Liga MB Round 21: No surprise as #1 San Salvador defeat Chalchuapa

Luis Valle

The teams have now bigger motivation at this stage of Regular Season. Every game can be crucial and decide about teams' position at the end of Regular Season. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Liga MB top team - San Salvador (14-1) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed tenth ranked Chalchuapa (1-15) 61-30. San Salvador held Chalchuapa to an opponent 23.9 percent shooting from the field compared to 46.6 percent accuracy of the winners. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 41-23 including a 27-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. Luis Valle (190-1997) stepped up and scored 12 points for the winners and power forward Brayan Garcia (194-1998) chipped in 5 points and 13 rebounds. San Salvador's coach Rainel Panfet felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American Gorg Alhag (190-1997, college: Mayville St.) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. San Salvador have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 14-1 record, which they share with Santa Tecla. Chalchuapa lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 15 games lost. San Salvador is looking forward to face Metapan (#6) at home in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Chalchuapa will play against Fantasmas (#7) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
The game in Metapan supposed to be also worth to mention about. Second ranked Santa Tecla (14-1) played at the court of 5th ranked Metapan (7-8). Santa Tecla did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 90-70. Dominican forward Adonis Lopez (-1997) nailed 36 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds (on 15-of-19 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Yoel Cubillas accounted for 8 points and 12 rebounds. Canadian Marcus Faison (196-1994, college: Salem St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds for Metapan in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Santa Tecla. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with San Salvador. Metapan at the other side dropped to the sixth place with eight games lost. Santa Tecla will play against Brujos (#5) in Izalco in the next round. Metapan will play on the road against the league's leader San Salvador and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Sixth ranked Quezaltepeque (8-8) crushed at home 9th ranked Santiagueno (4-11) by 42 points 88-46, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. The best player for the winners was Marc Montavious who had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 15 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Freddy Asprilla who recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and 16 rebounds. Quezaltepeque moved-up to fourth place. Loser Santiagueno keeps the ninth position with 11 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.