LBS Round 1: Alajuela crushed by ARBA

The Regular Season in LBS just started. Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The biggest surprise of round 1 in LBS took place in San Jose where host ARBA crushed Alajuela 82-29 on Saturday evening. ARBA held Alajuela to an opponent 18.9 percent shooting from the field compared to 50.8 percent accuracy of the winners. ARBA forced 22 Alajuela turnovers and outrebounded them 44-20 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 4 passes made by Alajuela's players. The former international swingman Jerson Harris (196-88) fired 16 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. The former international forward Amaurys Ripool (196-86) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds. Lathrell Wallace (-1) produced 6 points for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Alajuela will play next round against strong Siquirres trying to make it back to the top of the standings. ARBA will try to continue on its current victory against Perez Zeledon on the road.
ARBA smashed Heredia in San Jose 92-41. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international point guard Isaac Conejo (182-94) who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Amaurys Ripool contributed with 16 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Panamanian Amir Alvarado (198-84, college: Marshalltown) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds for Heredia. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Heredia will play next round against strong Alajuela trying to get back on the winning streak. ARBA will try to continue on its current victory against Perez Zeledon on the road.
Perez Zeledon recorded a loss in San Jose on Thursday night. Visitors were rolled over by Escazu 105-67. Victor Arias stepped up and scored 27 points for the winners. At the losing side Jonathan Loaiza responded with 25 points. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Escazu will meet Asobasca in the next round. Perez Zeledon will play against ARBA and hope to win that game.
Very important is a road loss of Asobasca against Siquirres on Saturday night. Visiting Asobasca was defeated by Siquirres in 73-58. Johanan Landazury nailed a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Siquirres' next round opponent will be Alajuela. Asobasca will play against Escazu and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Escazu - Perez Zeledon 105-67

Perez Zeledon recorded a loss in San Jose on Thursday night. Visitors were rolled over by Escazu 105-67. They dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to Perez Zeledon's 34. Escazu forced 22 Perez Zeledon turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 6 passes made by Perez Zeledon's players. The former international Victor Arias (-95) stepped up and scored 27 points for the winners and the former international guard Daniel Shedden (190-96, college: MSUB) chipped in 17 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Four Escazu players scored in double figures. At the losing side Jonathan Loaiza responded with 25 points and Jose Mata (-99) scored 8 points and 6 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Escazu will meet Asobasca in the next round. Perez Zeledon will play against ARBA and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Escazu: V.Arias 27+3reb, D.Shedden 17+1reb+4ast, D.Shedden 15+5reb+1ast, C.Quesada 11+6reb+4ast, S.Mcdonald 10+2reb+1ast, M.Herrera 8+3reb+3ast
Perez Zeledon: J.Loaiza 25+3reb+1ast, Q.Oscar 10+3reb, D.Jimenez 9+1reb, M.Jose 8+6reb, L.Kervin 5+1reb, C.Esteban 5+2reb+1ast

ARBA - Heredia 92-41

ARBA smashed Heredia in San Jose 92-41. ARBA dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Heredia's 18. ARBA forced 29 Heredia turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Heredia's players. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international point guard Isaac Conejo (182-94) who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. The former international forward Amaurys Ripool (196-86) contributed with 16 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Four ARBA players scored in double figures. Panamanian Amir Alvarado (198-84, college: Marshalltown) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds and Walter Reyes (-2) added 8 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Heredia. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Heredia will play next round against strong Alajuela trying to get back on the winning streak. ARBA will try to continue on its current victory against Perez Zeledon on the road.
Top scorers:
ARBA: A.Ripool 16+6reb+2ast, J.Anderson 12+4reb+1ast, M.Jose Gonzalez 10+6reb, I.Conejo 10+9reb+6ast, J.Harris 10+2reb+2ast, M.Zuniga 8+1reb+1ast
Heredia: A.Alvarado 14+11reb+2ast, H.Forester 9+2reb+2ast, R.Walter 8+9reb, A.Luis 3+1reb, C.Alexander 2+4reb+1ast, P.Ignacio 2

Siquirres - Asobasca 73-58

Very important is a road loss of Asobasca against Siquirres on Saturday night. Visiting Asobasca was defeated by Siquirres in 73-58. Johanan Landazury nailed a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Christopher Calderon (-89) accounted for 14 points. Four Siquirres players scored in double figures. Guard Jaime Alfaro (185-3) came up with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Jorge Murillo (-81) added 12 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Asobasca in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Siquirres' next round opponent will be Alajuela. Asobasca will play against Escazu and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Siquirres: L.Johanan 24+12reb+3ast, C.Christopher 14+4reb, A.Jermiaine 11+2reb+2ast, S.Kervin 10+3reb+3ast, B.Andric 7+8reb+1ast, K.Ramirez 5+2reb
Asobasca: A.Jaime 16+6reb+4ast, M.Jorge 12+7reb, C.Victor 7+1reb, S.Jorge 7+7reb, H.Sebastian 5+3ast, H.Joaquin 5+2reb+1ast

ARBA - Alajuela 82-29

The biggest surprise of round 1 in LBS took place in San Jose where host ARBA crushed Alajuela 82-29 on Saturday evening. ARBA held Alajuela to an opponent 18.9 percent shooting from the field compared to 50.8 percent accuracy of the winners. ARBA forced 22 Alajuela turnovers and outrebounded them 44-20 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 4 passes made by Alajuela's players. The former international swingman Jerson Harris (196-88) fired 16 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. The former international forward Amaurys Ripool (196-86) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds. Lathrell Wallace (-1) produced 6 points and Jeikol Rojas (-2) added 8 points respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Alajuela will play next round against strong Siquirres trying to make it back to the top of the standings. ARBA will try to continue on its current victory against Perez Zeledon on the road.
Top scorers:
ARBA: J.Harris 16+9reb+1ast, A.Ripool 16+9reb+1ast, M.Zuniga 12+4reb+9ast, D.Lynch 9+5reb+6ast, D.Jeikel 7+3reb+1ast, M.Jose Gonzalez 7+2reb+1ast
Alajuela: R.Jeikol 8+3reb, W.Lathrell 6+4reb+2ast, R.Rafael 4+2reb+1ast, G.Saul 4+1reb, C.Fernandez 2+1reb, D.Josephe 2



Tags : JERSON HARRIS, COOPENAE ARBA, COSTA RICAN BASKETBALL