POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Zazil Salman
Mexico - El Salvador 75:59
Mexico started their COCABA Championship campaign with victory. Mexico overcame EL Salvador for the initial win in Coban, Guatemala. The competition serves as the qualifier event for the 2010 Centrobasket Championship. Two top teams will advance to the Centrobasket tourney.
Mexico got the initiative right from the start. They knocked down 23 points in the opening frame to earn a 10-point lead at the first break. El Salvador struggled to slow down Mexico defensively. El Salvador trailed by 19 points at halftime. Mexico continued to keep the pressure high in the third term. They piled up a 60:36 lead with one quarter remaining. El Salvador finally managed to take some breathing space in the fourth frame as they won it by 8 points. But the success had little impact on the final outcome as Mexico coasted to the debut win in Coban.
Zazil Salman (C-86) scored 17 points to lead Mexico. Abril Garcia (190-F/C-81, college: ORU) added 13 points, while Lorena Camacho had 12 points for the winners. Amalia Velasquez responded with game-high 22 points, 6 boards and 6 steals for El Salvador. Veronica Sosa finished with 9 points in defeat.
Mexico: Zazil Salman 17, Abril Garcia 13, Lorena Camacho 12
El Salvador: Amalia Velasquez 22, Veronica Sosa 9
Guatemala - Nicaragua 69:65
Guatemala celebrated a tough win over Nicaragua at the start of the COCABA Championship. The tournament is held in the Guatemalan city of Coban. Five teams are playing in round-robin format for two spots available at the 2010 Centrobasket Championship.
The hosts rushed ahead in the opening frame. They fired 26 points in the quarter to enjoy a 10-point lead at the first break. Honduras however gradually adjusted their defensive schemes and slowed down the home team. Guatemala on the other hand did not allow their opponents to trim the deficit as they were up by 11 points at the interval. Honduras burst out in the third frame. They poured in 20 points and cut the distance to just 5 points with one quarter remaining. Honduras remained hopeful till the final seconds. They outscored Guatemala in the fourth frame but could not avoid the loss at the end. Blanca Amado (80) fired game-high 27 points to lead the defending champions. Alma Lopez contributed 12 points and 9 steals for Guatemala. Jani Martinez answered with 22 points and 9 boards for Nicaragua. Danalid Jackson (69) had 18 points and 11 steals in defeat.
Guatemala: Blanca Amado 27, Alma Lopez 12, Ligia Del Valle (88) 7
Nicaragua: Jani Martinez 22, Danalid Jackson 18+11 steals
