Liga Wplay Round 5: Cafeteros hand first defeat to Storm

Onno Steger

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in Liga WPlay. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Undefeated Storm (3-1) recorded its first loss in San Andres Island on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by fourth ranked Cafeteros (1-1) 87-66. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Storm. Cafeteros forced 21 Storm turnovers. The best player for the winners was American forward Onno Steger (196, college: WCU, agency: Helping Ballers) who scored 24 points and 6 rebounds. His fellow American import guard JaQuaylon Mays (185-2000, college: Fort Lewis) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists. The former international guard Romario Roque (180-1998) produced 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Storm's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Cafeteros maintains fourth place with 1-1 record. Storm at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost. They share it with Piratas. Cafeteros are looking forward to face higher ranked Team Cali (#3) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Storm will have a break next round.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Quibdo-Choco. Third ranked Cimarrones faced second-ranked Team Cali. Host Cimarrones (2-2) defeated guests from Cali (2-2) 60-56. Gianfranco Espinosa orchestrated the victory by scoring 19 points and 7 rebounds. Alejandro Minota contributed with 13 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American guard John Merchant (187-1989, college: Dowling) answered with 14 points and 9 rebounds for Team Cali. Team Cali's coach Guillermo Moreno rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Cimarrones moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated Team Cali. Cimarrones will play against Sabios (#5) in Manizales in the next round. Team Cali will play on the road against Cafeteros in Armenia and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Cartagena. Third ranked Bucaros faced 4th placed Corsarios. Guests from Bucaramanga (3-2) smashed host Corsarios (0-3) 90-45. Stalin Ortiz stepped up and scored 17 points for the winners. Michael Ramey responded with 16 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bucaros maintains third place with 3-2 record behind leader Carrib.Storm. Loser Corsarios still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Motilones. Bucaros will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Corsarios will play again against Bucaros (#3) and hope to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 5 Titanes crushed Motilones in Barranquilla 90-66.
The best stats of 5th round was 27 points and 4 assists by Juan Laterza of Titanes.