Liga MB Round 4 (Regular Season): Santa Tecla win their first game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Santa Tecla can celebrate their first win this season after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Ahuachapan (0-4) 106-76 on Monday. Santa Tecla looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Ahuachapan's players. Forward Alejandro Barahona (189-1999) fired 30 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winners. Forward Edwin Cornejo (195-1999) chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds. American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 16 rebounds for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Santa Tecla (1-3) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was Ahuachapan's fourth loss in a row. They still close the standings with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Brujos can celebrate their first win this season after two consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Santa Tecla (1-3) 99-70. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Marcus Millien (188-2000, college: Carlow) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds. Oliver Ferrerira contributed with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Honduran Francisco Forbs (198-1999) replied with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 12 rebounds for Santa Tecla. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Brujos maintains seventh position with 1-2 record. Santa Tecla at the other side dropped to the eighth place with three games lost. Brujos will play against league's leader A.Lobos in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Santa Tecla will have a break next round.
Bottom-ranked Ahuachapan (0-4) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 100-66 loss to third ranked Salvadorenos (2-1) in Ahuachapan on Sunday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of Lazaro Gonzalez who helped to win the game recording 25 points. At the losing side Darius Daniels responded with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Salvadorenos maintains third position with 2-1 record behind leader A.Lobos, which they share with Cojute and Independiente. Loser Ahuachapan still closes the standings with four games lost. Salvadorenos will meet at home Metapan (#6) in the next round. Ahuachapan will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 4 Independiente defeated Santa Ana in a road game 88-83.



Santa Tecla - Ahuachapan 106-76

Santa Tecla can celebrate their first win this season after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Ahuachapan (0-4) 106-76 on Monday. Santa Tecla looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Ahuachapan's players. Forward Alejandro Barahona (189-1999) fired 30 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winners. Forward Edwin Cornejo (195-1999) chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds. Four Santa Tecla players scored in double figures. American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 16 rebounds and American point guard Darius Daniels (178-1997) added 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Santa Tecla (1-3) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was Ahuachapan's fourth loss in a row. They still close the standings with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Ahuachapan: D.Daniels 26+5reb+5ast, F.Asprilla 21+16reb, D.Harris 7+9reb, F.Castaneda 7+1reb, A.Martinez 6+3reb+1ast, C.Castro 5+1ast
Santa Tecla: A.Barahona 30+5reb+7ast, E.Cornejo 17+7reb+2ast, L.Portal 16+3reb+1ast, E.Barrientos 13+1reb, G.Arias 10+9reb+4ast, A.Lopez 6+3reb+4ast

Ahuachapan - Salvadorenos 66-100

Bottom-ranked Ahuachapan (0-4) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 100-66 loss to third ranked Salvadorenos (2-1) in Ahuachapan on Sunday evening. They dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Ahuachapan's 48. Salvadorenos forced 24 Ahuachapan turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of Spanish guard Lazaro Gonzalez (190-1993) who helped to win the game recording 25 points and naturalized Mali power forward Ibrahima Traore (206-2005) who added 13 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Darius Daniels (178-1997) responded with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Salvadorenos maintains third position with 2-1 record behind leader A.Lobos, which they share with Cojute and Independiente. Loser Ahuachapan still closes the standings with four games lost. Salvadorenos will meet at home Metapan (#6) in the next round. Ahuachapan will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Ahuachapan: D.Daniels 29+8reb+5ast, F.Asprilla 21+14reb+1ast, D.Harris 10+5reb+1ast, J.Lima 2+3reb+1ast, C.Castro 2+2reb, F.Castaneda 2+2reb+2ast
Salvadorenos: L.Gonzalez 25+1reb+3ast, I.Traore 13+11reb, D.Minero 10+2reb+1ast, M.Parra 9+13reb, E.Larreynaga 9+2reb+2ast, M.Estrada 9+3reb

Santa Ana - Independiente 83-88

There was no surprise when bottom-ranked Santa Ana (0-2) was defeated at home by third ranked Independiente (2-1) 88-83 on Sunday. Independiente dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Ana's 34 and made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Santa Ana 52-36 including a 40-27 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of American Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 22 points and 21 rebounds and the other American import swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) who added 23 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American Timothy Simmons (195-1992, college: DBU) responded with a triple-double by scoring 26 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals and guard Joe Araujo (187-1986) scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Santa Ana players scored in double figures. Santa Ana's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Independiente maintains third position with 2-1 record behind leader A.Lobos, which they share with Cojute and Salvadorenos. Loser Santa Ana still closes the standings with two games lost. Independiente will meet Cojute (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Santa Ana will play against the league's second-placed San Salvador (#2) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: T.Simmons 26+12reb+10ast, J.Araujo 18+6reb+4ast, I.Ramos 13+4reb+3ast, S.Dorissaint 12+6reb+2ast, S.Gross 12+4reb+2ast, B.Rodriguez 2+1reb+2ast
Independiente: B.Zaldana 24+8reb+3ast, A.Smith 23+11reb+2ast, N.Moore 22+21reb+3ast, N.Juarez 9+1reb+2ast, C.Sorto 8+6reb, R.Melendez 2+4reb+2ast

Brujos - Santa Tecla 99-70

Brujos can celebrate their first win this season after two consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Santa Tecla (1-3) 99-70. Brujos forced 20 Santa Tecla turnovers and outrebounded them 58-46 including 19 on the offensive glass. Brujos players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Marcus Millien (188-2000, college: Carlow) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds. Oliver Ferrerira contributed with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Honduran Francisco Forbs (198-1999) replied with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 12 rebounds and forward Alejandro Barahona (189-1999) added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Santa Tecla. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Brujos maintains seventh position with 1-2 record. Santa Tecla at the other side dropped to the eighth place with three games lost. Brujos will play against league's leader A.Lobos in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Santa Tecla will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: F.Forbs 29+12reb+2ast, A.Barahona 14+7reb+5ast, R.Valladares 9+4reb, L.Portal 6+5reb+1ast, E.Cornejo 4+4reb, G.Arias 4+6reb+2ast
Brujos: M.Millien 27+14reb+2ast, O.Ferrerira 25+11reb+4ast, L.Mendez 7+2reb+1ast, I.Maldonado 7+6reb, J.Crespin 7+1reb+1ast, G.Galdamez 6+3reb+1ast