Liga MB Round 21: San Salvador beat Santa Tecla in the most crucial game of the week

The Regular Season in Liga MB is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 5 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in San Salvador. First ranked San Salvador faced second-best Santa Tecla. Host San Salvador (15-1) defeated guests from Santa Tecla (13-3) 103-95. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Santa Tecla. San Salvador dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Tecla's 48. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when San Salvador made 14 blocks. The best player for the winners was Panamanian Alejandro Scantelbury (199-1993) who scored 34 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) chipped in 25 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican guard Jose Liriano (189-1998) who recorded a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. San Salvador have an impressive series of fifteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 15-1 record. Defending champion Santa Tecla keeps the second position with three games lost. They share it with Metapan. San Salvador are looking forward to face Cojute (#9) in Cojutepeque in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Santa Tecla will play at home against Chalchuapa (#11) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa managed to get a third victory. This time they won against seventh-ranked Santa Ana 86-79. It was a good game for American Gorg Alhag (190-1997, college: Mayville St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Ryann Abraham contributed with 30 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American guard EJ Blackwell (193, college: Lourdes) answered with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists for Santa Ana. Chalchuapa maintains eleventh place with 3-13 record. Santa Ana lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. They share it with Santiagueno. Chalchuapa will play against league's second-placed Santa Tecla on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Santa Ana will play against Aguila (#4) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
The game in San Vicente was also quite interesting. Fifth ranked Aguila (10-5) played at the court of 6th ranked Fantasmas (7-10). Aguila managed to secure a 5-point victory 85-80 on Thursday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Fantasmas. Kenny Wilson stepped up and scored 16 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals for the winners. The best for the losing side was Henry Sherrod with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Aguila. They moved-up to fourth place. Fantasmas at the other side keep the sixth position with ten games lost. Aguila will meet at home Santa Ana (#7) in the next round. Fantasmas will have a break next round.

San Salvador - Santa Tecla 103-95

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in San Salvador. First ranked San Salvador faced second-best Santa Tecla. Host San Salvador (15-1) defeated guests from Santa Tecla (13-3) 103-95. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Santa Tecla. San Salvador dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Tecla's 48. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when San Salvador made 14 blocks. The best player for the winners was Panamanian Alejandro Scantelbury (199-1993) who scored 34 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) chipped in a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican guard Jose Liriano (189-1998) who recorded a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds and Colombian Michaell Jackson (190-1987) added 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. San Salvador have an impressive series of fifteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 15-1 record. Defending champion Santa Tecla keeps the second position with three games lost. They share it with Metapan. San Salvador are looking forward to face Cojute (#9) in Cojutepeque in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Santa Tecla will play at home against Chalchuapa (#11) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: J.Liriano 23+10reb+3ast, M.Jackson 21+8reb+4ast, M.Lahud 14+1reb+3ast, E.Rodriguez 14+4reb+4ast, A.Arias 11+4reb+2ast, R.Gerardo 8+7reb+4ast
San Salvador: A.Scantelbury 34+6reb+4ast, M.Montavious 25+11reb+3ast, C.Joan Duran 22+11reb+6ast, M.Roberto 13+3reb+9ast, E.Escalante 5+6reb+5ast, L.Valle 4+3reb+2ast

Chalchuapa - Santa Ana 86-79

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa managed to get a third victory. This time they won against seventh-ranked Santa Ana 86-79. Strangely Santa Ana outrebounded Chalchuapa 60-40 including 21 on the offensive glass. It was a good game for American Gorg Alhag (190-1997, college: Mayville St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Puerto Rican point guard Ryann Abraham (182-1987, college: App State) contributed with 30 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Alhag is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard EJ Blackwell (193, college: Lourdes) answered with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import power forward Kenya Brown (201-1995, college: RU Newark) added 12 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Santa Ana. Chalchuapa maintains eleventh place with 3-13 record. Santa Ana lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. They share it with Santiagueno. Chalchuapa will play against league's second-placed Santa Tecla on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Santa Ana will play against Aguila (#4) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: E.Blackwell 27+19reb+6ast, D.Vasquez 23+9reb+2ast, K.Brown 12+18reb+4ast, E.Ortiz 8+5reb+2ast, E.Mendoza 5, I.Sandoval 4+7reb+1ast
Chalchuapa: R.Abraham 30+8reb+2ast, R.Erick 21+7reb+2ast, G.Alhag 21+14reb+5ast, D.Valle Fernando 5+2reb+3ast, L.Fernando 5+3reb+1ast, M.Gonzalez 4+5reb+4ast

Fantasmas - Aguila 80-85

The game in San Vicente was also quite interesting. Fifth ranked Aguila (10-5) played at the court of 6th ranked Fantasmas (7-10). Aguila managed to secure a 5-point victory 85-80 on Thursday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Fantasmas. Aguila forced 20 Fantasmas turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American forward Kenny Wilson (-1993) stepped up and scored 16 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals for the winners and naturalized Canadian Jose Araujo (187-1986, college: UNBC, agency: Interperformances) chipped in 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The best for the losing side was Henry Sherrod with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds and American forward Ron Lawton (196-1995, college: NMHU) scored 20 points and 7 rebounds. Five Aguila and four Fantasmas players scored in double figures. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Aguila. They moved-up to fourth place. Fantasmas at the other side keep the sixth position with ten games lost. Aguila will meet at home Santa Ana (#7) in the next round. Fantasmas will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fantasmas: R.Lawton 20+7reb+1ast, C.Sorto 20+5reb+2ast, S.Henry 18+10reb+2ast, O.Oliva 11+6reb+8ast, H.Carlos 6+1reb+3ast, C.Alas 3+3reb
Aguila: L.Valdez 17+5reb, J.Araujo 16+6reb+5ast, W.Kenny 16+6reb+7ast, G.Bryan 11+11reb+3ast, D.Palmer 10+9reb+1ast, L.Portal 6+1reb+1ast



Tags : ALEJANDRO SCANTELBURY, SAN SALVADOR BC, SALVADOREAN BASKETBALL