LNBP Round 18 (Regular Season): Soles edge El Calor by three points

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Thirteenth-ranked El Calor (4-12) made lots of trouble for first ranked Soles (13-3) in Mexicali on Sunday. Soles managed to secure only three-point victory 89-86. However their fans expected much easier game. Soles looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) who scored 19 points and 4 assists. The other American import point guard TJ Campbell (177-1988, college: Portland) chipped in 11 points and 8 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Francis King (196) who recorded 19 points and 9 rebounds. Soles maintains first position with 13-3 record. El Calor lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth place with 12 games lost. Soles will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. El Calor will play at home against the league's second-placed Panteras (#2) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Important game to mention about took place in Monterrey. Eighth ranked Abejas (7-9) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Fuerza Regia (10-6) 76-75 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Fuerza Regia. It was a good game for Puerto Rican guard Giovanni Santiago (185-2000, college: Kent St.) who saved his team from a defeat with 17 points and 5 assists. Chris Payton contributed with 11 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. American-Kosovan Scott Bamforth (188-1989, college: Weber St.) replied with 22 points and 6 rebounds for Fuerza Regia. Fuerza Regia's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Abejas maintains eighth position with 7-9 record. Fuerza Regia at the other side dropped to the fourth place with six games lost. They share the position with Lobos and Dorados. Abejas will play against Gambusinos (#12) in the next round. Fuerza Regia will play against Santos (#9) in San Luis Potosi and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game was played in Chihuahua where Mineros (#7) won against host Dorados (#4) 92-82 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Dorados. Tavario Miller had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. The best for the losing side was JR Clay with 29 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mineros maintains seventh position with 9-7 record. Loser Dorados keep the fourth place with six games lost. They share the position with Fuerza Regia and Lobos. Mineros will meet at home Diablos (#10) in the next round. Dorados will play against Correcaminos (#14) in Ciudad Victoria and hope to secure a win.

Rest of the games of round 18 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Santos defeated Diablos in San Luis Potosi 95-82. Freseros were beaten by Astros at home 67-77. Lobos won against Gambusinos on the opponent's court 85-75.



Dorados - Mineros 82-92:
An interesting game was played in Chihuahua where Mineros (#7) won against host Dorados (#4) 92-82 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Dorados. Mineros made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Dorados 39-24 including a 23-10 advantage in defensive rebounds. Mineros looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Dorados' players. Bahamas center Tavario Miller (203-1994, college: Texas A&M) had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American-Argentinian guard Romeao Ferguson (196-1997, college: Lipscomb) chipped in 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Miller is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Mineros players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American point guard JR Clay (183-2000, college: Tennessee St.) with 29 points and his fellow American import Markeith Cummings (198-1988, college: KSU) scored 15 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mineros maintains seventh position with 9-7 record. Loser Dorados keep the fourth place with six games lost. They share the position with Fuerza Regia and Lobos. Mineros will meet at home Diablos (#10) in the next round. Dorados will play against Correcaminos (#14) in Ciudad Victoria and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Dorados: J.Clay 29+2reb+2ast, M.Cummings 15+3reb+2ast, J.House 10+5reb+5ast, M.McKinney 9+1reb+1ast, S.Thornwell 8+5reb+2ast, E.Wembi 7+4reb+2ast
Mineros: C.Anyelo 16+4reb, F.Romeao 16+7reb+4ast, V.Joaquin 16+3reb+6ast, M.Tavario 13+13reb+2ast, S.Wesley 11+2reb+4ast, M.Kayo 9+2reb+1ast

Fuerza Regia - Abejas 75-76:
Important game to mention about took place in Monterrey. Eighth ranked Abejas (7-9) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Fuerza Regia (10-6) 76-75 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Fuerza Regia. It was a good game for Puerto Rican guard Giovanni Santiago (185-2000, college: Kent St.) who saved his team from a defeat with 17 points and 5 assists. American forward Chris Payton (203-2000, college: Kent St.) contributed with 11 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Four Abejas players scored in double figures. American-Kosovan Scott Bamforth (188-1989, college: Weber St.) replied with 22 points and 6 rebounds and American guard Avry Holmes (185-1994, college: Clemson) added 15 points and 4 assists in the effort for Fuerza Regia. Fuerza Regia's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Abejas maintains eighth position with 7-9 record. Fuerza Regia at the other side dropped to the fourth place with six games lost. They share the position with Lobos and Dorados. Abejas will play against Gambusinos (#12) in the next round. Fuerza Regia will play against Santos (#9) in San Luis Potosi and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Fuerza Regia: S.Bamforth 22+6reb+1ast, A.Holmes 15+1reb+4ast, J.Andriassi 9+3reb, I.Jimond 8+2reb+2ast, A.Anderson 6+4reb+1ast, D.Bejarano 5+2reb+1ast
Abejas: G.Santiago 17+4reb+5ast, G.Davonte 13+5reb+1ast, D.Dominguez 12+3reb, P.Chris 11+9reb+2ast, R.Olea 9+4reb+1ast, B.A.J. 6+1reb+5ast

