Halcones UV Xalapa, Ayon celebrate Mexican title after edging Soles in OT Halcones UV Xalapa capped a memorable season in Mexican basketball by beating Soles de Mexicali in overtime on Wednesday to clinch a second straight LNBP title. Mexico international center Gustavo Ayon (209-F/C-85, college: San Jose St.) dominated with 24 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Hawks to a 94-90 overtime triumph, a victory that sealed a 4-2 win in the Finals. Xalapa piled on the agony for Soles, the side they beat 4-3 to win last year's Finals. Ayon, who turns 24 in April, hit seven of 13 shots from the floor and 10 of 13 at the free-throw line. The contest wasnt decided until the very end and Ayons rebounding proved crucial. Xalapas Dontae Truitt (198-G/F-81, college: Georgia SW) caught a pass from Victor Mariscal (198-F-72) and hit the go-ahead basket just 55 seconds left in the extra period. Truitt was fouled on the shot by Dejuan Wheat (183-G-73, college: Louisville) but failed to convert the three-point play. Soles then turned the ball over, and Ayon twice grabbed offensive rebounds to keep possession for Xalapa. Mariscal ended up drawing a foul and the Mexico international sank both attempts from the line with eight seconds remaining for a 94-90 lead. James Penny (198-F-76, college: TCU) attempted a three-pointer for Soles but missed, and Ayon pulled down another rebound to put the result beyond doubt. Halcones UV Xalapa and Soles de Mexicali are the two dominant sides in the Mexican game. Last year, Soles reached the title game of the inaugural FIBA Americas League before losing to Argentinians Penarol while this year, Xalapa hosted the Final Four and went down in the championship game to Universo/BRB. On Wednesday night, the home fans that packed the arena wore the blue and green colors of Xalapa and watched their Hawks go in front by as many as 10 points in the first half before heading to the changing rooms with a 48-41 advantage. The lead then ballooned to 65-52 with less than four minutes to go in the third quarter after two Ayon free-throws. Soles got right back in the game, however, by closing the period with a 14-2 run. Greg Lewis (198-F-78, college: Winthrop) inflicted most of the damage, pouring in nine of his game-high 26 points. Wheat drilled a three-ball and Anthony Pedroza (191-G-79, agency: Edge Sports, college: Oregon) added a basket in the surge that left the visitors behind 66-64. Abdul Mills (191-G-79, college: Nebraska-Omaha) had four points in a 6-0 spurt that put Xalapa ahead at 76-70 with 5:36 remaining in the game only for Soles to eventually pull level again with Lewis scoring five seconds from the end of the quarter to force the overtime. Two free-throws from his teammate Wheat with 2:17 remaining in OT tied the game again at 90-90 and the Suns then had two chances to go in front only for Wheat and Victor Esquer to miss from long range. Ayon, Truitt and Mariscal made the big plays at the end as Xalapa became the first LNBP side to clinch back-to-back titles.Check Box Score Courtesy of FIBA Americas Latinbasket.com All-LNBP Awards 2008-09 - Mar 26, 2009
Player of the Year: LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82) of Halcones Xalapa Guard of the Year: LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82) of Halcones Xalapa Forward of the Year: Greg Lewis (198-F-78) - Soles Center of the Year: Gustavo Ayon (209-F/C-85) - Halcones UV Xalapa Domestic Player of the Year: Gustavo Ayon (209-F/C-85) - Halcones UV Xalapa Import Player of the Year: LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82) of Halcones Xalapa Coach of the Year: All-LNBP 1st Team LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82) of Halcones Xalapa Devon Ford (193-G-77) - Panteras Kenya Capers (194-F-73) - Barreteros - Greg Lewis (198-F-78) - Soles - Gustavo Ayon (209-F/C-85) - Halcones UV Xalapa All-LNBP 2nd Team Ricardo