Liga MB Round 22: Top-ranked San Salvador wins another game

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Liga MB top team - San Salvador (16-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed ninth ranked Cojute (4-13) in Cojutepeque 96-76. They outrebounded Cojute 47-31 including 32 on the defensive glass. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 23 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. Roberto Martinez contributed with 34 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Jordon Myers (201-1998) replied with 31 points and 9 rebounds for Cojute. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. San Salvador have an impressive 16-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-1 record. Cojute at the other side keeps the ninth place with 13 games lost. San Salvador are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cojute will play against Chalchuapa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Izalco supposed to be also worth to mention about. Third ranked Metapan (14-3) played at the court of 5th ranked Brujos (10-8). Metapan smashed Brujos 112-80. Venezuelan point guard Edwin Mijares (186-1992) scored 25 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals to lead the charge for the winners and Yoel Cubillas chipped in 14 points and 18 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side Maxwel Mendoza responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Metapan have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Santa Tecla. Brujos at the other side keep the fifth position with eight games lost. Metapan will play against Fantasmas (#6) in San Vicente in the next round. Brujos will play against Santiagueno and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between fourth ranked Aguila (11-5) and 8th ranked Santa Ana (5-12) in San Miguel on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. Aguila outscored guests from Santa Ana 100-59. Kenny Wilson notched a triple-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the effort. Even 19 points and 7 rebounds by EJ Blackwell did not help to save the game for Santa Ana. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Aguila have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 11-5 record. Santa Ana lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last two games of round 22 bottom-ranked Chalchuapa was smashed by Santa Tecla on the road 120-94. Nejapa lost to Santiagueno on its own court 93-100.

Santa Tecla - Chalchuapa 120-94

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Santa Tecla (14-3) crushed at home bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (3-14) 120-94 on Friday. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 54-26 including a 38-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Santa Tecla looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Colombian Michaell Jackson (190-1987) notched 39 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the effort and Dominican guard Jose Liriano (189-1998) supported him with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Five Santa Tecla players scored in double figures. Santa Tecla's coach felt very confident that he used 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Even a double-double of 33 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 4 assists by American Gorg Alhag (190-1997, college: Mayville St.) did not help to save the game for Chalchuapa. Puerto Rican point guard Ryann Abraham (182-1987, college: App State) added 36 points (!!!) for lost side. Defending champion maintains second position with 14-3 record having just two points less than leader San Salvador, which they share with Metapan. Loser Chalchuapa stay at the bottom place with 14 games lost. Santa Tecla will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Chalchuapa will play against the league's leader San Salvador (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: M.Jackson 39+8reb+6ast, R.Gerardo 20+5reb+4ast, J.Liriano 19+12reb, A.Arias 15+2reb+7ast, M.Lahud 11+7reb+6ast, A.Alas 6+11reb
Chalchuapa: R.Abraham 36+3reb+3ast, G.Alhag 33+11reb+4ast, R.Erick 17+2reb+1ast, M.Gonzalez 4+3reb+3ast, H.Eleazar 4+5reb+2ast, L.Fernando 0

Nejapa - Santiagueno 93-100

Rather expected game when 10th ranked Nejapa (3-13) lost at home to eighth ranked Santiagueno (6-11) 100-93 on Friday. Santiagueno dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to Nejapa's 54. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists comparing to just 18 passes made by Nejapa's players. American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) notched a double-double by scoring 26 points and 21 rebounds to lead the effort and Cuban guard Pedro Roque (187-1995) supported him with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. Four Santiagueno players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 27 points and 17 rebounds by American Marcus Faison (196-1994, college: Salem St.) did not help to save the game for Nejapa. His fellow American import forward Telvin Gabriel (198-1994, college: Lander) added 24 points and 10 rebounds for lost side. Nejapa's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Santiagueno moved-up to seventh place. Nejapa lost eleventh consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with 13 games lost. Santiagueno will meet at home higher ranked Brujos (#5) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Nejapa will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Santiagueno: S.Esperanza 29+3reb+5ast, F.Asprilla 26+21reb+2ast, P.Roque 24+6reb+7ast, X.Eaglin 15+5reb+1ast, B.Castellon 2+3reb+14ast, S.Moises 2
Nejapa: M.Faison 27+17reb+2ast, T.Gabriel 24+10reb+2ast, G.Spencer 16+5reb+4ast, E.Paiz 8+2reb+5ast, M.Justin 6+1reb+2ast, I.Ariel 3+4reb