Diablos - Santos 82-95:
There was a minor upset when 9th ranked Diablos (6-10) were defeated at home by eleventh ranked Santos (6-9) 95-82 on Sunday. Santos outrebounded Diablos 45-31 including 31 on the defensive glass. American power forward Nick Ward (208-1997, college: Michigan St.) scored 21 points and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn) chipped in 21 points during the contest. Five Santos players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American point guard Glenn Cosey (183-1992, college: EKU) with 22 points and 4 assists and his fellow American import power forward Devon Scott (205-1994, college: Dayton) scored 17 points and 9 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Diablos' coach let to play ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Santos moved-up to ninth place. Loser Diablos dropped to the tenth position with ten games lost. They share it with Freseros. Santos will meet at home higher ranked Fuerza Regia (#6) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Diablos will play against Mineros (#7) in Zacatecas and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Diablos: G.Cosey 22+3reb+4ast, D.Scott 17+9reb+2ast, S.Scala 14+2reb+3ast, C.Abarca Jose 7+3reb+1ast, M.Pedro 5+3reb+1ast, M.Carrera 2+6reb+1ast
Santos: B.Javion 21+3reb+3ast, W.Nick 21+7reb+1ast, W.Jared 15+5reb+1ast, W.Jahlil 14+9reb+2ast, J.Chris 11+6reb+7ast, V.Chris 7+9reb+2ast

Freseros - Astros 67-77:
No shocking result in a game in Irapuato where third ranked Astros (10-4) defeated 10th ranked Freseras (6-10) 77-67 on Sunday. Astros looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Cuban forward Yoanki Mencia (198-1997) scored 11 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Cuban center Pedro Bombino (206-2000) chipped in 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American swingman Zach Brown (198-1995, college: Wichita St., agency: LHZ Sport Agency) with 14 points and 9 assists and his fellow American import forward Derek Fountain (208-2002, college: LSU, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 12 rebounds. Four Astros and five Freseros players scored in double figures. Astros have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 10-4 record having five points less than leader Soles. Freseros lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with ten games lost. They share the position with Diablos. Astros will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Freseros will play against Lobos (#4) in Puebla and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Freseros: F.Pirela 15+3reb+3ast, Z.Brown 14+4reb+9ast, T.Millin 12+4reb, D.Fountain 11+12reb+1ast, G.Christians 10+4reb+1ast, K.Rose 5+4reb+4ast
Astros: A.Jose 15+8reb+1ast, B.Pedro 13+9reb+4ast, M.Yoanki 11+9reb+7ast, Y.Will 11+1reb+1ast, F.Jasper 10+4reb+4ast, A.Avery 8+3reb+5ast

Gambusinos - Lobos 75-85:
Very expected game when 12th ranked Gambusinos (5-11) were defeated at home by sixth ranked Lobos (10-6) 85-75 on Sunday. Lobos made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. The game was dominated by American players. Guard Shaquille Johnson (191-1990, college: Marshall) scored 17 points and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and forward Michael Myers (206-1992, college: UMES, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. Five Lobos players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was point guard Lester Medford Jr (184-1993, college: Baylor, agency: BIG) with 27 points, 6 assists and 4 steals and forward Kiandre Gaddy (198-2001, college: Tarleton St., agency: BIG) scored 12 points and 9 rebounds. Gambusinos' coach let to play ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Lobos moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Fuerza Regia and Dorados. Loser Gambusinos keep the twelfth position with 11 games lost. Lobos will meet at home Freseros (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Gambusinos will play against Abejas in Guanajuato and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Gambusinos: L.Medford Jr. 27+2reb+6ast, O.De Haro 13+1ast, K.Gaddy 12+9reb+1ast, T.Cooper 9+5reb+3ast, C.Mitchell 8+3reb+2ast, C.Alaekwe 6+1reb
Lobos: J.Shaquille 17+4reb+4ast, K.Elias 15+3reb, M.Michael 10+5reb+5ast, D.Tyran 10+5reb+3ast, T.Cotton 10+1reb+2ast, H.Clevin 8+1reb

Soles - El Calor 89-86:
Thirteenth-ranked El Calor (4-12) made lots of trouble for first ranked Soles (13-3) in Mexicali on Sunday. Soles managed to secure only three-point victory 89-86. However their fans expected much easier game. Soles looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) who scored 19 points and 4 assists. The other American import point guard TJ Campbell (177-1988, college: Portland) chipped in 11 points and 8 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Francis King (196) who recorded 19 points and 9 rebounds and American-Dominican forward Jordan Geronimo (198-2001, college: Maryland) added 19 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Soles maintains first position with 13-3 record. El Calor lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth place with 12 games lost. Soles will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. El Calor will play at home against the league's second-placed Panteras (#2) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
El Calor: K.Francis 19+9reb+2ast, J.Geronimo 19+7reb+1ast, S.Nelson 15+5reb+5ast, E.Zelionis 11+2reb+4ast, B.Cingala-Mata 9+6reb+1ast, D.Mitchell 9+3reb+1ast
Soles: Z.Connor 19+2reb+4ast, S.Jordan 15+5reb, K.Hunter 14+1reb, T.Erik 11+5reb+1ast, C.TJ 11+2reb+8ast, S.Philip 9+4reb+3ast