LPB Round 7: Sabios defeat Storm in the closest game of the week

LPB is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 7 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 5th ranked Storm (3-4) to seventh ranked Sabios (2-2) 83-82 on Monday evening. It was a great evening for American guard John Merchant (187-89, college: Dowling) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import Jovonni Shuler (198-87, college: SSU) helped adding 25 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. At the losing side Dominican forward Juan-Miguel Suero (196-93) responded with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Newly promoted Sabios maintains seventh place with 2-2 record. Storm at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with Condores and Trigrillos. Sabios are looking forward to face higher ranked Team Cali (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Storm will play against the league's second-placed Bucaros having rather not much hope for a victory.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Barranquilla. Leader host Titanes (7-0) smashed 3rd placed Team Cali (3-3) 87-59. It was an exceptional evening for the former international Tonny Trocha-Morelos (208-94, college: Texas A&M) who led the winners and scored 22 points and 7 rebounds. Jonathan Rodriguez accounted for 15 points and 5 assists. International Michaell Jackson (190-87) came up with 14 points and 7 rebounds for Team Cali in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Undefeated Titanes have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 7-0 record. Newly promoted Team Cali keeps the third position with three games lost. Titanes will play against Condores (#6) in Cundinamarca in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Team Cali will play on the road against Sabios in Manizales and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Piratas (0-6) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their sixth consecutive match to second ranked Bucaros (4-2) 87-77 on Tuesday evening. Anthony Young fired 32 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Siaan Rojas produced a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists for lost side. Bucaros maintains second place with 4-2 record having four points less than leader Titanes. Piratas lost their sixth game in a row. They still close the standings with six games lost. Bucaros will meet Storm (#5) in the next round. Piratas will play against Trigrillos and hope to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 7 Trigrillos won against Condores on the opponent's court 89-71.

Condores - Trigrillos 71-89

There was a minor upset in Cundinamarca where 4th placed Condores (3-4) were defeated by sixth ranked Trigrillos (3-4) 89-71 on Monday. Trigrillos looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Condores' players. American forward Nick King (201-95, college: MTSU) fired a double-double by scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. His fellow American import point guard Jamaal Smith (176-85, college: N.Mexico) chipped in 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Trigrillos players scored in double figures. American center Malik Wineglass (203-0, college: Harris-Stowe St.) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds and international Alvaro Pena (197-95) added 12 points and 13 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Trigrillos moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Condores and Storm. Trigrillos will meet at home bottom-ranked Piratas (#8) in the next round. Condores will play against the league's leader Titanes (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Trigrillos: N.King 25+10reb+4ast, J.Smith 15+6reb+6ast, J.Cardenas 14+9reb+3ast, R.Lawrence 14+5reb+3ast, H.Mosquera-Perea 6+4reb, C.Ware 6+4reb
Condores: M.Wineglass 16+10reb+3ast, C.Glotta 14+4reb+1ast, A.Pena 12+13reb+1ast, D.Owens 9+7reb, R.Juan-Carlos 5+1reb, V.Lans 4

Storm - Sabios 82-83

This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 5th ranked Storm (3-4) to seventh ranked Sabios (2-2) 83-82 on Monday evening. It was a great evening for American guard John Merchant (187-89, college: Dowling) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import Jovonni Shuler (198-87, college: SSU) helped adding 25 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Shuler is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. At the losing side Dominican forward Juan-Miguel Suero (196-93) responded with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists and international power forward Luis Almanza (196-91) scored 20 points and 7 rebounds. Newly promoted Sabios maintains seventh place with 2-2 record. Storm at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with Condores and Trigrillos. Sabios are looking forward to face higher ranked Team Cali (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Storm will play against the league's second-placed Bucaros having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Sabios: J.Merchant 36+11reb+7ast, J.Shuler 25+9reb+5ast, M.Hinestroza 10+7reb+1ast, C.Arboleda 6+4reb+1ast, M.Juan 4+3reb+3ast, J.Lozano 2+2reb+3ast
Storm: J.Miguel Suero 30+7reb+8ast, D.Greene 21+4reb, L.Almanza 20+7reb, J.Familia 5+5reb+1ast, C.William 3+1reb, A.Brayan 2+5reb

Bucaros - Piratas 87-77

Bottom-ranked Piratas (0-6) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their sixth consecutive match to second ranked Bucaros (4-2) 87-77 on Tuesday evening. Bucaros made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. American power forward Anthony Young (200-89, college: KWC) fired 32 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Dominican point guard Adris De-Leon (180-84, college: EWU) chipped in 25 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. American swingman Siaan Rojas (201-96, college: WWU) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists and the other American import forward Brandon Givens (198-87, college: NC-Wesleyan) added 19 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four Piratas players scored in double figures. Bucaros maintains second place with 4-2 record having four points less than leader Titanes. Piratas lost their sixth game in a row. They still close the standings with six games lost. Bucaros will meet Storm (#5) in the next round. Piratas will play against Trigrillos and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Bucaros: A.Young 32+7reb+2ast, A.De Leon 25+4reb+6ast, T.Tate 20+4reb+3ast, C.H 5+2reb, J.Zapata 3+3reb+3ast, C.Yocsy 2+2reb+1ast
Piratas: B.Givens 19+6reb+3ast, P.Farris 18+5reb+3ast, S.Rojas 17+11reb+8ast, J.Mendoza 10+8reb, J.A. Thomas 8+3reb, V.Anders 3+1reb

Titanes - Team Cali 87-59

The game between Top Four teams took place in Barranquilla. Leader host Titanes (7-0) smashed 3rd placed Team Cali (3-3) 87-59. Titanes had a 32-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for the former international Tonny Trocha-Morelos (208-94, college: Texas A&M) who led the winners and scored 22 points and 7 rebounds. Dominican-Puerto Rican forward Jonathan Rodriguez (196-87, college: Campbell) accounted for 15 points and 5 assists for the winning side. Four Titanes players scored in double figures. International Michaell Jackson (190-87) came up with 14 points and 7 rebounds and the former international center Freddy Asprilla (206-88, college: Canisius) added 4 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Team Cali in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Titanes have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 7-0 record. Newly promoted Team Cali keeps the third position with three games lost. Titanes will play against Condores (#6) in Cundinamarca in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Team Cali will play on the road against Sabios in Manizales and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Titanes: T.Trocha-Morelos 22+7reb+2ast, S.Safar 16+1reb+4ast, J.Rodriguez 15+4reb+5ast, J.Palacios-Tello 13+3reb+3ast, J.Lloreda 9+4reb+1ast, L.Santos 5+10reb+1ast
Team Cali: M.Jackson 14+7reb, D.Ramis 9+2reb+1ast, J.Hernandez 8+3reb, L.Salazar 7+1ast, A.Mateo 5+1reb+1ast, I.Villamoros 4+6reb+2ast



Tags : JOHN MERCHANT, SABIOS DE MANIZALES, COLOMBIAN BASKETBALL