Liga Metropolitana Round 5 (Regular Season): USAC lose their first game against Leones

Liga Metropolitana is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 5 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated USAC (4-1) in Guatemala on Monday night. Visitors were edged by third ranked Leones (3-2) 72-70. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of USAC. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Leones made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Leones outrebounded USAC 39-27 including 28 on the defensive glass. Center Luke Garrison (-1997) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 12 rebounds for the winners and naturalized American guard David Goddard (185-1989) chipped in 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Leones' coach used entire bench in such tough game. Forward Victor Sosa (190-1988) responded with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Leones moved-up to second place, which they share with Forza. USAC at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost. Leones is looking forward to face Solola (#4) at home in the next round. USAC's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Guatemala Pat City.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Guatemala: Forza (#3) and Pat City (#7). Pat City was crushed at home by 47 points 52-99 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Sebastian Tabata nailed a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side and David Monterroso accounted for 22 points and 7 rebounds. American guard Jaymeke Smith (187-1995, college: Johnson, FL) came up with 15 points and 7 rebounds for Pat City in the defeat. Forza (3-2) moved-up to second place, which they share with Leones. Pat City at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. Forza's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Guatemala to the arena PSN.

In the last game of round 5 Solola destroyed PSN on the opponent's court 84-51.



Leones - USAC 72-70

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated USAC (4-1) in Guatemala on Monday night. Visitors were edged by third ranked Leones (3-2) 72-70. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of USAC. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Leones made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Leones outrebounded USAC 39-27 including 28 on the defensive glass. Center Luke Garrison (-1997) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 12 rebounds for the winners and naturalized American guard David Goddard (185-1989) chipped in 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Leones' coach used entire bench in such tough game. Forward Victor Sosa (190-1988) responded with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and Vadhir Hernandez (-2003) scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. Leones moved-up to second place, which they share with Forza. USAC at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost. Leones is looking forward to face Solola (#4) at home in the next round. USAC's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Guatemala Pat City.
Top scorers:
USAC: V.Sosa 22+9reb+4ast, V.Hernandez 21+5reb+1ast, M.Arriola 12+5reb+5ast, R.Jerez 8+5reb, A.Juarez 5+2reb+2ast, E.Hernandez 2+1reb
Leones: L.Garrison 17+12reb, D.Goddard 17+6reb+5ast, D.Morgan 10+5reb+1ast, E.Garcia 8+1reb+2ast, D.Rodrigez 5, D.Reyes 5+1reb+1ast

PSN - Solola 51-84

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Guatemala where 4th placed PSN (2-3) was crushed by fifth ranked Solola (2-2) 84-51. Solola dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to PSN's 18. They outrebounded PSN 41-29 including a 30-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Canadian Marcus Faison (196-1994, college: Salem St.) nailed 27 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side and American center Taliik Ross (213, college: Keyano) accounted for 11 points, 21 rebounds and 4 assists. Cesar Catalan (190-2007) came up with 8 points and 9 rebounds and Bryant Rodriguez added 14 points respectively for PSN in the defeat. Solola moved-up to fourth place. PSN at the other side dropped to the fifth position with three games lost. Solola will play against league's second-placed Leones in Guatemala in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. PSN's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Guatemala Forza.
Top scorers:
PSN: B.Rodriguez 14+2reb+1ast, D.Rodriguez 9+5reb+1ast, C.Catalan 8+9reb+3ast, P.Armas 6+1reb, D.Gonzalez 6+2reb, Y.Gomez 3+2reb+2ast
Solola: M.Faison 27+8reb+3ast, C.Montufar 11+3reb+1ast, T.Ross 11+21reb+4ast, R.Juarez 7+3reb+2ast, J.Sisay 3+1reb+1ast, J.Celada 2+1reb+1ast

Pat City - Forza 52-99

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Guatemala: Forza (#3) and Pat City (#7). Pat City was crushed at home by 47 points 52-99 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Forza dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Pat City's 24. They outrebounded Pat City 36-17 including a 27-12 advantage in defensive rebounds. Sebastian Tabata nailed a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side and point guard David Monterroso (180-1979) accounted for 22 points and 7 rebounds. Four Forza players scored in double figures. American guard Jaymeke Smith (187-1995, college: Johnson, FL) came up with 15 points and 7 rebounds and Jose Solis added 13 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Pat City in the defeat. Forza (3-2) moved-up to second place, which they share with Leones. Pat City at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. Forza's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Guatemala to the arena PSN.
Top scorers:
Pat City: J.Smith 15+7reb+2ast, J.Solis 13+5reb, S.Hidalgo 9+2reb+4ast, A.Sum 7+1reb+1ast, A.Mendez 6+1reb, J.Netan 2+1reb
Forza: S.Tabata 25+10reb+2ast, D.Monterroso 22+7reb+3ast, M.Reyes 15+6reb+4ast, S.Ambelis 10+4reb+2ast, R.Oliva 9+1reb, H.Rodriguez 8+3reb+3ast