Recap of Liga MB Round 2 of Quarter-Finals

Halcones - Santa Tecla 84-104

Santa Tecla outgunned Halcones to take 2-0 lead. Santa Tecla dominated down low during the game scoring 76 of its points in the paint compared to Halcones' 44. They outrebounded Halcones 59-27 including a 23-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Santa Tecla made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was Puerto Rican forward Owens Perez (203-92) who had a double-double by scoring 29 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists. Cuban Lisvan Maza (196-88) chipped in 35 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Santa Tecla players scored in double figures. American point guard Marcus Thomas (191-95, college: Rosemont) produced a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 11 assists and his fellow American import forward Ronald Patten (201-93, college: Wisc.-Whitewater) added 9 points and 8 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Top scorers:
Halcones: M.Thomas 40+7reb+11ast, A.M 14+1reb+1ast, R.Miranda 12+1ast, R.Patten 9+8reb+1ast, A.Cleveland 7+7reb+1ast, E.Navarrete 2+2reb+1ast
Santa Tecla: L.Maza 35+5reb+4ast, O.Perez 29+16reb+8ast, C.Arias 11+9reb+3ast, Y.Molina 10+15reb+3ast, L.Valle 8+1reb, A.Arias 8+4reb

Aguila - Quezaltepeque 82-81

Aguila nipped Quezaltepeque to even the series at 1-1. Aguila forced 20 Quezaltepeque turnovers. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Aguila made 7 blocks. Forward Josue Avila (195-98) had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Cuban point guard Osmel Oliva (178-87) chipped in 23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals during the contest. O Torres responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds and Cuban Jordanis Jaca (195-83) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Quezaltepeque's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help.
Top scorers:
Quezaltepeque: T.O 28+12reb+3ast, J.Jaca 12+14reb, M.Lahud 12+3reb+6ast, E.Paiz 10+5reb+2ast, B.Garcia 8+5reb+1ast, M.Bryan 6+2reb
Aguila: O.Oliva 23+5reb+6ast, J.Avila 20+15reb+2ast, F.Asprilla 14+14reb+2ast, A.Luis 12+5reb+1ast, E.Ramirez 5+2reb, C.Marquina 5+2reb+3ast

Cojute - Isidro Metapan 97-91

Cojute defeated Isidro Metapan to level things up at 1 win apiece. Cojute made 16-of-18 charity shots (88.9 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Isidro Metapan turnovers. American point guard Shahmel Brackett (183-91, college: UNC Pembroke) notched 42 points (!!!), 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 steals to lead the effort and the other American import forward Quincy Scates (198-89, college: Tenn Wesleyan) supported him with 33 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds. Cojute's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even 34 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds by American Chris Blake (195-88, college: Detroit Mercy) did not help to save the game for Isidro Metapan. Venezuelan forward Jovanni Diaz (203-90) added 26 points and 11 rebounds for the guests. Four Isidro Metapan players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Isidro Metapan: C.Blake 34+7reb+3ast, J.Diaz 26+11reb+3ast, J.Colorado 15+4reb+3ast, M.Ramos 10+3reb+2ast, O.Coreas 4+3reb, M.Evangelista 2+7reb+1ast
Cojute: S.Brackett 42+8reb+5ast, Q.Scates 33+9reb+3ast, D.Robinson 12+12reb+2ast, K.Gutierrez 6+5reb, M.Artiga 2+5reb, M.Bonilla 2

Brujos Izalco - San Salvador 67-77

San Salvador upset Brujos Izalco to open 2-0 advantage. San Salvador brought some defensive toughness making 10 blocks. Cuban swingman Marvin Cairo (201-91) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. Panamanian Daniel King (203-87, college: Texas Southern) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. Naturalized Canadian point guard Jose Araujo (187-86, college: UNBC, agency: Interperformances) replied with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and American forward Marcus Faison (196-94, college: Salem St.) added 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks in the effort for Brujos Izalco. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Brujos Izalco: J.Crockett 18+5reb+2ast, J.Araujo 18+5reb+4ast, M.Faison 14+11reb+2ast, A.Smart 13+8reb+3ast, E.Aguilar 4+6reb+3ast, C.Torres 0
San Salvador: M.Cairo 19+12reb+3ast, J.King 16+3reb+3ast, R.Martinez 13+4reb+6ast, D.King 11+14reb+3ast, S.Bandek 9+2reb+2ast, I.Andaluz 6+2reb



Tags : LISVAN MAZA, SANTA TECLA BC, SALVADOREAN BASKETBALL