Liga MB Round 14 (Regular Season): Derby game ends with San Salvador's defeat of Salvadorenos

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from San Salvador: San Salvador (#2) and Salvadorenos (#4). Salvadorenos were smashed at home by 22 points 55-77 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. San Salvador looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) orchestrated the victory by scoring 34 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 7 assists. The other American import center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) contributed with 10 points and 18 rebounds for the winners. Power forward Brayan Garcia (194-1998) replied with 17 points and 7 rebounds for Salvadorenos. Salvadorenos' coach Sergio Rouco gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. San Salvador (12-2) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Santa Ana. Salvadorenos at the other side keep the fourth place with six games lost. San Salvador will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Salvadorenos will play on the road against Metapan (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Santiagueno managed to get a second victory, breaking the seven-game losing streak. This time they edged eighth-ranked Brujos in Usultan 90-89. American Xavier Eaglin (201-1997, college: PVAMU) had a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Angel Oquendo chipped in 25 points and 8 assists during the contest. Dominican Eusebio Suero responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 19 rebounds. Brujos' coach Anibal Mendez rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Santiagueno maintains tenth position with 2-12 record. Brujos at the other side keep the eighth place with ten games lost. Santiagueno will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Brujos will play on the road against Santa Tecla (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Ninth-ranked Fantasmas (3-11) used its home court advantage to challenge third ranked Metapan (11-3) in San Vicente on Sunday. The visitors from Metapan managed to secure only three-point victory 66-63. However their fans expected much easier game. Yoel Cubillas notched a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 23 rebounds to lead the effort. Even a double-double of 17 points and 19 rebounds by Anthony Gathings did not help to save the game for Fantasmas. Metapan maintains third position with 11-3 record behind leader San Salvador. Loser Fantasmas keep the ninth place with 11 games lost. Metapan will meet at home Salvadorenos (#4) in the next round. Fantasmas will have a break next round.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 14: Fantasmas were smashed by Brujos on the road 91-52. A.Lobos destroyed Santiagueno on its own court 113-70. Cojute unfortunately lost to Santa Ana in a road game 84-89.



Brujos - Fantasmas 91-52

The game between closely ranked teams ended with eighth ranked Brujos' (3-10) home victory over 9th ranked Fantasmas (3-11) in Izalco 91-52 on Saturday. Brujos dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Fantasmas' 28. Brujos had a 20-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Brujos made 17 blocks. Center Teodoro Romero (202-1985) notched a double-double by scoring 20 points, 21 rebounds and 8 blocks to lead the effort and Dominican Eusebio Suero supported him with 24 points and 6 rebounds. Four Brujos players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds by American swingman Anthony Gathings (196, college: LCU) did not help to save the game for Fantasmas. His fellow American import point guard Darius Daniels (178-1997) added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the guests. Brujos maintains eighth position with 3-10 record. Loser Fantasmas keep the ninth place with 11 games lost. Brujos will meet higher ranked Santa Tecla (#6) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Fantasmas will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Brujos: S.Eusebio 24+6reb+2ast, T.Romero 20+21reb+3ast, F.Angulo 11+2ast, M.Luis 10+4reb, J.Gerardo 7+1reb, O.Felipe 6+2reb+5ast
Fantasmas: D.Darius 16+5reb+5ast, A.Gathings 11+14reb+2ast, A.Victor 6+3reb+1ast, M.Walter 6+4reb+1ast, C.Francisco 5+1reb, E.Abullarade 4+4reb

A.Lobos - Santiagueno 113-70

Rather expected game when 10th ranked Santiagueno (2-12) was smashed on the road by eighth ranked A.Lobos (4-9) 113-70 on Saturday. A.Lobos dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to Santiagueno's 42. A.Lobos forced 19 Santiagueno turnovers and outrebounded them 45-29 including a 32-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. A.Lobos looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Venezuelan-Colombian center Michael Hinestroza (210-1990, college: UALR) notched a double-double by scoring 14 points, 20 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the effort and American forward Sean Scott (190-1997, college: Pfeiffer) supported him with 25 points (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field). Four A.Lobos players scored in double figures. A.Lobos' coach Marlon Viana felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even a double-double of 25 points and 17 rebounds by American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) did not help to save the game for Santiagueno. Guard Baltazar Castellon (185-1993) added 14 points and 4 assists for the guests. A.Lobos moved-up to seventh place. Santiagueno lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 12 games lost. A.Lobos will meet higher ranked Cojute (#5) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Santiagueno will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
A.Lobos: S.Scott 25+4reb+3ast, R.Story 15+1reb+6ast, M.Hinestroza 14+20reb+6ast, J.Huezo 12+1reb+3ast, M.Michael 11+6reb+3ast, I.Sandoval 10+1reb
Santiagueno: F.Asprilla 25+17reb+2ast, S.Esperanza 17+3reb+1ast, B.Castellon 14+4reb+4ast, X.Eaglin 5+1reb+2ast, A.Esperanza 4+1reb+1ast, A.Oquendo 4+1reb+4ast

