Liga MB Round 13 of Regular Season

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

Liga MB round 13 caused change at the leadership position. Third defeat of league's leader San Salvador (7-3) against sixth ranked Aguila (5-5) 88-64 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of San Salvador. Aguila dominated down low during the game scoring 40 of its points in the paint compared to San Salvador's 18. They outrebounded San Salvador 43-19 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Aguila looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Cuban point guard Osmel Oliva (178-87) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 32 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. Forward Luis Almonte (187-88) contributed with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Cuban swingman Marvin Cairo (201-91) answered with 25 points for San Salvador. San Salvador's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Aguila have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Brujos Izalco. San Salvador at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. They were joined at the leadership position by Quezaltepeque who have the same record. San Salvador will play next round against league's leader Quezaltepeque trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Aguila will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Santa Tecla on the road.
The game had a very big importance for third-ranked Quezaltepeque as it allowed them to take a leadership position after previous leader's (San Salvador) loss. Quezaltepeque smashed 7th ranked Cojute at home 95-75. Cuban power forward Eliezer Lima (202-75) stepped up and scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and O Torres chipped in 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. At the losing side American forward Quincy Scates (198-89, college: Tenn Wesleyan) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with San Salvador. Cojute lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with seven games lost. Cojute will have a break next week, which should allow them to rest in order to get back on the winning path. Quezaltepeque will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked San Salvador on the road.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Santa Tecla (6-3) against sixth ranked Brujos Izalco (5-5) on Thursday night. Host Santa Tecla was crushed by Brujos Izalco in Santa Tecla 102-79. Marcus Faison nailed a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Yuniskel Molina came up with 23 points and 5 rebounds for Santa Tecla in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Brujos Izalco moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Aguila. Santa Tecla lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the third position with three games lost. Brujos Izalco will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play against Aguila and hope to secure a win.
A very interesting game took place in Santa Ana. It ended with only two-point home defeat of 9th ranked Santa Ana (2-8) to eighth ranked Halcones (3-7) 114-112 in the fight for the eighth place. Marcus Thomas fired a double-double by scoring 50 points (!!!), 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals for the winners. Halcones maintains eighth place with 3-7 record. Santa Ana lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Halcones' next round opponent will be higher ranked Isidro Metapan (#4) on the road and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.

Santa Ana - Halcones 112-114

A very interesting game took place in Santa Ana. It ended with only two-point home defeat of 9th ranked Santa Ana (2-8) to eighth ranked Halcones (3-7) 114-112 in the fight for the eighth place. Halcones dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Ana's 42. Halcones forced 19 Santa Ana turnovers and outrebounded them 56-39 including a 25-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. American point guard Marcus Thomas (191-95, college: Rosemont) fired a double-double by scoring 50 points (!!!), 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals for the winners. His fellow American import forward Ronald Patten (201-93, college: Wisc.-Whitewater) chipped in a double-double by scoring 30 points and 23 rebounds. Puerto Rican point guard Lee Vazquez (173-91, college: Westfield St.) produced a double-double by scoring 52 points (!!!) and 12 rebounds and A Benson-Lebron added 26 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists respectively for lost side. Halcones maintains eighth place with 3-7 record. Santa Ana lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Halcones' next round opponent will be higher ranked Isidro Metapan (#4) on the road and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: L.Vazquez 52+12reb+3ast, B.A 26+8reb+9ast, E.Mendoza 15+1reb+2ast, R.Erick 9+3reb+1ast, J.Cuestas 4+5reb, G.Galdamez 4+6reb+1ast
Halcones: M.Thomas 50+11reb+7ast, R.Patten 30+23reb+2ast, A.M 8+4reb, R.Miranda 8+3reb+3ast, A.Merino 7+2reb, E.Navarrete 6+2reb+2ast

