Liga MB Round 7: Leader Santa Tecla loses to Brujos Izalco

The round was rather attractive and full of interesting results. The round ended with defeat of the leader, favorites losing the games and games ending by tiny margin. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

Cojute - Santa Ana 72-66

There was a minor upset in Cojutepeque where their close opponent Santa Ana (4-7) was defeated by eighth ranked Cojute (3-8) 72-66 on Saturday. Cojute outrebounded Santa Ana 51-36 including a 37-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. American forward Antonio McElrath (201-88, college: Coastal Alabama CC) fired a double-double by scoring 22 points and 22 rebounds for the winners. Guard Juan Flores (178-95) chipped in 19 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Timothy Simmons (195-92, college: DBU) produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds and Puerto Rican point guard Lee Vazquez (173-91, college: Westfield St.) added 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side. The victory was the third consecutive win for Cojute. They maintain eighth place with 3-8 record. Santa Ana lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. Cojute will face 11 Lobos (#9) in Chalchuapa in the next round.
Top scorers:
Cojute: A.McElrath 22+22reb+1ast, J.Flores 19+6reb+2ast, R.Melendez 8+7reb+2ast, J.Cruz 8+2reb, A.Alvarado 6+4reb, C.Calejas 6+4reb+1ast
Santa Ana: T.Simmons 24+13reb+1ast, L.Vazquez 22+6reb+4ast, I.Sandoval 14+3reb+2ast, D.Pena 5+4reb, G.Galdamez 1+2reb+1ast, H.Walter 0

Brujos Izalco - Santa Tecla 70-58

Top ranked Santa Tecla (10-2) recorded its second loss on the court of fourth ranked Brujos Izalco on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by Brujos Izalco 70-58. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Santa Tecla. Brujos Izalco had a 35-24 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Brujos Izalco made 7 blocks. Vincentian center Akeme Smart (218-91, college: McCook CC) fired a double-double by scoring 12 points and 20 rebounds for the winners. American swingman JaCarre Crockett (190-96, college: Philander Smith) chipped in 15 points and 8 rebounds. Four Brujos Izalco players scored in double figures. Forward Josue Avila (195-98) produced 13 points and 7 rebounds and Cuban Lisvan Valdes (196-88) added 13 points respectively for lost side. Brujos Izalco maintains fourth place with 7-4 record. Santa Tecla at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Brujos Izalco are looking forward to face San Salvador (#5) at home in the next round. Santa Tecla will play against Quezaltepeque (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Brujos Izalco: J.Araujo 18+4reb+3ast, J.Crockett 15+8reb+3ast, A.Smart 12+20reb+2ast, L.Valle 12+7reb+2ast, J.Angulo 7, X.Keeling 6+7reb+3ast
Santa Tecla: L.Valdes 13+4reb+2ast, J.Avila 13+7reb+2ast, Y.Molina 9+8reb+2ast, L.Portal 6+3reb+1ast, Y.Luis Haiti 6+3reb+2ast, A.Arias 5+5reb+2ast

Isidro Metapan - Aguila 94-78

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Isidro Metapan (9-2) defeated at home 8th ranked Aguila (3-6) 94-78 on Saturday. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Isidro Metapan made 12 blocks. American Chris Blake (195-88, college: Detroit Mercy) fired 31 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winners. Cuban Oreste Torres (204-87) chipped in 15 points and 7 rebounds. Isidro Metapan's coach Jose Luis Damaso used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Forward Luis Almonte (187-88) produced 31 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Venezuelan forward Kelvin Caraballo (198-88) added 21 points and 16 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Isidro Metapan. They maintain second place with 9-2 record behind leader Santa Tecla. Aguila lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with six games lost. Isidro Metapan will face Santa Ana (#6) on the road in the next round. Aguila will play against Halcones in Sonzacate and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Isidro Metapan: C.Blake 31+9reb+5ast, J.Colorado 19+1reb+2ast, M.Ramos 18+4ast, O.Torres 15+7reb+1ast, A.Regalado 4+1reb+1ast, A.Jose 3
Aguila: A.Luis 31+7reb+4ast, K.Caraballo 21+16reb+3ast, E.Ramirez 12+3reb, F.Asprilla 10+9reb+3ast, C.Marquina 2+2reb, G.Imonti 2+1reb

San Salvador - Isidro Metapan 104-105

Important game to mention about took place in San Salvador. Second ranked Isidro Metapan (9-2) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked San Salvador (6-5) 105-104 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of San Salvador. Strangely San Salvador outrebounded Isidro Metapan 51-33 including a 19-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Isidro Metapan brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of American Chris Blake (195-88, college: Detroit Mercy) who helped to win the game recording 31 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. Naturalized Canadian Jose Colorado (188-90) contributed with 25 points for the winners. American forward Quincy Scates (198-89, college: Tenn Wesleyan) answered with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists and Oscar Rivera (186-80) added 22 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals in the effort for San Salvador. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Isidro Metapan have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain second place with 9-2 record behind leader Santa Tecla. San Salvador at the other side keeps the fifth position with five games lost. Isidro Metapan will play against Santa Ana (#6) on the road in the next round. San Salvador will play against Brujos Izalco and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Isidro Metapan: C.Blake 31+9reb+6ast, J.Colorado 25+4reb+2ast, M.Ramos 19+4reb+7ast, O.Torres 14+10reb+3ast, M.Flores 11+2reb+5ast, A.Regalado 5+4reb+2ast
San Salvador: Q.Scates 24+17reb+6ast, J.Windham 23+12reb+5ast, O.Rivera 22+8reb+12ast, J.Milton 21+11reb+1ast, L.Escoto 12+3reb+5ast, A.Alas 2

