Liga MB Round 16 (Regular Season): Santa Ana is upset by Brujos

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in Liga MB. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Izalco between second ranked Santa Ana (12-3) and seventh ranked Brujos (5-10) on Friday night. Santa Ana was defeated by Brujos in a tough game on the road 86-93. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of Santa Ana. Brujos dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Ana's 22. They outrebounded Santa Ana 52-31 including a 22-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Brujos made 10 blocks. Dominican Eusebio Suero fired a double-double by scoring 30 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. Center Teodoro Romero (202-1985) chipped in 17 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Abdulbasit Ajia (200-1999) produced a double-double by scoring 25 points, 13 rebounds and 7 blocks for lost side. Santa Ana's coach Melvin Marroquin rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Brujos maintains seventh position with 5-10 record. Santa Ana at the other side keeps the second place with three games lost. They share the position with Metapan. Brujos are looking forward to face league's leader San Salvador on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Santa Ana will play against Santiagueno and is hoping to win this game.
Leader San Salvador delivered the thirteenth victory. This time they beat 8th ranked A.Lobos (5-11) 65-53. Worth to mention a great performance of Josue Avila (190-1998) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points and 15 rebounds. Marc Montavious contributed with 12 points and 21 rebounds for the winners. Venezuelan-Colombian center Michael Hinestroza (210-1990, college: UALR) replied with a double-double by scoring 10 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks for A.Lobos. San Salvador maintains first position with 13-2 record. A.Lobos at the other side keep the eighth place with 11 games lost. San Salvador will play against Brujos (#7) in Izalco in the next round where they are favorite. A.Lobos will play at home against Santa Tecla and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Usultan. Local Santiagueno (2-13) was outscored by sixth ranked Santa Tecla (8-8) 91-65 on Saturday night. Worth to mention a quality performance of Andravious Smith who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 6 assists. At the losing side Freddy Asprilla responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 21 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending champion maintains sixth position with 8-8 record. Loser Santiagueno stay at the bottom place with 13 games lost. Santa Tecla will meet A.Lobos (#8) in the next round. Santiagueno will play against Cojute in Cojutepeque and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 16 Fantasmas were defeated by Santa Tecla in a road game 94-85. A.Lobos beat Fantasmas at home 64-59.



Santa Tecla - Fantasmas 94-85

There was no surprise when 9th ranked Fantasmas (3-13) were defeated on the road by sixth ranked Santa Tecla (8-8) 94-85 on Thursday. Santa Tecla dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Fantasmas' 42. Santa Tecla looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 41 points (!!!), 15 rebounds and 9 assists and Nicaraguan guard Deikel Sanchez (-1996) who added 21 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Four Santa Tecla players scored in double figures. At the losing side American swingman Anthony Gathings (196, college: LCU) responded with a double-double by scoring 30 points and 11 rebounds and his fellow American import point guard Darius Daniels (178-1997) scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Defending champion maintains sixth position with 8-8 record. Fantasmas lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 13 games lost. Santa Tecla will meet A.Lobos (#8) in the next round. Fantasmas will play against Salvadorenos in San Salvador and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Fantasmas: A.Gathings 30+11reb+1ast, D.Darius 20+8reb+6ast, C.Sorto 17+4reb+4ast, K.Mejia 8+11reb+3ast, L.Hernandez 5+2reb+3ast, E.Abullarade 3+1ast
Santa Tecla: A.Smith 41+15reb+9ast, S.Deikel 21+10reb, L.Portal 10+3reb+1ast, I.Ariel 10+2reb+3ast, A.Gerardo 5+4reb, E.Contreras 4+1reb+1ast

San Salvador - A.Lobos 65-53

Leader San Salvador delivered the thirteenth victory. This time they beat 8th ranked A.Lobos (5-11) 65-53. San Salvador outrebounded A.Lobos 56-30 including a 19-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. San Salvador players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Josue Avila (190-1998) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points and 15 rebounds. American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) contributed with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 21 rebounds for the winners. Four San Salvador players scored in double figures. Venezuelan-Colombian center Michael Hinestroza (210-1990, college: UALR) replied with a double-double by scoring 10 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks and American point guard Robert Story (183, college: WSSU) added 14 points in the effort for A.Lobos. San Salvador maintains first position with 13-2 record. A.Lobos at the other side keep the eighth place with 11 games lost. San Salvador will play against Brujos (#7) in Izalco in the next round where they are favorite. A.Lobos will play at home against Santa Tecla and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
A.Lobos: R.Story 14+2reb+3ast, M.Hinestroza 10+14reb+3ast, S.Scott 9+4reb, J.Galdamez 6+1reb, R.Erick 6+3reb, I.Sandoval 5+1reb+4ast
San Salvador: J.Avila 19+15reb+2ast, B.Alejandro 19+2reb+2ast, L.Valle 12+6reb+2ast, M.Montavious 12+21reb+3ast, N.Diego 3+2reb+3ast, A.Jeremy 0

