 56.3 percentage. It was a great evening for American-Dominican center James Feldeine (193-1988, college: Quinnipiac) who led his team to a victory scoring 25 points and 6 assists. American forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) helped adding 20 points and 6 rebounds. At the losing side Argentinian forward Alex Negrete (192-2001) responded with 17 points and 4 assists and Argentinian point guard Franco Baralle (182-1999) scored 12 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Nacional have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending Uruguayan champion maintains first place with 6-0 record. Loser Flamengo keeps the second position with three games lost. Nacional will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Flamengo will play against Obras in Buenos Aires and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nacional: F.James 25+4reb+6ast, Z.Connor 20+6reb+2ast, P.Prieto 12+6reb+3ast, M.Agustin 11+4reb+1ast, B.Barrera 9+5reb, B.Ezequiel 4+5reb+1ast
Flamengo: N.Alex 17+4reb+4ast, K.Manfio 12+3reb, S.Johnson 12+1reb+5ast, F.Baralle 12+6reb+3ast, M.Cummings 6+4reb, W.Ferreira 5+5reb+1ast