Liga MB Round 16 (Regular Season): Cojute defeat A.Lobos in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 16 in the Liga MB took place in Cojutepeque. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of one of their biggest challengers A.Lobos (9-3) to fourth ranked Cojute (8-5) 79-76 on Friday evening. Cojute forced 22 A.Lobos turnovers. Strangely A.Lobos outrebounded Cojute 46-33 including 35 on the defensive glass. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cojute made 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of Venezuelan guard Maximillion Bell (198-1999, college: Lane) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 29 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists and who added 17 points and 4 assists during the contest. Cojute's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side responded with a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds. Cojute have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 8-5 record. A.Lobos at the other side keep the third place with three games lost.
Liga MB top team - Metapan (12-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eleventh ranked Brujos (0-12) in Izalco 107-82. The winners were led by Cuban center Marvin Cairo (203-1991) who scored that evening 26 points and 7 rebounds and Alejandro Barahona supported him with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Even 26 points and 9 rebounds by American guard Jerry Surrency III (183-2002, college: PS Scranton) did not help to save the game for Brujos. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Metapan maintains first position with 12-1 record. Brujos at the other side still closes the standings with 12 games lost.
The game in Santa Tecla was also quite interesting. Seventh ranked Salvadorenos (7-7) played at the court of 8th ranked Santa Tecla (5-8). Salvadorenos managed to secure a 9-point victory 81-72 on Sunday. Diego Rivera fired 17 points for the winners. Nick Moore produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds (made all of his eight free throws) for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Salvadorenos moved-up to fifth place. Santa Tecla lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with eight games lost.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 16: Salvadorenos lost to Santa Ana on the opponent's court 56-74. Ahuachapan managed to outperform Santiagueno in a home game 95-90. Santa Ana recorded a loss to Independiente on the road 99-88.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists by Xavier Zambrana of Santa Ana.



Santa Ana - Salvadorenos 74-56

Rather expected game when 7th ranked Salvadorenos (7-7) were defeated on the road by fifth ranked Santa Ana (6-7) 74-56 on Friday. Santa Ana made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Santa Ana outrebounded Salvadorenos 55-37 including a 42-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Santa Ana looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. Puerto Rican forward Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points, 29 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. chipped in 33 points (!!!) and 8 assists (made all of his seven free throws). Four Santa Ana players scored in double figures. Cuban center Marvin Cairo (203-1991) produced 8 points and 14 rebounds and Erick Rodriguez added 10 points and 6 assists respectively for lost side. Salvadorenos' coach rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Santa Ana have a solid three-game winning streak. Despite that victory Santa Ana went down to seventh position due to points difference. Loser Salvadorenos dropped to the fifth place with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: V.Lee 33+2reb+8ast, X.Zambrana 17+29reb+6ast, R.Amilcar 10+6reb+1ast, T.Marco 10+9reb+5ast, G.Erick 3+2reb+6ast, A.Christopher 1+3reb+2ast
Salvadorenos: M.Alexander 12+1ast, R.Erick 10+3reb+6ast, R.Diego 10+3reb+5ast, G.Ian 8+14reb+3ast, M.Diego 5+4reb+1ast, T.Gabriel 4+3reb

Cojute - A.Lobos 79-76

The most exciting game of round 16 in the Liga MB took place in Cojutepeque. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of one of their biggest challengers A.Lobos (9-3) to fourth ranked Cojute (8-5) 79-76 on Friday evening. Cojute forced 22 A.Lobos turnovers. Strangely A.Lobos outrebounded Cojute 46-33 including 35 on the defensive glass. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cojute made 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of Venezuelan guard Maximillion Bell (198-1999, college: Lane) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 29 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists and who added 17 points and 4 assists during the contest. Four Cojute players scored in double figures. Cojute's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side responded with a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds and Marc Montavious produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 19 rebounds. Cojute have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 8-5 record. A.Lobos at the other side keep the third place with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Cojute: M.Bell 29+10reb+7ast, A.Aldahir 17+4reb+4ast, F.Juan 15+2reb+4ast, D.Eduardo 12+8reb+2ast, C.Walter 3+2reb, A.Victor 3+4reb
A.Lobos: S.Jerome 42+11reb+3ast, M.Marc 14+19reb, C.Francis 8+1reb+2ast, O.Angelo 6+5reb+2ast, C.Alexander 3+4reb+2ast, R.Erick 2+2reb

