Liga MB Round 13 (Regular Season): Leader San Salvador loses to Santa Ana

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of San Salvador (11-2) at the home court on Thursday night. Hosts were edged by Santa Ana (11-2) 72-71. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of San Salvador. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Strangely San Salvador outrebounded Santa Ana 47-32 including a 35-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. Forward Abdulbasit Ajia (200-1999) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points and 16 rebounds for the winners. Puerto Rican point guard Lee Vazquez (173-1991, college: Westfield St.) chipped in 24 points and 4 assists. American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds for lost side. Santa Ana have an impressive series of ten victories in a row. They used an opportunity after San Salvador lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position which they share with defeated San Salvador. Santa Ana is looking forward to face Cojute (#5) in Cojutepeque in the next round. San Salvador's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in San Salvador to the arena Salvadorenos.
Sixth-ranked Santa Tecla (6-7) made lots of trouble for third ranked Metapan (10-3). Metapan managed to secure only one-point victory 84-83. However their fans expected easier game. Worth to mention a great performance of Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 17 rebounds. Joe Araujo contributed with 18 points and 4 assists for the winners. American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) answered with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for Santa Tecla. Santa Tecla's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Metapan maintains third place with 10-3 record behind leader San Salvador. Santa Tecla lost their third game in a row. Defending champion keeps the sixth position with seven games lost. Metapan will play against Fantasmas (#7) in San Vicente in the next round. Santa Tecla will have a break next round.
The game in Cojutepeque supposed to be also quite interesting. 4th placed Salvadorenos (8-5) played at the court of fifth ranked Cojute (7-5). Cojute smashed Salvadorenos 86-59 on Wednesday. Frankyn Batista stepped up with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. Cojute's coach Jose Rivas felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side Brayan Garcia responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Cojute. They maintain fifth place with 7-5 record. Salvadorenos at the other side keep the fourth position with five games lost. Cojute will meet league's second-placed Santa Ana on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Salvadorenos' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from San Salvador San Salvador.




Cojute - Salvadorenos 86-59

The game in Cojutepeque supposed to be also quite interesting. 4th placed Salvadorenos (8-5) played at the court of fifth ranked Cojute (7-5). Cojute smashed Salvadorenos 86-59 on Wednesday. Cojute forced 22 Salvadorenos turnovers. Dominican forward Frankyn Batista (198-1999, college: Pace) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and American center Troidell Carter (206-1991, college: Slippery Rock) chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds. Batista is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Cojute players scored in double figures. Cojute's coach Jose Rivas felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side power forward Brayan Garcia (194-1998) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds and point guard Marco Menjivar (168-2004) scored 13 points and 9 rebounds. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Cojute. They maintain fifth place with 7-5 record. Salvadorenos at the other side keep the fourth position with five games lost. Cojute will meet league's second-placed Santa Ana on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Salvadorenos' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from San Salvador San Salvador.
Top scorers:
Cojute: F.Batista 29+14reb+1ast, T.Carter 15+12reb, S.Kevin 14+6reb+4ast, M.William 10+1reb+2ast, P.Figueroa 7+2reb+3ast, R.Melendez 5+1reb
Salvadorenos: B.Garcia 15+15reb+3ast, M.Marco 13+9reb+1ast, R.Emanuel 13+3reb+4ast, S.Andres 6+6reb+2ast, G.Santiago 5, R.Erick 5+1reb+4ast

San Salvador - Santa Ana 71-72

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of San Salvador (11-2) at the home court on Thursday night. Hosts were edged by Santa Ana (11-2) 72-71. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of San Salvador. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Strangely San Salvador outrebounded Santa Ana 47-32 including a 35-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. Forward Abdulbasit Ajia (200-1999) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points and 16 rebounds for the winners. Puerto Rican point guard Lee Vazquez (173-1991, college: Westfield St.) chipped in 24 points and 4 assists. American center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds and Luis Valle (190-1997) added 18 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five San Salvador players scored in double figures. Santa Ana have an impressive series of ten victories in a row. They used an opportunity after San Salvador lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position which they share with defeated San Salvador. Santa Ana is looking forward to face Cojute (#5) in Cojutepeque in the next round. San Salvador's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in San Salvador to the arena Salvadorenos.
Top scorers:
Santa Ana: L.Vazquez 24+4reb+4ast, A.Abdulbasit 19+16reb+1ast, T.Simmons 16+6reb+3ast, T.Armando 4+1reb, M.Demar 3, L.Fernando 3+2reb+1ast
San Salvador: L.Valle 18+9reb+2ast, M.Montavious 16+14reb+2ast, A.Jeremy 15+8reb+2ast, M.Ramos 10+3reb+2ast, B.Alejandro 10+3reb+3ast, J.Avila 2+4reb+1ast

Metapan - Santa Tecla 84-83

Sixth-ranked Santa Tecla (6-7) made lots of trouble for third ranked Metapan (10-3). Metapan managed to secure only one-point victory 84-83. However their fans expected easier game. Strangely Santa Tecla outrebounded Metapan 45-32 including 31 on the defensive glass. Worth to mention a great performance of Cuban forward Yoel Cubillas (204-1994) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 17 rebounds. Guard Joe Araujo (187-1986) contributed with 18 points and 4 assists for the winners. American swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) answered with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and Nicaraguan guard Deikel Sanchez (-1996) added 23 points and 13 rebounds in the effort for Santa Tecla. Santa Tecla's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Metapan maintains third place with 10-3 record behind leader San Salvador. Santa Tecla lost their third game in a row. Defending champion keeps the sixth position with seven games lost. Metapan will play against Fantasmas (#7) in San Vicente in the next round. Santa Tecla will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Metapan: Y.Cubillas 34+17reb+3ast, A.Joe 18+1reb+4ast, L.Saravia 14+3reb+4ast, M.Tejada 6+2reb+1ast, L.Hernandez 4+2reb+4ast, R.Miranda 4+3reb+1ast
Santa Tecla: A.Smith 28+10reb+4ast, S.Deikel 23+13reb, E.Contreras 12+5reb+3ast, L.Portal 8+3reb+2ast, V.Diego 6+2reb+1ast, A.Gerardo 3+2reb+1ast