LPB Round 8: Titanes defeat Cafeteros in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 8 in the LPB took place in Barranquilla. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of second-ranked Cafeteros (5-3) to top-ranked Titanes (8-0) 87-84 in the game for the first place. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cafeteros. Titanes made 20-of-24 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Cafeteros 44-25 including a 21-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Titanes looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Tonny Trocha-Morelos (208-1994, college: Texas A&M) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds and the former international forward Soren De Luque (196-1998) who added 18 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. American Jaelyn Johnson-Coston (198-1993, college: FMU) responded with 22 points and 5 assists. Cafeteros' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Undefeated Titanes have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 8-0 record. Cafeteros at the other side keep the second place with three games lost.
Important game to mention about took place in Medellin. Sixth ranked Corsarios (3-5) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging bottom-ranked Tigrillos (0-8) 66-64 in the fight for the sixth place. The winners were led by center Jhon Hernandez (208-1984) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 10 points and 16 rebounds and Miguel Bolivar supported him with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. Even a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds by the former international power forward Santiago Serna (203-2001) did not help to save the game for Tigrillos. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Corsarios maintains sixth position with 3-5 record. Tigrillos at the other side still closes the standings with eight games lost.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Bucaros (4-3) against fifth ranked Team Cali (4-4) on Saturday night. Visiting Bucaros were crushed by Team Cali in Cali 96-60. The best player for the winners was John Merchant who scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Shawn Stith produced 13 points and 6 rebounds for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Team Cali moved-up to fourth place. Loser Bucaros keep the third position with three games lost.

In the last two games of round 8 winless Tigrillos were destroyed by Cafeteros on the opponent's court 77-53. Corsarios lost to defending champion Titanes in a home game 66-84.

Cafeteros - Tigrillos 77-53

Very expected game in Armenia where bottom-ranked Tigrillos (0-8) were crushed by second ranked Cafeteros (5-3) 77-53 on Friday. Cafeteros had a 31-17 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American Jaelyn Johnson-Coston (198-1993, college: FMU) who scored 13 points and 5 rebounds. The former international Alvaro Pena (197-1995, agency: BIG) chipped in 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Luis Escobar (186-1997) produced 15 points and 6 rebounds and Miguel Correa (186-1999) added 10 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Cafeteros have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 5-3 record having just three points less than leader Titanes. Loser Tigrillos still closes the standings with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Tigrillos: E.Luis 15+6reb+1ast, C.Miguel 10+6reb, S.Granados 6+2ast, S.Santiago 6+4reb, O.Munoz 6+5reb+4ast, M.Andres 4+2reb
Cafeteros: J.Johnson-Coston 13+5reb+1ast, J.Martinez 11+3reb+1ast, F.Lucena 10+3reb+1ast, A.Mateo 9+2reb+1ast, Q.Chievous 8+3reb+4ast, A.Pena 8+7reb+4ast

Team Cali - Bucaros 96-60

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Bucaros (4-3) against fifth ranked Team Cali (4-4) on Saturday night. Visiting Bucaros were crushed by Team Cali in Cali 96-60. Team Cali outrebounded Bucaros 44-29 including 31 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was American guard John Merchant (187-1989, college: Dowling) who scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Guyanese-American center Delroy James (203-1987, college: URI) chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American forward Shawn Stith (203-1999, college: CSUB) produced 13 points and 6 rebounds and the former international guard Romario Roque (180-1998) added 14 points respectively for the guests. Five Team Cali and four Bucaros players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Team Cali moved-up to fourth place. Loser Bucaros keep the third position with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Bucaros: R.Roque 14+2reb+3ast, S.Stith 13+6reb+1ast, B.Francis 12+4reb+2ast, M.Colina 10+3reb, A.Awosika 7+4reb+1ast, S.Marquez 3+2reb
Team Cali: J.Merchant 26+5reb+6ast, D.James 19+7reb+2ast, H.Montano 14+7reb, Y.Mendoza 11+3reb+3ast, M.Wineglass 10+16reb+1ast, S.Jorge 8+2reb+1ast

Corsarios - Titanes 66-84

Very predictable result in Cartagena where top-ranked Titanes (8-0) defeated 6th ranked Corsarios (3-5) 84-66 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was Panamanian forward Michael Hicks (196-1976, college: TAMUCC) who scored 19 points. The former international forward Jair Jaimes (187-1995) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Forward Lysander Ameen (196-1996) produced 22 points and forward Emmil Williams (188-1991) added 16 points respectively for the hosts. Corsarios' coach tested eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Titanes have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 8-0 record. Corsarios lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the sixth place with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Corsarios: A.Lysander 22+4reb+2ast, W.Emmil 16+2reb+1ast, J.Hernandez 9+4reb+1ast, M.Bolivar 6+10reb+3ast, C.Webster 4+4reb, A.Gill 3+1ast
Titanes: M.Hicks 19+3reb+3ast, T.Trocha-Morelos 14+6reb, J.Jaimes 13+5reb+2ast, J.Medina 9+3reb+5ast, D.Luque Soren 8+2ast, H.Guillent 6+5ast

Tigrillos - Corsarios 64-66

Important game to mention about took place in Medellin. Sixth ranked Corsarios (3-5) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging bottom-ranked Tigrillos (0-8) 66-64 in the fight for the sixth place. Corsarios forced 20 Tigrillos turnovers. They brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Tigrillos were plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. The winners were led by center Jhon Hernandez (208-1984) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 10 points and 16 rebounds and Venezuelan center Miguel Bolivar (205-1992) supported him with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. Four Corsarios players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds by the former international power forward Santiago Serna (203-2001) did not help to save the game for Tigrillos. Guard Luis Escobar (186-1997) added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Corsarios maintains sixth position with 3-5 record. Tigrillos at the other side still closes the standings with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Tigrillos: C.Miguel 14+3reb, S.Santiago 13+11reb, A.Carmona 11+2reb+1ast, E.Luis 8+5reb+5ast, T.Yeison 5+8reb+1ast, O.Munoz 5+5reb
Corsarios: M.Bolivar 14+9reb+4ast, A.Gill 13+2reb+1ast, W.Emmil 11+7reb+1ast, J.Hernandez 10+16reb+2ast, C.William 9+4reb+2ast, A.Lysander 9+3reb+5ast

Titanes - Cafeteros 87-84

The most exciting game of round 8 in the LPB took place in Barranquilla. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of second-ranked Cafeteros (5-3) to top-ranked Titanes (8-0) 87-84 in the game for the first place. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cafeteros. Titanes made 20-of-24 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Cafeteros 44-25 including a 21-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Titanes looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Tonny Trocha-Morelos (208-1994, college: Texas A&M) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds and the former international forward Soren De Luque (196-1998) who added 18 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. American Jaelyn Johnson-Coston (198-1993, college: FMU) responded with 22 points and 5 assists and his fellow American import guard Gerald Williams (190-1991, college: La Sierra) scored 16 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Cafeteros' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Titanes have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 8-0 record. Cafeteros at the other side keep the second place with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Cafeteros: J.Johnson-Coston 22+4reb+5ast, G.Williams 16+3reb+2ast, F.Lucena 15+3reb, H.Diaz 12, J.Martinez 7+4reb, A.Mateo 6+2reb+2ast
Titanes: T.Trocha-Morelos 26+12reb+1ast, D.Luque Soren 18+10reb+3ast, H.Guillent 14+3reb+9ast, M.Hicks 13+7reb+3ast, J.Medina 7+5reb+2ast, J.Jaimes 5+5reb+3ast



Tags : TONNY TROCHA-MORELOS, TITANES DE BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIAN BASKETBALL