Cojute - San Salvador 76-96

Liga MB top team - San Salvador (16-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed ninth ranked Cojute (4-13) in Cojutepeque 96-76. They outrebounded Cojute 47-31 including 32 on the defensive glass. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 23 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. Roberto Martinez contributed with 34 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Four San Salvador players scored in double figures. American guard Jordon Myers (201-1998) replied with 31 points and 9 rebounds and his fellow American import swingman Andravious Smith (196-1995, college: Tougaloo) added 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks in the effort for Cojute. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. San Salvador have an impressive 16-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-1 record. Cojute at the other side keeps the ninth place with 13 games lost. San Salvador are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cojute will play against Chalchuapa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: M.Roberto 34+5reb+4ast, M.Montavious 23+16reb+5ast, E.Escalante 12+3reb+2ast, A.Scantelbury 12+7reb+2ast, C.Joan Duran 6+8reb+1ast, K.Mejia 4+2reb
Cojute: J.Myers 31+9reb+2ast, A.Smith 16+11reb+4ast, J.Flores 11+3reb+3ast, N.Avalos 7+1ast, R.Melendez 4+5reb+3ast, V.Sebastian 4

Aguila - Santa Ana 100-59

The game between fourth ranked Aguila (11-5) and 8th ranked Santa Ana (5-12) in San Miguel on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. Aguila outscored guests from Santa Ana 100-59. Aguila dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Ana's 24. Aguila forced 21 Santa Ana turnovers and outrebounded them 54-34 including a 16-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Santa Ana's players. American forward Kenny Wilson (-1993) notched a triple-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the effort and naturalized Canadian Jose Araujo (187-1986, college: UNBC, agency: Interperformances) supported him with 18 points. Even 19 points and 7 rebounds by American guard EJ Blackwell (193, college: Lourdes) did not help to save the game for Santa Ana. Irving Sandoval (180-1988) added 9 points and 5 rebounds for lost side. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Aguila have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 11-5 record. Santa Ana lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Aguila: W.Kenny 34+13reb+11ast, J.Araujo 18+2reb+2ast, D.Palmer 10+7reb+2ast, L.Valdez 9+6reb+3ast, M.Aguilar 8+3reb+1ast, J.Barahona 7+2reb
Santa Ana: E.Blackwell 19+7reb, D.Vasquez 11+2reb+3ast, I.Sandoval 9+5reb+3ast, E.Ortiz 7+2ast, Z.Gerardo 5+3reb+1ast, A.Luis 4+1reb+1ast

Brujos - Metapan 80-112

The game in Izalco supposed to be also worth to mention about. Third ranked Metapan (14-3) played at the court of 5th ranked Brujos (10-8). Metapan smashed Brujos 112-80. Metapan forced 23 Brujos turnovers and outrebounded them 49-35 including 35 on the defensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Brujos' players. Metapan brought some defensive toughness making 10 blocks. Venezuelan point guard Edwin Mijares (186-1992) scored 25 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals to lead the charge for the winners and Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) chipped in 14 points and 18 rebounds during the contest. Five Metapan players scored in double figures. At the losing side Maxwel Mendoza responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists and center Teodoro Romero (202-1985) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Metapan have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Santa Tecla. Brujos at the other side keep the fifth position with eight games lost. Metapan will play against Fantasmas (#6) in San Vicente in the next round. Brujos will play against Santiagueno and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Metapan: E.Mijares 25+7reb+9ast, M.Ramos 15+3reb+11ast, Y.Cubillas 14+18reb+1ast, D.Jaramillo 14+2reb+2ast, M.Taylor 14+10reb+3ast, A.Regalado 9+3reb
Brujos: T.Romero 23+10reb+1ast, M.Maxwel 20+10reb+7ast, J.Crespin 17+6reb+2ast, G.Galdamez 7+2reb, S.Roberto 6+4reb, R.Garcia 4+3reb+2ast



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