Liga MB Round 17 (Regular Season): San Salvador lose to A.Lobos in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
Cojute (#4) was upset in Izalco by seventh ranked Brujos 74-70. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cojute. American guard Marcus Millien (188-2000, college: Carlow) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and Allon Johnson accounted for 7 points and 23 rebounds. American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) came up with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists for Cojute in the defeat. Brujos (7-10) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Salvadorenos. Cojute at the other side keeps the fourth position with six games lost. Brujos will play against Santa Ana (#8) on the road in the next round. Cojute will play against the league's leader A.Lobos (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Third ranked San Salvador (13-4) crushed at home 9th ranked Santa Tecla (2-14) by 35 points 104-69, which is the biggest margin this round on Thursday night. The best player for the winners was Victor Carattini who scored 27 points and 5 assists. San Salvador's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Francisco Forbs produced 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the guests. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for San Salvador. They maintain third place with 13-4 record having just two points less than leader A.Lobos. Santa Tecla lost their ninth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 14 games lost. San Salvador will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play against Salvadorenos (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 17 Salvadorenos lost to Independiente on the opponent's court 79-89. Bottom-ranked Ahuachapan was outscored by Santa Ana in a home game 85-108.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 30 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals by Timothy Simmons of Santa Ana.



Brujos - Cojute 74-70

Cojute (#4) was upset in Izalco by seventh ranked Brujos 74-70. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cojute. Brujos forced 19 Cojute turnovers and outrebounded them 68-47 including a 23-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Brujos brought some defensive toughness making 12 blocks. American guard Marcus Millien (188-2000, college: Carlow) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Allon Johnson (201, college: Dalton St.) accounted for 7 points and 23 rebounds. Four Brujos players scored in double figures. American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) came up with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists and forward Pablo Figueroa (186-2000) added 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Cojute in the defeat. Brujos (7-10) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Salvadorenos. Cojute at the other side keeps the fourth position with six games lost. Brujos will play against Santa Ana (#8) on the road in the next round. Cojute will play against the league's leader A.Lobos (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Cojute: J.Agosto 17+7reb+9ast, T.Carter 15+12reb+1ast, P.Figueroa 14+10reb+4ast, A.Avalos 7+5reb+5ast, J.Flores 6+5reb+2ast, K.Martinez 5+1reb+2ast
Brujos: M.Millien 20+15reb+3ast, A.Ortega 13+2reb+3ast, I.Maldonado 13+11reb, G.Galdamez 10+8reb+7ast, F.Angulo 8+4reb+1ast, A.Johnson 7+23reb+1ast

A.Lobos - San Salvador 82-72

First ranked host A.Lobos (15-2) defeated 3rd placed San Salvador (13-4) 82-72. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of San Salvador. A.Lobos made 22-of-29 free shots (75.9 percent) during the game, while San Salvador only scored four points from the stripe. American forward Sean Scott (190-1997, college: Pfeiffer) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and his fellow American import center Marc Montavious (206-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) chipped in 19 points and 11 rebounds. Power forward Brayan Garcia (194-1998) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and Puerto Rican power forward Owens Perez (206-1992) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds. Five A.Lobos and four San Salvador players scored in double figures. A.Lobos have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 15-2 record. San Salvador at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. A.Lobos are looking forward to face Cojute (#4) in Cojutepeque in the next round. San Salvador will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: B.Garcia 25+12reb+4ast, O.Perez 16+14reb+2ast, E.Escalante 11+1reb+2ast, V.Carattini 10+6reb+5ast, L.Valle 4+3reb+2ast, S.Colmenero 3+3reb+7ast
A.Lobos: S.Scott 25+16reb+7ast, M.Montavious 19+11reb, F.Carcamo 14+1reb, E.Rojas 11+4reb+2ast, J.Savoy 10+7reb+7ast, M.Melendez 3+1ast

Independiente - Salvadorenos 89-79

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Salvadorenos' (7-10) road loss to fifth ranked Independiente (8-8) 79-89 on Wednesday. Independiente outrebounded Salvadorenos 54-34 including a 37-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American Aaren Smith (198-1997, college: UDC) who had a double-double by scoring 29 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) chipped in 34 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Colombian Michael Parra (201-1995) produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds and Spanish guard Lazaro Gonzalez (190-1993) added 26 points and 5 assists respectively for the guests. Independiente maintains fifth place with 8-8 record. Salvadorenos lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the sixth position with ten games lost. They share it with Brujos. Independiente will meet bottom-ranked Ahuachapan (#10) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Salvadorenos will play against Santa Tecla (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Salvadorenos: L.Gonzalez 26+2reb+5ast, M.Parra 20+12reb+2ast, M.Menjivar 11+3reb+2ast, E.Rodriguez 8+2reb+7ast, I.Traore 8+7reb+1ast, A.Tobar 6+7reb
Independiente: A.Smith 34+7reb+4ast, A.Smith 29+13reb+4ast, N.Moore 15+19reb+4ast, C.Sorto 5+4reb+1ast, M.Amaya 4+2reb+2ast, R.Melendez 2+8reb+2ast

San Salvador - Santa Tecla 104-69

Third ranked San Salvador (13-4) crushed at home 9th ranked Santa Tecla (2-14) by 35 points 104-69, which is the biggest margin this round on Thursday night. San Salvador looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. The best player for the winners was Puerto Rican guard Victor Carattini (185-1992, college: PR-Bayamon) who scored 27 points and 5 assists. Puerto Rican power forward Owens Perez (206-1992) chipped in 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. San Salvador's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Honduran Francisco Forbs (198-1999) produced 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Edwin Cornejo (195-1999) added 18 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for San Salvador. They maintain third place with 13-4 record having just two points less than leader A.Lobos. Santa Tecla lost their ninth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 14 games lost. San Salvador will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Tecla will play against Salvadorenos (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Santa Tecla: E.Cornejo 18+6reb+2ast, F.Forbs 16+9reb+4ast, E.Barrientos 9+7reb+2ast, A.Lopez 8+5reb+2ast, D.Huezo 6+4reb+3ast, R.Gamero 6+4reb+2ast
San Salvador: V.Carattini 27+4reb+5ast, O.Perez 18+8reb+4ast, G.Rivas 12+2ast, K.Saravia 9+2reb+3ast, S.Colmenero 8+7reb+6ast, L.Valle 8+5reb+2ast

Ahuachapan - Santa Ana 85-108

Rather predictable result when eighth ranked Santa Ana (5-10) smashed on the road bottom-ranked Ahuachapan (1-15) 108-85 on Thursday. Santa Ana looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American Timothy Simmons (195-1992, college: DBU) who had a double-double by scoring 30 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. Guard Ignacio Ramos (175-1992) chipped in 33 points (!!!) and 6 assists. American guard EJ Blackwell (193, college: Lourdes) produced a double-double by scoring 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists and American-Colombian center Freddy Asprilla (206-1988, college: Canisius) added 16 points, 22 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Santa Ana maintains eighth place with 5-10 record. Ahuachapan lost their fourth game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 15 games lost. Santa Ana will meet at home higher ranked Brujos (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Ahuachapan will play against Independiente (#5) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Ahuachapan: E.Blackwell 26+13reb+5ast, E.Linares 20+2reb+2ast, F.Asprilla 16+22reb+5ast, D.Daniels 15+2reb+3ast, E.Tobar 3, C.Castro 3+2reb+3ast
Santa Ana: I.Ramos 33+1reb+6ast, T.Simmons 30+17reb+8ast, J.Araujo 20+4reb, M.Hinestroza 13+7reb+3ast, E.Guevara 5+1reb, S.Gross 3+2ast