Liga MB Round 3 (Regular Season): Santa Tecla lose their first game against Salvadorenos

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Santa Tecla (2-1) in San Salvador on Wednesday night. Visitors were defeated by Salvadorenos (3-0) 49-44. Salvadorenos held Santa Tecla to an opponent 23.2 percent shooting from the field compared to 27.3 percent accuracy of the winners. Salvadorenos forced 24 Santa Tecla turnovers. It was a great evening for Cuban forward Ariel Ferran (190-1999) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Naturalized Mali power forward Ibrahima Traore (208-2005, college: Utah) helped adding 9 points and 7 rebounds. Salvadorenos' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Eliezer Sanchez with 16 points, 23 rebounds and 4 blocks. Salvadorenos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play at home against Brujos (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in Izalco. Brujos (2-1) saved a 3-point victory at home edging Cojute (1-2) 73-70 on Monday evening. It was an exceptional evening for guard Fernando Hernandez (181-2003) who led the winners and scored 23 points and 8 rebounds. Brent Kelly accounted for 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Puerto Rican guard Hector Maldonado (185-1991) came up with 34 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 9 assists for Cojute in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Brujos will play against Santa Tecla (#5) on the road in the next round. Cojute will have a break next round.
Metapan (3-0) managed to deliver another win on Wednesday. This time they beat Santa Ana (0-3) 105-91. The best player for the winners was Yoel Cubillas who scored 29 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Daylon Potts who recorded 13 points, 27 rebounds and 12 assists. Santa Ana's coach Melvin Marroquin rotated eleven players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Metapan will meet at home San Salvador (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Santa Ana will play against A.Lobos (#8) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 3 bottom-ranked Santiagueno won against Ahuachapan on the opponent's court 86-74.



Brujos - Cojute 73-70

Important game to mention about took place in Izalco. Brujos (2-1) saved a 3-point victory at home edging Cojute (1-2) 73-70 on Monday evening. Brujos forced 21 Cojute turnovers. It was an exceptional evening for guard Fernando Hernandez (181-2003) who led the winners and scored 23 points and 8 rebounds. American guard Brent Kelly (185-2000, college: Nichols) accounted for 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Kelly is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Puerto Rican guard Hector Maldonado (185-1991) came up with 34 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 9 assists and American center Troidell Carter (206-1991, college: Slippery Rock) added 9 points and 14 rebounds respectively for Cojute in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Brujos will play against Santa Tecla (#5) on the road in the next round. Cojute will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Cojute: M.Hector 34+5reb+9ast, F.Juan 11+4reb, C.Troidell 9+14reb, M.Ronald 7+2reb, A.Victor 3+3reb, G.Kevin 3+7reb+1ast
Brujos: F.Hernandez 23+8reb+3ast, K.Brent 21+6reb+6ast, S.Cota 11+20reb+1ast, H.Ventura 7+2reb+4ast, F.Toledo 3+1reb, R.Shente 3

Ahuachapan - Santiagueno 74-86

But Ahuachapan was not able to use a home court advantage and was defeated by the opponent from Usultan 86-74 on Monday night. Santiagueno made 23-of-29 free shots (79.3 percent) during the game. Strangely Ahuachapan outrebounded Santiagueno 44-31 including a 21-1 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American guard EJ Blackwell (193, college: Lourdes) who had a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). His fellow American import point guard Darius Daniels (183-1997) chipped in 19 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Laos guard Kadeim Jones (191-1999, college: UWG) who recorded a double-double by scoring 30 points and 11 rebounds and point guard Francisco Angulo (179-1989) added 24 points and 4 assists respectively. Ahuachapan's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Santiagueno will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Ahuachapan will play against San Salvador (#3) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Ahuachapan: J.Kadeim 30+11reb+3ast, A.Francisco 24+4reb+4ast, D.Chikwem-Stanley 14+8reb, B.Kevin 5+2reb, S.Markos 1+7reb+1ast, C.Guillermo 0+4reb
Santiagueno: E.Blackwell 33+10reb+2ast, D.Darius 19+2reb+4ast, S.Esperanza 16+3reb+2ast, B.Castellon 9+8reb+2ast, K.Lovos 4+1reb+1ast, E.Lara 3+5reb+1ast

Salvadorenos - Santa Tecla 49-44

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Santa Tecla (2-1) in San Salvador on Wednesday night. Visitors were defeated by Salvadorenos (3-0) 49-44. Salvadorenos held Santa Tecla to an opponent 23.2 percent shooting from the field compared to 27.3 percent accuracy of the winners. Salvadorenos forced 24 Santa Tecla turnovers. It was a great evening for Cuban forward Ariel Ferran (190-1999) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Naturalized Mali power forward Ibrahima Traore (208-2005, college: Utah) helped adding 9 points and 7 rebounds. Salvadorenos' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Eliezer Sanchez with 16 points, 23 rebounds and 4 blocks and Dominican Xavier dela Rosa (196-1991) scored 8 points and 6 rebounds. Salvadorenos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play at home against Brujos (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: S.Eliezer 16+23reb, X.dela Rosa 8+6reb+3ast, C.Edwin 7+5reb, A.Daniel 4+1reb+1ast, C.Sammy 4+5reb+2ast, I.Ariel 3+7reb
Salvadorenos: A.Ferran 16+7reb+4ast, I.Traore 9+7reb, E.Rodriguez 6+5reb+3ast, D.Rivera 4+5reb+1ast, G.Medrano 4+6reb+1ast, D.Minero 4+2reb+2ast

Santa Ana - Metapan 91-105

Metapan (3-0) managed to deliver another win on Wednesday. This time they beat Santa Ana (0-3) 105-91. Metapan forced 24 Santa Ana turnovers. Strangely Santa Ana outrebounded Metapan 51-32 including a 40-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. Metapan looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) who scored 29 points and 7 rebounds. Guatemalan point guard Lee Vasquez (173) chipped in 26 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Daylon Potts (196, college: Simpson, CA) who recorded 13 points, 27 rebounds and 12 assists and Luis Portal (188-1986) added 13 points respectively. Five Metapan and four Santa Ana players scored in double figures. Santa Ana's coach Melvin Marroquin rotated eleven players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Metapan will meet at home San Salvador (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Santa Ana will play against A.Lobos (#8) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: R.Amilcar 16+1reb, P.Daylon 13+27reb+12ast, P.Luis 13+4reb+1ast, M.Melvin 12+2reb, H.Eleazar 10+4reb+3ast, A.Christopher 9+5reb+1ast
Metapan: Y.Cubillas 29+7reb+2ast, L.Vasquez 26+4reb+5ast, B.Garcia 17+7reb+8ast, A.Tobar 11+1reb, A.Barahona 10+6reb+8ast, J.Avila 7+3reb+1ast