Quezaltepeque - Brujos Izalco 83-68

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Quezaltepeque. Fourth ranked Quezaltepeque faced their close opponent Brujos Izalco. Host Quezaltepeque (7-3) defeated guests from Izalco (7-4) 83-68. Quezaltepeque dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Brujos Izalco's 32. They outrebounded Brujos Izalco 52-36 including 18 on the offensive glass. It was a great evening for American center Darohn Scott (198-96, college: Cent Michigan) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 22 rebounds. His fellow American import Eddie Ishman (196-86, college: Miles) helped adding 26 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. At the losing side Vincentian center Akeme Smart (218-91, college: McCook CC) responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds and naturalized Canadian point guard Jose Araujo (187-86, college: UNBC, agency: Interperformances) scored 19 points and 5 assists. Five Brujos Izalco players scored in double figures. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Quezaltepeque. They moved-up to third place. Loser Brujos Izalco keeps the fourth position with four games lost. Quezaltepeque will meet at home league's leader Santa Tecla in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Brujos Izalco will play against San Salvador and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Quezaltepeque: E.Ishman 26+10reb+7ast, D.Scott 22+22reb, A.Brown 13+5reb+1ast, B.Garcia 6+8reb+2ast, D.Bairez 6+4reb+4ast, M.Bryan 4+1reb+1ast
Brujos Izalco: J.Araujo 19+4reb+5ast, A.Smart 16+14reb+2ast, J.Crockett 11+4reb+4ast, J.Angulo 11+1ast, X.Keeling 11+12reb+5ast, R.Mendez 0

11 Lobos - San Salvador 86-102

The game in Chalchuapa was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked San Salvador (6-5) played at the court of 8th ranked 11 Lobos (2-7). San Salvador defeated 11 Lobos 102-86. The game was dominated by American players. It was an exceptional evening for forward James Milton (204-92, college: Stevenson) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 18 rebounds. Forward Quincy Scates (198-89, college: Tenn Wesleyan) accounted for 29 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side. Center Darohn Scott (198-96, college: Cent Michigan) came up with 34 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds and forward David Haye (190-94, college: Ramapo) added 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for 11 Lobos in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. 11 Lobos' coach Daniel Moran rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for San Salvador. They maintain fifth place with 6-5 record. 11 Lobos lost their sixth game in a row. They dropped to the ninth position with seven games lost. San Salvador's next round opponent will be higher ranked Brujos Izalco (#4) on the road and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. 11 Lobos will play against Cojute (#8) in Cojutepeque and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: J.Milton 32+18reb, Q.Scates 29+6reb, O.Rivera 18+6reb+2ast, L.Escoto 13+6reb+4ast, J.Windham 6+4reb+2ast, A.Alas 4+1reb
11 Lobos: C.Darwin 34+7reb+3ast, D.Haye 20+7reb+5ast, M.Tejada 12+5reb+1ast, P.Wrencher 11+18reb, M.Gonzalez 4+6reb+2ast, R.Benjamin 3

Quezaltepeque - Halcones 82-81

Tenth-ranked Halcones (2-9) made lots of trouble for fourth ranked Quezaltepeque (7-3) on Sunday. Quezaltepeque managed to secure only one-point victory 82-81. However their fans expected much easier game. Quezaltepeque outrebounded Halcones 53-37 including 20 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Quezaltepeque made 12 blocks. The game was also dominated by American players. Center Darohn Scott (198-96, college: Cent Michigan) fired a double-double by scoring 15 points, 21 rebounds, 5 assists and 8 blocks for the winners. Anthony Brown (193-89, college: Imperial Valley JC) chipped in 26 points. Forward Kenny Wilson (-93) produced 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals and forward Marcus Faison (196-94, college: Salem St.) added 13 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists respectively for lost side. Four Halcones players scored in double figures. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Quezaltepeque. They moved-up to third place. Halcones lost their seventh game in a row. Defending champion stay at the bottom position with nine games lost. Quezaltepeque will face league's leader Santa Tecla at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Halcones will play against Aguila (#7) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Quezaltepeque: A.Brown 26+3reb+2ast, D.Scott 15+21reb+5ast, B.Garcia 13+7reb+3ast, E.Ishman 7+12reb+2ast, D.Bairez 7+5reb+5ast, E.Paiz 5+2reb+1ast
Halcones: W.Kenny 30+5reb+4ast, P.Andres 24+7reb, D.Barnes 14+11reb+6ast, M.Faison 13+12reb+9ast, S.Contreras 0, P.Roberto 0