Liga MB Round 8 (Regular Season): Top-ranked Cojute wins another game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Liga MB top team - Cojute (7-0) managed to deliver another win on Friday. This time they beat seventh ranked Santa Ana (2-7) 104-89. Cojute forced 19 Santa Ana turnovers. It was a great shooting night for Cojute especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.6 percentage. American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 49 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals. The other American import Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) contributed with 17 points and 18 rebounds for the winners. Dominican forward Frankyn Batista (198-1999, college: Pace) replied with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 21 rebounds and 6 assists for Santa Ana. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Cojute have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 7-0 record. Santa Ana at the other side dropped to the eighth place with seven games lost. Cojute are looking forward to face league's second-placed San Salvador at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Santa Ana will have a break next round.
Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their seventh consecutive match to eighth ranked Santiagueno (2-5) 120-86. Worth to mention a great performance of Puerto Rican guard Victor Carattini (185-1992, college: PR-Bayamon) who helped to win the game recording 44 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Giovanny Martinez who added 27 points and 11 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) during the contest. Naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) responded with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Santiagueno moved-up to seventh place. Chalchuapa at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 8 Fantasmas was smashed by Metapan on the road 104-78.



Metapan - Fantasmas 104-78

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fourth ranked Metapan's (5-3) home victory over 5th ranked Fantasmas (3-3) 104-78. They outrebounded Fantasmas 46-22 including a 27-13 advantage in defensive rebounds. Metapan players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Fantasmas' players. Worth to mention a great performance of Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 16 rebounds and Puerto Rican Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) who added 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. Four Metapan players scored in double figures. American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) responded with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and his fellow American import Aaren Smith (198-1997, college: UDC) scored 18 points and 6 rebounds. Metapan have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Fantasmas at the other side keep the fifth position with three games lost. Metapan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Fantasmas will play at home against Brujos (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Metapan: Y.Cubillas 26+16reb+2ast, X.Zambrana 24+8reb+5ast, A.Regalado 16+3reb+2ast, L.Saravia 16+3reb+7ast, P.Kevin 7+1reb, M.Tejada 4+2reb
Fantasmas: A.Smith 31+6reb+5ast, A.Smith 18+6reb+3ast, D.Darius 16+4reb+1ast, H.Carlos 8+4reb+2ast, J.Flores 2+1reb, H.David 2+1reb

Santa Ana - Cojute 89-104

Liga MB top team - Cojute (7-0) managed to deliver another win on Friday. This time they beat seventh ranked Santa Ana (2-7) 104-89. Cojute forced 19 Santa Ana turnovers. It was a great shooting night for Cojute especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.6 percentage. American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 49 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals. The other American import Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) contributed with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 18 rebounds for the winners. Dominican forward Frankyn Batista (198-1999, college: Pace) replied with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 21 rebounds and 6 assists and American Eddie Tirado (-1989) added 22 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Santa Ana. Five Cojute and four Santa Ana players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cojute have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 7-0 record. Santa Ana at the other side dropped to the eighth place with seven games lost. Cojute are looking forward to face league's second-placed San Salvador at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Santa Ana will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Cojute: A.Jeremy 49+10reb+9ast, N.Moore 17+18reb+3ast, K.Martinez 14+4reb+3ast, P.Figueroa 12+3reb+2ast, M.William 10+5reb+1ast, S.Kevin 2+1reb
Santa Ana: F.Batista 28+21reb+6ast, E.Tirado 22+7reb+1ast, M.Melvin 13+2reb+3ast, T.Romero 11+13reb+4ast, A.Luis 6+2reb+6ast, R.Benjamin 6+3reb

Santiagueno - Chalchuapa 120-86

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their seventh consecutive match to eighth ranked Santiagueno (2-5) 120-86. Santiagueno dominated down low during the game scoring 80 of its points in the paint compared to Chalchuapa's 36. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 54-36 including a 44-28 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of Puerto Rican guard Victor Carattini (185-1992, college: PR-Bayamon) who helped to win the game recording 44 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Puerto Rican center Giovanny Martinez (206-1998, college: Jarvis Christian) who added 27 points and 11 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) during the contest. Naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) responded with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and Puerto Rican point guard Ryann Mercado (182-1987, college: App State) scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Santiagueno moved-up to seventh place. Chalchuapa at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Santiagueno: V.Carattini 44+9reb+4ast, G.Martinez 27+11reb, M.Aguilar 18+5reb+9ast, L.Kevin 14+4reb+2ast, C.Mario 6+1reb+1ast, M.Jose 5+5reb
Chalchuapa: M.Velez 26+9reb+7ast, R.Mercado 20+6reb+4ast, A.Jonathan 19+2reb+1ast, M.Samuels 15+9reb+1ast, A.Christopher 4+4reb, E.Steven 1+1reb