Liga Ouro Round 8 (Regular Season): Minas lose to Cruzeiro in the game between Top 4 teams

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in Liga Ouro. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Very significant was Cruzeiro's (#1, 7-1) victory against 4th ranked Minas (3-5) 81-71. Cruzeiro made 19-of-21 free shots (90.5 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Minas turnovers. Strangely Minas outrebounded Cruzeiro 46-30 including a 19-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cruzeiro made 8 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Tulio Souza (184-2005) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 5 rebounds and American Dominique Coleman (200-1988, college: FMU) who added 16 points and 4 steals (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) during the contest. Naturalized Nigerian forward Richard Udoagwa (206-2005, college: Marshalltown) responded with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cruzeiro (7-1) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position. Minas at the other side keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Cruzeiro will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Minas will play on the road against Pinheiros 2 (#5) in Sao Paulo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Second ranked Osasco (7-2) crushed at home 6th ranked Vitoria (1-7) by 18 points 69-51, which is the biggest margin this round. The winners were led by American guard Anthony Harris (191-1997, college: Chicago St.) who scored that evening 23 points and 8 rebounds and Anderson Almeida supported him with 4 points and 12 rebounds. Even 9 points and 8 rebounds by Felipao Nascimento (198) did not help to save the game for Vitoria. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Osasco have a solid three-game winning streak. Osasco 2 maintains second position with 7-2 record having just one point less than leader Cruzeiro. Vitoria at the other side stay at the bottom place with seven games lost. Osasco 2 will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Vitoria will play at home against Minas (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 8 bottom-ranked Vitoria lost to Sorocabana 2 on the opponent's court 62-72. Osasco 2 managed to outperform Pinheiros 2 in a home game 67-57.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 10 points and 6 rebounds by Matheus Weber of Osasco 2.



Osasco 2 - Vitoria 69-51

Second ranked Osasco (7-2) crushed at home 6th ranked Vitoria (1-7) by 18 points 69-51, which is the biggest margin this round. Osasco 2 made 19-of-24 charity shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Osasco 2 outrebounded Vitoria 42-31 including 29 on the defensive glass. The winners were led by American guard Anthony Harris (191-1997, college: Chicago St.) who scored that evening 23 points and 8 rebounds and forward Anderson Almeida (201-1996) supported him with 4 points and 12 rebounds. Even 9 points and 8 rebounds by Felipao Nascimento (198) did not help to save the game for Vitoria. Power forward Pedro Sousa (205) added 13 points for the guests. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Osasco have a solid three-game winning streak. Osasco 2 maintains second position with 7-2 record having just one point less than leader Cruzeiro. Vitoria at the other side stay at the bottom place with seven games lost. Osasco 2 will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Vitoria will play at home against Minas (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Osasco 2: A.Harris 23+8reb+3ast, M.Weber 10+2reb, M.Ferreira 9+4reb+1ast, E.Viana 8+1reb+1ast, D.Almentra 4+1reb+3ast, A.Almeida 4+12reb+1ast
Vitoria: P.Sousa 13+2reb, F.Nascimento 9+8reb, V.Pedreira 9+3reb, G.Mendes 5+5reb+2ast, L.Muller 5+1reb+2ast, J.Vitor Policcici 4+2reb+3ast

Sorocabana 2 - Vitoria 72-62

Rather expected game when 6th ranked Vitoria (1-7) was defeated on the road by fourth ranked Sorocabana 2 (4-4) 72-62. Sorocabana 2 had a 27-15 advantage in offensive rebounds. Vitoria was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. The winners were led by Danilo Penteado (199-1999) who scored that evening 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and point guard Lucas Monteiro (183-2001) supported him with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Four Sorocabana 2 players scored in double figures. Even 16 points and 8 rebounds by center Gabriel Mendes (206-1996) did not help to save the game for Vitoria. Guard Luiz Muller (190-1993) added 18 points for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Sorocabana 2 moved-up to third place. Vitoria at the other side stay at the bottom position with seven games lost. Sorocabana 2 will play against Pinheiros 2 (#5) in Sao Paulo in the next round. Vitoria will play at home against Minas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sorocabana 2: D.Penteado 13+8reb+4ast, L.Monteiro 12+5reb+5ast, D.Silva 11+3reb+1ast, L.Rosa 10+2reb+1ast, N.Gomes 9+8reb+4ast, A.Cortez 5+2ast
Vitoria: L.Muller 18+2ast, G.Mendes 16+8reb+3ast, G.Melo 12+2reb+6ast, F.Nascimento 7+5reb, V.Pedreira 5+6reb+3ast, J.Vitor Policcici 2+2ast

Cruzeiro - Minas 81-71

Very significant was Cruzeiro's (#1, 7-1) victory against 4th ranked Minas (3-5) 81-71. Cruzeiro made 19-of-21 free shots (90.5 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Minas turnovers. Strangely Minas outrebounded Cruzeiro 46-30 including a 19-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cruzeiro made 8 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Tulio Souza (184-2005) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 5 rebounds and American Dominique Coleman (200-1988, college: FMU) who added 16 points and 4 steals (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) during the contest. Four Cruzeiro players scored in double figures. Naturalized Nigerian forward Richard Udoagwa (206-2005, college: Marshalltown) responded with 14 points and 9 rebounds and center Vinci Oliveira (210-2007) scored 9 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cruzeiro (7-1) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position. Minas at the other side keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Cruzeiro will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Minas will play on the road against Pinheiros 2 (#5) in Sao Paulo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cruzeiro: T.Souza 21+5reb+1ast, D.Coleman 16+3reb, C.Bueno 13+1reb+5ast, W.Sena 13+4reb, L.Farina 7+3reb+6ast, E.Nogueira 6+2reb
Minas: R.Udoagwa 14+9reb+2ast, A.Ramos 12+2reb, F.Fernandes 11+6reb+1ast, V.Oliveira 9+10reb+1ast, L.Nakazawa 8+1reb+4ast, B.Nunes 5

Osasco 2 - Pinheiros 2 67-57

Rather predictable result when second ranked Osasco (7-2) defeated at home 5th ranked Pinheiros (2-5) 67-57. Osasco 2 forced 19 Pinheiros 2 turnovers and outrebounded them 46-33 including 32 on the defensive glass. The winners were led by American guard Anthony Harris (191-1997, college: Chicago St.) who scored that evening 21 points and 8 rebounds and guard Dalaqua Almentra (183-2000) supported him with 14 points and 4 assists. Even 12 points and 7 rebounds by forward Brayan Boff (203-2005) did not help to save the game for Pinheiros 2. Forward Luiggi Fachin (200-2004) added 7 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Osasco have a solid three-game winning streak. Osasco 2 maintains second position with 7-2 record having just one point less than leader Cruzeiro. Pinheiros 2 lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with five games lost. Osasco 2 will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Pinheiros 2 will play at home against Minas (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Osasco 2: A.Harris 21+8reb, D.Almentra 14+3reb+4ast, M.Weber 10+6reb+3ast, M.Alves 5+4reb, H.Passos 4+12reb, E.Viana 4+6reb
Pinheiros 2: B.Boff 12+7reb+1ast, A.Bueris 10+1reb+1ast, M.Nascimento 8+1reb+4ast, L.Fachin 7+5reb+2ast, P.Iasi 6+2reb, L.Marcato 4+3reb+2ast