Liga MB Round 6: Winless Chalchuapa lose another game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-5) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to fourth ranked Fantasmas (3-2) 123-75 on Saturday evening. Fantasmas dominated down low during the game scoring 78 of its points in the paint compared to Chalchuapa's 54. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 60-39 including a 40-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. Fantasmas looked well-organized offensively handing out 34 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Chalchuapa's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Fantasmas made 8 blocks. American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) had a double-double by scoring 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import point guard Darius Daniels (178) chipped in 29 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists during the contest. Fantasmas' coach 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 forward Markos Samuels (196, college: Arkansas Bapt.) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 18 rebounds. Fantasmas maintains fourth position with 3-2 record. Chalchuapa at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Fantasmas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Chalchuapa will play at home against Metapan (#5) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
The game in Usultan was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Metapan (3-3) played at the court of 7th ranked Santiagueno (1-4). Metapan defeated Santiagueno 84-70. Puerto Rican Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) notched a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and Yoel Cubillas supported him with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Metapan's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds by Puerto Rican guard Victor Carattini (185-1992, college: PR-Bayamon) did not help to save the game for Santiagueno. Metapan maintains fifth position with 3-3 record. Santiagueno lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with four games lost. Metapan will play against bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (#9) on the road in the next round. Santiagueno will play against the league's second-placed San Salvador to get more than just one victory in their record.
The game in Santa Ana was also quite interesting. 7th ranked Santiagueno (1-4) played at the court of eighth ranked Santa Ana (2-5). Santa Ana managed to secure a 7-point victory 78-71 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Frankyn Batista who had a double-double by scoring 29 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Santa Ana's coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was Victor Carattini who recorded a double-double by scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds. Santa Ana moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Santa Tecla. Santiagueno lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. Santa Ana will meet Santa Tecla (#7) on the road in the next round. Santiagueno will play against the league's second-placed San Salvador and hope to win that game.

In the last game of round 6 Brujos won against Santa Tecla on the opponent's court 73-64.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 14 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists by Elian Torres of Santa Tecla.



Fantasmas - Chalchuapa 123-75

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-5) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to fourth ranked Fantasmas (3-2) 123-75 on Saturday evening. Fantasmas dominated down low during the game scoring 78 of its points in the paint compared to Chalchuapa's 54. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 60-39 including a 40-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. Fantasmas looked well-organized offensively handing out 34 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Chalchuapa's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Fantasmas made 8 blocks. American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) had a double-double by scoring 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import point guard Darius Daniels (178) chipped in 29 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists during the contest. Fantasmas' coach 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 forward Markos Samuels (196, college: Arkansas Bapt.) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 18 rebounds and naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) scored 29 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Fantasmas maintains fourth position with 3-2 record. Chalchuapa at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Fantasmas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Chalchuapa will play at home against Metapan (#5) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Chalchuapa: M.Velez 29+5reb+4ast, M.Samuels 20+18reb+2ast, A.Jonathan 8, E.Steven 7+1reb+1ast, Q.Daniel 6+6reb+6ast, C.Nestor 4+3reb+2ast
Fantasmas: A.Smith 29+15reb+3ast, D.Darius 29+5reb+13ast, A.Smith 22+11reb+4ast, J.Flores 9+2reb+7ast, H.Carlos 9+4reb, J.Nelson 8+2reb+1ast

Santiagueno - Metapan 70-84

The game in Usultan was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Metapan (3-3) played at the court of 7th ranked Santiagueno (1-4). Metapan defeated Santiagueno 84-70. Metapan forced 21 Santiagueno turnovers and outrebounded them 47-30 including 16 on the offensive glass. Puerto Rican Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) notched a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) supported him with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Metapan's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds by Puerto Rican guard Victor Carattini (185-1992, college: PR-Bayamon) did not help to save the game for Santiagueno. Puerto Rican center Giovanny Martinez (206-1998, college: Jarvis Christian) added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Four Santiagueno players scored in double figures. Metapan maintains fifth position with 3-3 record. Santiagueno lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with four games lost. Metapan will play against bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (#9) on the road in the next round. Santiagueno will play against the league's second-placed San Salvador to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Santiagueno: V.Carattini 25+10reb+1ast, G.Martinez 13+8reb, M.Aguilar 11+5reb+3ast, G.Andres 10+2reb+4ast, B.Diego 4, S.Moises 3+1reb
Metapan: X.Zambrana 34+12reb+2ast, Y.Cubillas 21+14reb+2ast, L.Hernandez 10+3reb+5ast, L.Saravia 7+3reb+3ast, A.Regalado 6+5reb+2ast, M.Tejada 2+2reb

Santa Ana - Santiagueno 78-71

The game in Santa Ana was also quite interesting. 7th ranked Santiagueno (1-4) played at the court of eighth ranked Santa Ana (2-5). Santa Ana managed to secure a 7-point victory 78-71 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Dominican forward Frankyn Batista (198-1999, college: Pace) who had a double-double by scoring 29 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Center Teodoro Romero (202-1985) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists. Batista is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Santa Ana players scored in double figures. Santa Ana's coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was Puerto Rican guard Victor Carattini (185-1992, college: PR-Bayamon) who recorded a double-double by scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds and Marco Aguilar (192-1994) added 22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals respectively. Santa Ana moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Santa Tecla. Santiagueno lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. Santa Ana will meet Santa Tecla (#7) on the road in the next round. Santiagueno will play against the league's second-placed San Salvador and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Santiagueno: V.Carattini 31+10reb+2ast, M.Aguilar 22+11reb+5ast, G.Andres 10+3reb+2ast, G.Martinez 6+10reb+1ast, H.Saul 2+6reb, L.Kevin 0
Santa Ana: F.Batista 29+15reb+5ast, E.Tirado 21+5reb+1ast, T.Romero 15+18reb+4ast, A.Luis 13+1reb+1ast, Z.Gerardo 0, H.Romario 0

Santa Tecla - Brujos 64-73

Rather expected game when 6th ranked Santa Tecla (2-5) was defeated at home by third ranked Brujos (4-2) 73-64 on Sunday. Brujos forced 26 Santa Tecla turnovers. The best player for the winners was Dominican forward Adonis Lopez (-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 23 points and 13 rebounds. Dominican forward Alejandro De Los Santos (193-2002) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican swingman Elian Torres (201-2000) who recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists and Dominican power forward Jose Espinal (208-1998) added 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 blocks respectively. Brujos have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 4-2 record having just two points less than leader Cojute. Defending champion Santa Tecla keeps the sixth place with five games lost. They share the position with Santa Ana. Brujos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play against Santa Ana (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: L.Portal 15+4reb+2ast, E.Jose 14+8reb+3ast, E.Torres 14+19reb+6ast, J.Barahona 9+4reb+5ast, F.Fernando 8+3reb+3ast, H.Kristhian 2+4reb
Brujos: L.Adonis 23+13reb+3ast, D.Los Santos Alejandro 17+5reb+3ast, A.Arias 10+7reb+1ast, A.Joe 9+1reb+2ast, F.Angulo 8+3reb+2ast, C.Arias 4+6reb+3ast