Aguila - San Salvador 88-64

Liga MB round 13 caused change at the leadership position. Third defeat of league's leader San Salvador (7-3) against sixth ranked Aguila (5-5) 88-64 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of San Salvador. Aguila dominated down low during the game scoring 40 of its points in the paint compared to San Salvador's 18. They outrebounded San Salvador 43-19 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Aguila looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Cuban point guard Osmel Oliva (178-87) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 32 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals. Forward Luis Almonte (187-88) contributed with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Four Aguila players scored in double figures. Cuban swingman Marvin Cairo (201-91) answered with 25 points and Panamanian Daniel King (203-87, college: Texas Southern) added 10 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for San Salvador. San Salvador's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Aguila have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Brujos Izalco. San Salvador at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. They were joined at the leadership position by Quezaltepeque who have the same record. San Salvador will play next round against league's leader Quezaltepeque trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Aguila will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Santa Tecla on the road.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: M.Cairo 25+2reb+1ast, O.Rivera 11+4reb+3ast, D.King 10+9reb+3ast, S.Bandek 6+2reb+4ast, J.King 5+1reb+2ast, J.Flores 3+1reb
Aguila: O.Oliva 32+5reb+10ast, A.Luis 25+5reb+7ast, E.Ramirez 12+8reb, J.Avila 12+1ast, C.Marquina 4+2reb+1ast, F.Asprilla 3+21reb+5ast

Quezaltepeque - Cojute 95-75

The game had a very big importance for third-ranked Quezaltepeque as it allowed them to take a leadership position after previous leader's (San Salvador) loss. Quezaltepeque smashed 7th ranked Cojute at home 95-75. Quezaltepeque made 17-of-21 charity shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 23 Cojute turnovers. Cuban power forward Eliezer Lima (202-75) stepped up and scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and O Torres chipped in 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Quezaltepeque players scored in double figures. At the losing side American forward Quincy Scates (198-89, college: Tenn Wesleyan) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import point guard Shahmel Brackett (183-91, college: UNC Pembroke) scored 20 points and 4 steals. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with San Salvador. Cojute lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with seven games lost. Cojute will have a break next week, which should allow them to rest in order to get back on the winning path. Quezaltepeque will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked San Salvador on the road.
Top scorers:
Cojute: Q.Scates 25+11reb+5ast, S.Brackett 20+4reb+1ast, D.Robinson 12+11reb+1ast, M.Artiga 6+7reb+4ast, B.Rivera 4+3reb+1ast, R.M 2+2reb+1ast
Quezaltepeque: A.Barahona 20+2reb+1ast, T.O 15+8reb+4ast, E.Lima 14+9reb+5ast, M.Lahud 13+6reb+6ast, B.Garcia 10+6reb+2ast, J.Jaca 8+7reb+1ast

Santa Tecla - Brujos Izalco 79-102

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Santa Tecla (6-3) against sixth ranked Brujos Izalco (5-5) on Thursday night. Host Santa Tecla was crushed by Brujos Izalco in Santa Tecla 102-79. Brujos Izalco had a 41-23 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Santa Tecla's players. American forward Marcus Faison (196-94, college: Salem St.) nailed a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Vincentian center Akeme Smart (218-91, college: McCook CC) accounted for 19 points and 18 rebounds. Four Brujos Izalco players scored in double figures. Cuban Yuniskel Molina (177-93) came up with 23 points and 5 rebounds and Cuban Lisvan Maza (196-88) added 19 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Santa Tecla in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Brujos Izalco moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Aguila. Santa Tecla lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the third position with three games lost. Brujos Izalco will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play against Aguila and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: Y.Molina 23+5reb+2ast, L.Maza 19+7reb+1ast, A.Alorda 8+12reb, A.Arias 7+2reb+4ast, C.Arias 7+11reb+2ast, L.Valle 4+1reb
Brujos Izalco: M.Faison 31+10reb+6ast, A.Smart 19+18reb+3ast, J.Crockett 19+5reb+10ast, J.Araujo 13+5reb+5ast, P.Kevin 8+1reb+1ast, G.Galdamez 6+4reb+3ast



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