Liga MB Round 15 (Regular Season): Cojute is defeated by Fantasmas

Liga MB Regular Season is still in too early stage and there may be still significant changes in the standings. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Cojute (11-3) in San Vicente on Thursday night. Visitors were edged by fourth ranked Fantasmas (9-3) 81-80. Fantasmas forced 22 Cojute turnovers. Americans were the main players on the court. It was a great evening for guard Caleb Bowser (193, college: Georgian Court) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) helped adding 27 points and 9 rebounds. Fantasmas' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) with 39 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds. Fantasmas have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to third place. Cojute at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. Fantasmas are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (#9) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Cojute will have a break next round.
Very significant was Metapan's (#5) 91-79 road victory against 4th placed San Salvador. It was an exceptional evening for Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 16 rebounds. Xavier Zambrana accounted for 20 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Ernesto Rodriguez (170-2001) came up with 29 points and 6 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) for San Salvador in the defeat. San Salvador's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Metapan. They moved-up to fourth place. San Salvador at the other side dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. Metapan will play against Santiagueno (#7) in Usultan in the next round. San Salvador will have a break next round.
Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-12) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their 12th consecutive match to sixth ranked Santa Tecla (5-10) 116-62 on Monday evening. The best player for the winners was Elian Torres who had a double-double by scoring 28 points and 13 rebounds. Santa Tecla's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was Miguel Velez who recorded 27 points and 9 rebounds. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 5-10 record. Chalchuapa lost their twelfth game in a row. They still close the standings with 12 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 Fantasmas (#3) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 15 Santa Tecla lost to Brujos on the opponent's court 69-78.



Chalchuapa - Santa Tecla 62-116

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-12) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their 12th consecutive match to sixth ranked Santa Tecla (5-10) 116-62 on Monday evening. Santa Tecla dominated down low during the game scoring 86 of its points in the paint compared to Chalchuapa's 40. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 66-37 including a 24-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Santa Tecla looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Chalchuapa's players. The best player for the winners was Dominican swingman Elian Torres (201-2000) who had a double-double by scoring 28 points and 13 rebounds. Guatemalan Jose Barahona (189-1999) chipped in 2 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. Santa Tecla's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) who recorded 27 points and 9 rebounds and American forward Markos Samuels (196, college: Arkansas Bapt.) added 15 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 5-10 record. Chalchuapa lost their twelfth game in a row. They still close the standings with 12 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 Fantasmas (#3) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: E.Torres 28+13reb+3ast, L.Portal 16+4reb, G.Carlos 15+3reb+2ast, A.Gerardo 10+10reb+2ast, H.Demian 10+1reb, W.Gonzalez 9+1ast
Chalchuapa: M.Velez 27+9reb+1ast, M.Samuels 15+11reb+3ast, A.Jonathan 8+1reb, J.Galdamez 6+1reb+4ast, A.Christopher 2+4reb+2ast, H.Eleazar 2+5reb+1ast

San Salvador - Metapan 79-91

Very significant was Metapan's (#5) 91-79 road victory against 4th placed San Salvador. Metapan players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 8 blocks. It was an exceptional evening for Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 16 rebounds. Puerto Rican Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) accounted for 20 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Ernesto Rodriguez (170-2001) came up with 29 points and 6 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) and Cuban guard Pedro Roque (187-1995) added 13 points and 8 rebounds respectively for San Salvador in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. San Salvador's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Metapan. They moved-up to fourth place. San Salvador at the other side dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. Metapan will play against Santiagueno (#7) in Usultan in the next round. San Salvador will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Metapan: Y.Cubillas 32+16reb+1ast, L.Saravia 24+2reb+5ast, X.Zambrana 20+9reb+6ast, L.Hernandez 11+5reb+8ast, P.Kevin 2+4reb, R.Miranda 2+2reb+4ast
San Salvador: E.Rodriguez 29+3reb+6ast, P.Roque 13+8reb+2ast, B.Garcia 13+6reb+4ast, G.Levi 12+2reb+7ast, L.Valle 8+1ast, N.Coutin 4+9reb+2ast

Brujos - Santa Tecla 78-69

Very expected game in Izalco where 6th ranked Santa Tecla (5-10) was defeated by second ranked Brujos (10-3) 78-69 on Wednesday. Brujos forced 25 Santa Tecla turnovers. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Brujos made 10 blocks. The best player for the winners was Dominican forward Adonis Lopez (-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 32 points and 19 rebounds. Dominican forward Alejandro De Los Santos (193-2002) chipped in 30 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican swingman Elian Torres (201-2000) who recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks and Guatemalan Jose Barahona (189-1999) added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists respectively. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Brujos. They maintain second place with 10-3 record behind leader Cojute. Defending champion Santa Tecla keeps the sixth position with ten games lost. Brujos will meet Santa Ana (#8) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Santa Tecla will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Brujos: L.Adonis 32+19reb+2ast, D.Los Santos Alejandro 30+7reb+1ast, A.Arias 6+6reb+2ast, O.Felipe 5+1reb, C.Arias 4+9reb+4ast, A.Joe 1+3reb+3ast
Santa Tecla: E.Torres 22+17reb+1ast, J.Barahona 14+5reb+7ast, F.Fernando 12+3reb+5ast, E.Jose 8+13reb+1ast, L.Portal 8+2reb+3ast, W.Gonzalez 3+2reb

Fantasmas - Cojute 81-80

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Cojute (11-3) in San Vicente on Thursday night. Visitors were edged by fourth ranked Fantasmas (9-3) 81-80. Fantasmas forced 22 Cojute turnovers. Americans were the main players on the court. It was a great evening for guard Caleb Bowser (193, college: Georgian Court) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) helped adding 27 points and 9 rebounds. Fantasmas' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) with 39 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds and Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) scored 9 points and 14 rebounds. Fantasmas have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to third place. Cojute at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. Fantasmas are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (#9) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Cojute will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fantasmas: C.Bowser 30+7reb+4ast, A.Smith 27+9reb+2ast, A.Smith 17+5reb+2ast, J.Flores 5+2reb+1ast, M.Francisco 2+1reb+1ast, S.Ricardo 0
Cojute: A.Jeremy 39+9reb+1ast, S.Kevin 12+3reb+2ast, N.Avalos 11+5reb+2ast, N.Moore 9+14reb+1ast, K.Martinez 4+7reb, G.Jefferson 3+3reb