Brujos - Metapan 82-107

Liga MB top team - Metapan (12-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eleventh ranked Brujos (0-12) in Izalco 107-82. Metapan players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. The winners were led by Cuban center Marvin Cairo (203-1991) who scored that evening 26 points and 7 rebounds and supported him with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Five Metapan players scored in double figures. Even 26 points and 9 rebounds by American guard Jerry Surrency III (183-2002, college: PS Scranton) did not help to save the game for Brujos. Gustavo Galdamez added 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists 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. Metapan maintains first position with 12-1 record. Brujos at the other side still closes the standings with 12 games lost.
Top scorers:
Metapan: M.Cairo 26+7reb+2ast, B.Alejandro 17+6reb+6ast, N.Harris 15+1reb+3ast, M.Marcos 13+5reb+4ast, A.Josue 11+4reb+3ast, G.Brayan 10+12reb+1ast
Brujos: J.Surrency III 26+9reb+3ast, G.Gustavo 15+12reb+5ast, L.Svete 10+1reb, C.Eduardo 8+5reb, C.Walter 8+3reb+2ast, V.Hugo 6+4reb+2ast

Ahuachapan - Santiagueno 95-90

The game between closely ranked teams ended with ninth ranked Ahuachapan's (4-8) home victory over 10th ranked Santiagueno (2-10) 95-90 on Saturday. Ahuachapan forced 19 Santiagueno turnovers. fired 30 points and 9 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. American forward Kordell Brown (203, college: Columbus St.) chipped in a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. Five Ahuachapan players scored in double figures. Puerto Rican forward Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) produced a double-double by scoring 26 points and 19 rebounds and Colombian forward Leyder Moreno (195-2000) added 37 points (!!!) respectively for lost side. Ahuachapan maintains ninth position with 4-8 record. Santiagueno lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Ahuachapan: S.Robert 30+4reb+9ast, B.EJ 21+3reb+6ast, K.Brown 19+12reb+1ast, A.Francisco 10+3reb+3ast, C.Paul 10+3reb+1ast, A.Rene 3+1reb
Santiagueno: L.Moreno 37+4reb+3ast, H.John 26+19reb, E.Santiago 15+2reb+1ast, C.Baltazar 6+6reb+2ast, A.Alexis 4+3ast, L.Kevin 2+7reb+7ast

Santa Tecla - Salvadorenos 72-81

The game in Santa Tecla was also quite interesting. Seventh ranked Salvadorenos (7-7) played at the court of 8th ranked Santa Tecla (5-8). Salvadorenos managed to secure a 9-point victory 81-72 on Sunday. Salvadorenos dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Tecla's 30. Salvadorenos forced 23 Santa Tecla turnovers. fired 17 points for the winners. chipped in 8 points and 8 assists. American Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds (made all of his eight free throws) and his fellow American import forward Kordell Brown (203, college: Columbus St.) added 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Salvadorenos moved-up to fifth place. Santa Tecla lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Salvadorenos: R.Diego 17+2reb+1ast, S.Andres 15+3reb, C.Ernesto 13+3reb+1ast, T.Gabriel 9+2reb+2ast, M.Alexander 9+1reb, R.Erick 8+2reb+8ast
Santa Tecla: N.Moore 24+14reb+1ast, R.Gerardo 11+4reb+1ast, C.Edwin 10+6reb+3ast, I.Ariel 6+4reb, H.Demian 5+1reb, G.Rodrigo 4+1reb+1ast

Independiente - Santa Ana 99-88

There was a minor upset when 5th ranked Santa Ana (6-7) was defeated on the road by seventh ranked Independiente (6-6) 99-88 on Sunday. Independiente outrebounded Santa Ana 43-28 including 34 on the defensive glass. It was a great shooting night for Independiente especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 68.8 percentage. American guard Darnell Johnson (201, college: CSUSB, agency: Gulf Coast Hoops) fired a double-double by scoring 20 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. The other American import forward Noryen Lasley (201, college: Ave Maria) chipped in a double-double by scoring 19 points and 17 rebounds. Puerto Rican forward Xavier Zambrana (193-1991) produced a triple-double by scoring 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and added 30 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Five Independiente and four Santa Ana players scored in double figures. Independiente moved-up to sixth place. Loser Santa Ana dropped to the seventh position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Independiente: S.Lincoln 24+5reb+8ast, D.Johnson 20+16reb+6ast, R.Marcello 20+2reb+1ast, N.Lasley 19+17reb+2ast, M.Ronald 12+2reb+1ast, M.Ronald 4+1reb
Santa Ana: V.Lee 30+4reb+4ast, X.Zambrana 25+14reb+10ast, T.Marco 11+3reb+1ast, R.Amilcar 10+2reb+2ast, G.Erick 6+2reb+3ast, A.Christopher 4+3reb+2ast