Review of Liga MB Round 1 of Quarter-Finals

Isidro Metapan - Cojute 102-80

Isidro Metapan fired past Cojute in the opener. Isidro Metapan looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American Chris Blake (195-88, college: Detroit Mercy) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners and naturalized Canadian Jose Colorado (188-90) chipped in 30 points. Four Isidro Metapan players scored in double figures. Isidro Metapan's coach felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side American forward Quincy Scates (198-89, college: Tenn Wesleyan) responded with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import center Daniel Robinson (213-93, college: Norfolk St.) produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Top scorers:
Isidro Metapan: J.Colorado 30+2reb+2ast, C.Blake 27+10reb+9ast, J.Diaz 19+7reb+1ast, M.Evangelista 12+11reb+2ast, M.Ramos 6+1reb+6ast, A.Regalado 6+1reb+1ast
Cojute: Q.Scates 26+9reb+4ast, S.Brackett 22+4reb+7ast, D.Robinson 20+13reb+1ast, M.Artiga 6+5reb+1ast, K.Gutierrez 4+2reb, A.Carlos 2+1reb

San Salvador - Brujos Izalco 87-68

San Salvador beat Brujos Izalco for the opening victory in the series. San Salvador forced 19 Brujos Izalco turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Cuban swingman Marvin Cairo (201-91) stepped up and scored 33 points (!!!), 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for the winners and Panamanian Jonathan King (193-90, college: Abil.Christian) chipped in 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. At the losing side American forward Marcus Faison (196-94, college: Salem St.) responded with 24 points and 6 rebounds and Vincentian center Akeme Smart (218-91, college: McCook CC) scored 8 points and 21 rebounds. Brujos Izalco's coach rotated ten players seeing no chance for a win.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: M.Cairo 33+9reb+5ast, J.King 25+5reb+4ast, R.Martinez 13+4reb+6ast, D.King 8+13reb+1ast, I.Andaluz 7+4reb+4ast, G.Sosa 1
Brujos Izalco: M.Faison 24+6reb+1ast, J.Crockett 12+5reb+7ast, J.Araujo 10+5reb+2ast, A.Smart 8+21reb+2ast, J.Angulo 6+3reb+1ast, P.Kevin 6

Santa Tecla - Halcones 93-89

Santa Tecla opened win count in the quarterfinal series versus Halcones. Santa Tecla dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Halcones' 40. They outrebounded Halcones 63-42 including a 43-31 advantage in defensive rebounds. Puerto Rican forward Owens Perez (203-92) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 23 rebounds for the winners and center Carlos Arias (200-89) chipped in 19 points and 17 rebounds. Santa Tecla's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side American forward Artis Cleveland (213-95, college: William Carey) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import forward Ronald Patten (201-93, college: Wisc.-Whitewater) produced a double-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. Four Santa Tecla and five Halcones players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: O.Perez 27+23reb, L.Maza 22+4reb+4ast, C.Arias 19+17reb+1ast, Y.Molina 10+10reb+2ast, A.Arias 9+5reb, D.Hernandez 6+3reb
Halcones: A.Cleveland 22+12reb+1ast, R.Patten 22+10reb+2ast, M.Thomas 18+7reb+9ast, R.Miranda 17+5reb+1ast, A.M 10+3reb+1ast, B.Emerson 0

Quezaltepeque - Aguila 99-68

Quezaltepeque overcame Aguila in the opener. Quezaltepeque forced 24 Aguila turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. O Torres stepped up and scored 21 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and Douglas Bairez (180-88) chipped in 26 points and 4 assists. Quezaltepeque's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side American-Colombian forward Freddy Asprilla (208-88, college: Canisius) responded with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 23 rebounds and Cuban point guard Osmel Oliva (178-87) scored 18 points. Five Aguila players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Quezaltepeque: D.Bairez 26+2reb+4ast, T.O 21+9reb+3ast, J.Jaca 13+9reb+1ast, E.Paiz 9+1reb+2ast, B.Garcia 8+5reb+1ast, A.Barahona 7+5reb+6ast
Aguila: O.Oliva 18+4reb+3ast, F.Asprilla 17+23reb+3ast, A.Luis 12+1reb+6ast, E.Ramirez 11+3reb+1ast, J.Avila 10+2reb+1ast, F.Juan 0



Tags : CHRIS BLAKE, AD ISIDRO METAPAN, SALVADOREAN BASKETBALL