Brujos - Santa Ana 93-86

The most important game in the last round took place in Izalco between second ranked Santa Ana (12-3) and seventh ranked Brujos (5-10) on Friday night. Santa Ana was defeated by Brujos in a tough game on the road 86-93. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of Santa Ana. Brujos dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Ana's 22. They outrebounded Santa Ana 52-31 including a 22-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Brujos made 10 blocks. Dominican Eusebio Suero fired a double-double by scoring 30 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. Center Teodoro Romero (202-1985) chipped in a double-double by scoring 17 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Abdulbasit Ajia (200-1999) produced a double-double by scoring 25 points, 13 rebounds and 7 blocks and Puerto Rican point guard Lee Vazquez (173-1991, college: Westfield St.) added 22 points and 6 assists respectively for lost side. Santa Ana's coach Melvin Marroquin rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Brujos maintains seventh position with 5-10 record. Santa Ana at the other side keeps the second place with three games lost. They share the position with Metapan. Brujos are looking forward to face league's leader San Salvador on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Santa Ana will play against Santiagueno and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: A.Abdulbasit 25+13reb+2ast, L.Vazquez 22+4reb+6ast, T.Simmons 21+6reb+5ast, L.Fernando 8+1reb+2ast, G.Salvador 6+2reb, T.Gabriel 4+2reb
Brujos: S.Eusebio 30+14reb+3ast, T.Romero 17+14reb, J.Crespin 14+5reb+5ast, G.Galdamez 9+5reb+1ast, O.Felipe 8+1reb, P.Andres 7+4reb

A.Lobos - Fantasmas 64-59

The game between closely ranked teams ended with eighth ranked A.Lobos' (5-11) home victory over 9th ranked Fantasmas (3-13) 64-59 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Sean Scott (190-1997, college: Pfeiffer) who helped to win the game recording 28 points and 5 rebounds and Venezuelan-Colombian center Michael Hinestroza (210-1990, college: UALR) who added 8 points and 19 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Darius Daniels (178-1997) responded with 29 points and 8 rebounds and guard Carlos Sorto (185-1997) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds. A.Lobos maintains eighth position with 5-11 record. Fantasmas lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 13 games lost. A.Lobos will meet at home higher ranked Santa Tecla (#6) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Fantasmas will play against Salvadorenos in San Salvador and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Fantasmas: D.Darius 29+8reb+3ast, C.Sorto 15+11reb+1ast, A.Gathings 10+10reb+5ast, K.Mejia 3+6reb, A.Victor 2+6reb, S.Ricardo 0
A.Lobos: S.Scott 28+5reb+3ast, R.Story 16+5reb+6ast, J.Huezo 8+3reb, M.Hinestroza 8+19reb+1ast, I.Sandoval 4+7reb, M.Gonzalez 0+2reb+2ast

Santiagueno - Santa Tecla 65-91

The game with biggest result difference took place in Usultan. Local Santiagueno (2-13) was outscored by sixth ranked Santa Tecla (8-8) 91-65 on Saturday night. Santa Tecla dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Santiagueno's 42. Santa Tecla forced 22 Santiagueno turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 6 assists and Nicaraguan guard Deikel Sanchez (-1996) who added 17 points and 13 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 21 rebounds and American Xavier Eaglin (201-1997, college: PVAMU) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending champion maintains sixth position with 8-8 record. Loser Santiagueno stay at the bottom place with 13 games lost. Santa Tecla will meet A.Lobos (#8) in the next round. Santiagueno will play against Cojute in Cojutepeque and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Santiagueno: X.Eaglin 14+14reb+3ast, S.Esperanza 12+3reb, F.Asprilla 10+21reb+3ast, A.Oquendo 8+1reb+5ast, A.Melvin 7+1reb+1ast, B.Castellon 6+5reb+4ast
Santa Tecla: A.Smith 42+11reb+6ast, S.Deikel 17+13reb+3ast, E.Contreras 10+4reb+2ast, L.Portal 7+2reb+1ast, A.Gerardo 4+4reb+3ast, L.Anthony 4+2reb