Melendez (180-G-83) - Tecos Anthony Pedroza (191-G-79) - Soles Harold Arceneaux (198-F-77) - Lechugueros Hernan Salcedo (198-F-80) - Angeles Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81) - Halcones Rojos All-LNBP 3rd Team Michael Gale (193-G-82) -Venados Mark Borders (188-G-84) - Santos Antonio Garcia (203-F/C-76) - Tecos Omar Lopez (203-C-80) - Galgos Horacio Llamas (212-C-73) - Soles Honorable Mention: Josh Pittman (197-F-76) Blake Walker (196-G/F-82) Noe Alonzo (200-F-83) Leroy Davis (200-F-81) William McFarlan (201-F-76) Mike Smith (201-G/F-76) Paul Stoll (178-G-85) Tony Stockman (186-G-81) Manuel Guzman (206-F/C-82) Keith Gayden (202-F-83) Abdul Mills (191-G-79) Noe Alonzo (200-F-83) of Tecos UAG All-Imports Team Greg Lewis (198-F-78) - Soles Devon Ford (193-G-77) - Panteras Kenya Capers (194-F-73) - Barreteros Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81) - Halcones Rojos Michael Gale (193-G-82) -Venados All-Domestic Players Team Anthony Pedroza (191-G-79) - Soles Gustavo Ayon (209-F/C-85) - Halcones UV Xalapa Ricardo Melendez (180-G-83) - Tecos Hernan Salcedo (198-F-80) - Angeles Noe Alonzo (200-F-83) of Tecos UAG LNBP All Star Game - by Kristian Santiago The LNBP celebrated another edition of the All-Star game, this time it took place in Mexico City's Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera. Three players from Halcones UV Xalapa were selected to the game, one of them, LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82, college: Cumberlands), defended his crown and again won the dunk competition, another player from Xalapa, Ray Castillo (196-G/F-82, college: UTPA), took the three-point contest. The game started with a 13-2 streak by the Northern Zone, led by Blake Walker (196-G/F-82, college: Portland St.), who made 15 points in the 1st frame, the actions got tied at halftime, with lead changes by both teams. Most part of the 4th quarter was tied, in the last minute of the game, Kenya Capers (194-F-73, college: Houston) made 4 key FTs, in the end Noe Alonzo (200-F-83, college: Grand Canyon) nailed a shot from downtown, but it was too late, the game ended with the Southern Zone winning 123-122 against the Northern Zone. LeRoy Hickerson made 23 points for the South, and was named the MVP of the game. Blake Walker finished with 33 points. North Zone Blake Walker (196-G/F-82) - Algodoneros de La Comarca - Torreon Omar Lopez (203-C-80) - Tijuana Galgos Rommel Marentez (178-G-84) - Tijuana Galgos Gerald Williams (198-F-79) - Lobos de la UAC Saltillo Anthony Pedroza (191-G-79) - Soles de Mexicali Greg Lewis (198-F-78) - Soles de Mexicali Horacio Llamas (212-C-73) - Soles de Mexicali Antonio Garcia (203-F/C-76) - Tecos de la UAGuadalajara Noe Alonzo (200-F-83) - Tecos de la UAGuadalajara Ricardo Melendez (180-G-83) - Tecos de la UAGuadalajara Tony Stockman (186-G-81) - Venados de Nuevo Laredo Keith Gayden (202-F-83) - Venados de Nuevo Laredo Coaches: Alberto Espasandin - Tecos de la UAGuadalajara Ivan Deniz - Soles de Mexicali South Zone Hernan Salcedo (198-F-80) - Angeles de Puebla Justin Griffin (193-G/F-83) - Barreteros de Zacatecazs Kenya Capers (194-F-73) - Barreteros de Zacatecazs Alfonso Flores (194-F-74) - Estrellas Indebasquet ed Distrito Federa Sergio Sanchez (180-G-83) - Halcones UV Cordoba Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81) - Halcones Rojos de Veracruz Gustavo Ayon (209-F/C-85) - Halcones UV Xalapa LeRoy Hickerson (196-G-82) - Halcones UV Xalapa Victor Avila (209-C-77) - Halcones UV Xalapa Adrian Sanchez (196-F-85) - Lechugueros de Leon Devon Ford (193-G-77) - Panteras de Aguascalientes Juan Herrera (197-F-81) - Santos Reales de San Luis Potosi Coaches: Andy Stoglin - Halcones UV Xalapa Manuel Cintron - Halcones Rojos de Veracruz |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Men
Women
Subscribe
Login
Halcones wins LNBP 2009 (Photo: uv.mex)
Halcones wins LNBP 2009 (Photo: uv.mex)
