LNB Round 7 (Second Stage): #1 Metros are defeated by Heroes

There are only two more rounds left in the Second Stage in LNB. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Metros (17-6) in Santiago on Tuesday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Heroes (13-11) 97-96. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Metros. Heroes looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for American forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) who led his team to a victory scoring 27 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. point guard Jaison Valdez (188-1995) helped adding 15 points and 8 assists. At the losing side American power forward Sterling Manley (213-1998, college: UNC) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Heroes have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Heroes maintains third place with 13-11 record having three points less than leader Marineros. Metros at the other side still keep top position with six games lost. Heroes are looking forward to face Reales (#6) in La Vega in the next round. Metros will play at home against the league's second-placed Gigantes (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very significant was Caneros' (#4) 77-68 road victory against 5th ranked Reales. It was an exceptional evening for Yeison Colome (190-1996) who led the winners and scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Marvin Smith accounted for 19 points and 5 rebounds. American-Iraqi guard Ramon Galloway (190-1991, college: La Salle) came up with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for Reales in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Caneros maintains fourth place with 12-12 record. Reales at the other side dropped to the sixth position with 13 games lost. Caneros will play against Titanes (#5) in San Cristobal in the next round. Reales will play on the road against Heroes in Moca and hope to get back on the winning track.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Gigantes (16-8) against sixth ranked Titanes (11-12) on Wednesday night. Visiting Gigantes were defeated by Titanes in San Cristobal 95-80. Luis Montero fired a double-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. BJ Fitzgerald produced 21 points and 9 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending champion moved-up to fifth place. Gigantes lost third consecutive game. They keep the second position with eight games lost. Titanes will meet at home higher ranked Caneros (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gigantes will play against the league's leader Metros in Santiago and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

The most impressive stats of the last round was 11 points and 9 rebounds by Rey Abad of Reales.



Metros - Heroes 96-97:
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Metros (17-6) in Santiago on Tuesday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Heroes (13-11) 97-96. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Metros. Heroes looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for American forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) who led his team to a victory scoring 27 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. point guard Jaison Valdez (188-1995) helped adding 15 points and 8 assists. Four Heroes players scored in double figures. At the losing side American power forward Sterling Manley (213-1998, college: UNC) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks and the other American import forward Anthony Fairley (205-1999, college: Miles, agency: BIG) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Heroes have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Heroes maintains third place with 13-11 record having three points less than leader Marineros. Metros at the other side still keep top position with six games lost. Heroes are looking forward to face Reales (#6) in La Vega in the next round. Metros will play at home against the league's second-placed Gigantes (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Heroes: H.Myke 27+7reb+4ast, H.Caleb 20+3reb+2ast, V.Jaison 15+3reb+8ast, O.Kevin 12+12reb+1ast, N.Ulloa 10+2reb+2ast, G.Robert 8+7reb+1ast
Metros: M.Sterling 23+12reb+2ast, A.Fairley 18+12reb+2ast, J.Hall 17+2reb+5ast, J.Matos 9+4reb+4ast, A.De Leon 8+3reb+7ast, O.Silverio 6+3reb+6ast

Titanes - Gigantes 95-80:
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Gigantes (16-8) against sixth ranked Titanes (11-12) on Wednesday night. Visiting Gigantes were defeated by Titanes in San Cristobal 95-80. Titanes looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Gigantes' players. Luis Montero (203-1993, college: South Plains) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. American Ricky Ledo (201-1992, college: Providence) chipped in 22 points. American guard BJ Fitzgerald (198-2000, college: Virginia St.) produced 21 points and 9 rebounds and power forward Juan Rosario (203-1999) added 9 points and 7 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending champion moved-up to fifth place. Gigantes lost third consecutive game. They keep the second position with eight games lost. Titanes will meet at home higher ranked Caneros (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gigantes will play against the league's leader Metros in Santiago and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Titanes: L.Ricky 22+2ast, M.Luis 19+12reb+8ast, C.Diego 12+4reb+2ast, X.Reyes 10+2reb+1ast, A.Jhonatan 9+11reb+2ast, B.Richard 6+5reb+8ast
Gigantes: B.Fitzgerald 21+9reb+3ast, C.Brown Jr. 13+1reb+2ast, J.Rosario 9+7reb, E.Tejeda 7+1reb, F.Batista 7+3reb+1ast, M.Eddy 6+1reb+1ast

Reales - Caneros 68-77:
Very significant was Caneros' (#4) 77-68 road victory against 5th ranked Reales. It was an exceptional evening for Yeison Colome (190-1996) who led the winners and scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. American forward Marvin Smith (198-1995, college: UNCG) accounted for 19 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. American-Iraqi guard Ramon Galloway (190-1991, college: La Salle) came up with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Rey Abad (210-2002) added 11 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Reales in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Caneros maintains fourth place with 12-12 record. Reales at the other side dropped to the sixth position with 13 games lost. Caneros will play against Titanes (#5) in San Cristobal in the next round. Reales will play on the road against Heroes in Moca and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Caneros: S.Marvin 19+5reb+1ast, C.Yeison 14+9reb+4ast, B.Raymon 10+5reb+1ast, H.Matthew 9+3reb, E.Suero 9+2reb+3ast, L.Blanco 7+5reb+4ast
Reales: A.Mirambeaux 15+3reb+1ast, R.Galloway 13+5reb+5ast, R.Abad 11+9reb, C.Sanders 9+1reb+3ast, V.Martinez 6+1reb+2ast, M.Richardson 6+6reb+6ast