Santiagueno - Brujos 90-89

Bottom-ranked Santiagueno managed to get a second victory, breaking the seven-game losing streak. This time they edged eighth-ranked Brujos in Usultan 90-89. Santiagueno forced 20 Brujos turnovers. Strangely Brujos outrebounded Santiagueno 64-50 including 17 on the offensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. American Xavier Eaglin (201-1997, college: PVAMU) had a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Puerto Rican guard Angel Oquendo (183, college: NHTI) chipped in 25 points and 8 assists during the contest. Eaglin is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Dominican Eusebio Suero responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 19 rebounds and center Teodoro Romero (202-1985) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 16 rebounds. Brujos' coach Anibal Mendez rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Santiagueno maintains tenth position with 2-12 record. Brujos at the other side keep the eighth place with ten games lost. Santiagueno will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Brujos will play on the road against Santa Tecla (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Santiagueno: X.Eaglin 36+16reb+2ast, A.Oquendo 25+2reb+8ast, S.Esperanza 20+2reb+2ast, F.Asprilla 5+18reb+7ast, A.Esperanza 2+3reb, B.Castellon 2+9reb+5ast
Brujos: S.Eusebio 28+19reb+2ast, T.Romero 21+16reb+2ast, G.Galdamez 9+9reb+1ast, T.Alfonso 8+2reb+1ast, O.Felipe 8+3reb+4ast, F.Angulo 7+4reb+2ast

Fantasmas - Metapan 63-66

Ninth-ranked Fantasmas (3-11) used its home court advantage to challenge third ranked Metapan (11-3) in San Vicente on Sunday. The visitors from Metapan managed to secure only three-point victory 66-63. However their fans expected much easier game. Metapan outrebounded Fantasmas 50-39 including 35 on the defensive glass. Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) notched a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 23 rebounds to lead the effort and American point guard Leangelo Saravia (183-2001, college: Oakland City) supported him with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Even a double-double of 17 points and 19 rebounds by American swingman Anthony Gathings (196, college: LCU) did not help to save the game for Fantasmas. His fellow American import point guard Darius Daniels (178-1997) added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Metapan maintains third position with 11-3 record behind leader San Salvador. Loser Fantasmas keep the ninth place with 11 games lost. Metapan will meet at home Salvadorenos (#4) in the next round. Fantasmas will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Metapan: Y.Cubillas 34+23reb+3ast, L.Saravia 10+6reb+3ast, L.Hernandez 7+4reb+2ast, M.Tejada 5+4reb, A.Joe 5+6reb+5ast, P.Kevin 4+2reb+1ast
Fantasmas: C.Sorto 19+3reb+1ast, A.Gathings 17+19reb+2ast, D.Darius 13+8reb+5ast, L.Hernandez 6+4reb, A.Victor 5+1reb, M.Walter 3

Santa Ana - Cojute 89-84

Rather predictable result when second ranked Santa Ana (12-2) won against at home 5th ranked Cojute (7-6) 89-84 on Sunday. Santa Ana looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American Timothy Simmons (195-1992, college: DBU) notched a double-double by scoring 32 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the effort and forward Abdulbasit Ajia (200-1999) supported him with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Santa Ana's coach Melvin Marroquin used entire bench in such tough game. Even a double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds by Dominican forward Frankyn Batista (198-1999, college: Pace) did not help to save the game for Cojute. Forward Pablo Figueroa (186-2000) added 23 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the guests. Santa Ana have an impressive 11-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with San Salvador. Loser Cojute keeps the fifth place with six games lost. Santa Ana will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cojute will play against A.Lobos (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: T.Simmons 32+9reb+10ast, L.Vazquez 26+2reb+4ast, A.Abdulbasit 22+12reb+7ast, L.Fernando 3+2reb, G.Salvador 2+3reb+5ast, M.Melvin 2+3reb+1ast
Cojute: F.Batista 27+14reb+3ast, P.Figueroa 23+4reb+2ast, T.Carter 18+8reb+1ast, A.Aldahir 5+7reb+2ast, S.Kevin 5+3reb+2ast, G.Jefferson 5+2reb+5ast

Salvadorenos - San Salvador 55-77

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from San Salvador: San Salvador (#2) and Salvadorenos (#4). Salvadorenos were smashed at home by 22 points 55-77 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. San Salvador looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) orchestrated the victory by scoring 34 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 7 assists. The other American import center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) contributed with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 18 rebounds for the winners. Four San Salvador players scored in double figures. Power forward Brayan Garcia (194-1998) replied with 17 points and 7 rebounds and point guard Marco Menjivar (168-2004) added 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Salvadorenos. Salvadorenos' coach Sergio Rouco gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. San Salvador (12-2) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Santa Ana. Salvadorenos at the other side keep the fourth place with six games lost. San Salvador will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Salvadorenos will play on the road against Metapan (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: A.Jeremy 34+7reb+7ast, J.Avila 11+6reb+1ast, B.Alejandro 10+2reb+3ast, M.Montavious 10+18reb+1ast, N.Diego 7+1ast, J.Flores 3+7reb+7ast
Salvadorenos: B.Garcia 17+7reb+3ast, M.Marco 11+6reb+5ast, R.Erick 5+5reb+1ast, T.Ibrahima 5+7reb, R.Emanuel 4+1ast, S.Andres 4+4reb