Liga MB Round 9 (Regular Season): Santa Tecla beats Independiente by three after a very close game

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in Liga MB. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 9 in the Liga MB took place in Santa Tecla. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 8th ranked Independiente (2-5) to fourth ranked Santa Tecla (5-3) 103-100 on Friday evening. Santa Tecla forced 19 Independiente turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Santa Tecla made 7 blocks. It was a good game for who led his team to a victory with 27 points and 7 assists. contributed with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. Santa Tecla's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Darnell Johnson answered with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!), 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for Independiente. Santa Tecla maintains fourth place with 5-3 record. Independiente at the other side dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with Ahuachapan. Santa Tecla will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Independiente will play on the road against Ahuachapan (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from San Salvador: San Salvador (#3) and Salvadorenos (#7). San Salvador (6-1) won against visiting Salvadorenos (3-5) 62-48. stepped up with a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds for the winners and Avery Martinez chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. San Salvador's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was Diego Minero with 15 points and 7 rebounds. San Salvador have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Salvadorenos at the other side keep the seventh position with five games lost. San Salvador will play against A.Lobos (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Salvadorenos will have a break next round.
Liga MB top team - Metapan (7-0) had no problems winning another game on Thursday. This time they crushed tenth ranked Ahuachapan (2-5) 108-61. Marvin Cairo nailed 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. Kordell Brown came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 16 rebounds for Ahuachapan in the defeat. Ahuachapan's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Metapan. They maintain first place with 7-0 record. Loser Ahuachapan dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with Independiente. Metapan will meet at home Santiagueno (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Ahuachapan will play against Independiente and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 9 Santa Tecla beat Brujos on the road 75-64.



Brujos - Santa Tecla 64-75

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Santa Tecla (5-3) beat bottom-ranked Brujos (0-8) in Izalco 75-64 on Thursday. Santa Tecla forced 19 Brujos turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) nailed 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks for the winning side and accounted for 17 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Santa Tecla's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American swingman Anthony Gathings (196, college: LCU, agency: Fully Feared Sports) came up with 19 points and 5 rebounds and the other American import center Brandon Thompson (206-1998, college: Tohono CC, agency: VSG) added 11 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Brujos in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Santa Tecla maintains fourth place with 5-3 record. Brujos lost their eighth game in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Brujos: A.Gathings 19+5reb+2ast, G.Gustavo 14+4reb+3ast, B.Thompson 11+11reb, C.Eduardo 10+5reb+5ast, V.Hugo 5+5reb+1ast, A.Jorge 3+4reb+1ast
Santa Tecla: N.Moore 22+9reb+4ast, C.Sammy 17+5reb+6ast, G.Cesar 12+3reb+4ast, C.Edwin 10+10reb+4ast, P.Kevin 6+2reb, I.Ariel 6+1reb+1ast

Ahuachapan - Metapan 61-108

Liga MB top team - Metapan (7-0) had no problems winning another game on Thursday. This time they crushed tenth ranked Ahuachapan (2-5) 108-61. Metapan forced 20 Ahuachapan turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 3 passes made by Ahuachapan's players. Cuban center Marvin Cairo (203-1991) nailed 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and accounted for 21 points and 5 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). Five Metapan players scored in double figures. American forward Kordell Brown (203, college: Columbus St., agency: Fully Feared Sports) came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 16 rebounds and EJ Blackwell added 24 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Ahuachapan in the defeat. Ahuachapan's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Metapan. They maintain first place with 7-0 record. Loser Ahuachapan dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with Independiente. Metapan will meet at home Santiagueno (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Ahuachapan will play against Independiente and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ahuachapan: K.Brown 25+16reb+1ast, B.EJ 24+8reb+1ast, C.Paul 3+1reb, A.Francisco 3+1reb, S.Robert 2+2reb, G.Daniel 2
Metapan: M.Cairo 23+6reb+5ast, C.Edgar 21+5reb+3ast, H.Luis 14+2reb+2ast, N.Harris 14+8reb+4ast, G.Brayan 12+9reb+4ast, B.Alejandro 10+3reb+6ast

San Salvador - Salvadorenos 62-48

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from San Salvador: San Salvador (#3) and Salvadorenos (#7). San Salvador (6-1) won against visiting Salvadorenos (3-5) 62-48. San Salvador outrebounded Salvadorenos 42-29 including a 16-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. stepped up with a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds for the winners and chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. San Salvador's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was Diego Minero with 15 points and 7 rebounds and Michael Hinestroza scored 6 points and 9 rebounds. San Salvador have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Salvadorenos at the other side keep the seventh position with five games lost. San Salvador will play against A.Lobos (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Salvadorenos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Salvadorenos: M.Diego 15+7reb, T.Ibrahima 9+3reb+2ast, R.Erick 7+2reb+8ast, H.Michael 6+9reb+2ast, H.Diego 4+2reb, G.Mauricio 3+2reb+4ast
San Salvador: C.Yoel 40+16reb+1ast, M.Avery 11+6reb, T.Giancarlo 8+5reb+3ast, C.Julio 2+2reb+1ast, M.Mosley 1+5reb+6ast, G.Jaime 0+1reb

Santa Tecla - Independiente 103-100

The most exciting game of round 9 in the Liga MB took place in Santa Tecla. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 8th ranked Independiente (2-5) to fourth ranked Santa Tecla (5-3) 103-100 on Friday evening. Santa Tecla forced 19 Independiente turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Santa Tecla made 7 blocks. It was a good game for who led his team to a victory with 27 points and 7 assists. contributed with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. Five Santa Tecla players scored in double figures. Santa Tecla's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Darnell Johnson answered with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!), 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals and American forward Noryen Lasley (201, college: Ave Maria, agency: Fully Feared Sports) added 22 points, 20 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Independiente. Santa Tecla maintains fourth place with 5-3 record. Independiente at the other side dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with Ahuachapan. Santa Tecla will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Independiente will play on the road against Ahuachapan (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Independiente: J.Darnell 36+15reb+5ast, N.Lasley 22+20reb+4ast, M.Ronald 13+5reb+3ast, R.Marcello 12+1reb, S.Lincoln 9+7reb+4ast, M.Ronald 8+7reb+1ast
Santa Tecla: C.Sammy 27+4reb+7ast, R.Gerardo 19+7reb+9ast, P.Kevin 15+3reb+1ast, C.Edwin 14+12reb+5ast, N.Moore 14+20reb+1ast, I.Ariel 7+6reb+2ast