LNBP Round 3 (Regular Season): Diablos defeat Astros

This is still too early stage of the Regular Season in LNBP and we should expect many changes in upcoming rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of Astros (1-1) in Guadalajara on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Diablos (1-1) 84-74. It was a good game for American guard Avry Holmes (185-1994, college: Clemson) who led his team to a victory with 18 points and 5 rebounds. His fellow American import forward Cecil Williams (198-1995, college: CMU) contributed with 14 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Dominican Rigoberto Mendoza (191-1992, agency: BMS Sport Agency) answered with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds for Astros. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Diablos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Astros will play on the road against Halc.Xalapa (#11) in Xalapa and are hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Monterrey. Fuerza Regia (2-0) saved a 1-point victory at home edging Soles (0-2) 81-80 on Sunday evening. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. It was a great evening for American power forward Jerai Grant (203-1989, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points and 7 rebounds. Micah Speight helped adding 13 points and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was Argentinian guard Lucas Martinez (187-1990) with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Fuerza Regia will play against El Calor (#7) in Cancun in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Soles will play at home against Halc.Rojos (#10) and hope to get finally their first victory.
The game between Plateros (2-0) and Freseras (0-2) in Fresnillo on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. Plateros beat guests from Irapuato 87-69. It was a quality performance for Ricardo Bustamante who led the winners and scored 20 points. Antwon Lillard came up with 18 points and 6 rebounds for Freseras in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 3 El Calor beat Mineros on the road 83-75.
The most impressive performance of 3rd round was 15 points and 10 rebounds by Arinze Chidom of El Calor.



Fuerza Regia - Soles 81-80

Important game to mention about took place in Monterrey. Fuerza Regia (2-0) saved a 1-point victory at home edging Soles (0-2) 81-80 on Sunday evening. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Strangely Soles outrebounded Fuerza Regia 39-27 including a 31-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Fuerza Regia players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. It was a great evening for American power forward Jerai Grant (203-1989, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points and 7 rebounds. His fellow American import point guard Micah Speight (178-1998, college: S.Nazarene) helped adding 13 points and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was Argentinian guard Lucas Martinez (187-1990) with 22 points and 7 rebounds and American guard Jordan Swing (198-1990, college: UAB) scored 20 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Fuerza Regia will play against El Calor (#7) in Cancun in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Soles will play at home against Halc.Rojos (#10) and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Soles: L.Martinez 22+7reb+2ast, J.Swing 20+6reb+1ast, E.McCree 13+7reb+4ast, J.Weatherspoon 6+5reb+2ast, W.Austin 6+7reb, R.Olea 5+1reb+1ast
Fuerza Regia: S.Miller 14+5reb, J.Grant 14+7reb+2ast, M.Speight 13+4reb+6ast, D.Bejarano 9+1reb+3ast, L.Faggiano 8+2reb+6ast, J.Lawson 8

Astros - Diablos 74-84

The most surprising game was a loss of Astros (1-1) in Guadalajara on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Diablos (1-1) 84-74. It was a good game for American guard Avry Holmes (185-1994, college: Clemson) who led his team to a victory with 18 points and 5 rebounds. His fellow American import forward Cecil Williams (198-1995, college: CMU) contributed with 14 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Dominican Rigoberto Mendoza (191-1992, agency: BMS Sport Agency) answered with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds and American forward Jordan Loveridge (198-1993, college: Utah) added 17 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Astros. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Diablos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Astros will play on the road against Halc.Xalapa (#11) in Xalapa and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Astros: R.Mendoza 21+10reb, J.Loveridge 17+8reb+3ast, J.Rodriguez 10+2reb+1ast, K.Bigby-Williams 8+4reb+1ast, M.Andriassi 5+2reb+2ast, P.Herrera 5+4reb
Diablos: A.Holmes 18+5reb+3ast, M.Smith 14+2reb+2ast, C.Williams 14+6reb+1ast, M.Tavares 10+2reb, D.Giron 9+1reb, S.Scala 7+4reb+2ast

Plateros - Freseras 87-69

The game between Plateros (2-0) and Freseras (0-2) in Fresnillo on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. Plateros beat guests from Irapuato 87-69. Plateros looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a quality performance for guard Ricardo Bustamante (195-1995) who led the winners and scored 20 points. American forward Jamir Coleman (201-1997, college: CCSU, agency: Haylett Sports) accounted for 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. American guard Antwon Lillard (198-1995, college: BGSU) came up with 18 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import center Daniel Giddens (213-1997, college: Vermont) added 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Freseras in the defeat. Four Freseras players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Freseras: A.Lillard 18+6reb+3ast, P.Leal-Cruz 15, D.Giddens 14+9reb+4ast, S.Jones 12+2reb+2ast, B.Riley 8+7reb, J.Wheeler 2+7reb+1ast
Plateros: R.Bustamante 20+1ast, C.Harvey 11+5reb+3ast, M.Bryson 11+2reb+2ast, J.Coleman 9+7reb+4ast, E.Omogbo 8+2reb, F.Vazquez 7+5reb+5ast

Mineros - El Calor 75-83

There was a surprise result when El Calor (1-1) beat Mineros (1-1) in Zacatecas 83-75 on Saturday. El Calor made 20-of-26 free shots (76.9 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American forward Arinze Chidom (206-1997, college: UC Riverside) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. Argentinian swingman Martin Fernandez (195-1997) accounted for 17 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. Four El Calor players scored in double figures. American-DR Congolese center Emmanuel Wembi (205-1997, college: Lenoir-Rhyne) came up with 12 points and 7 rebounds and American-Italian Brandon Nazione (202-1994, college: EMU) added 11 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Mineros in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. El Calor will meet at home Fuerza Regia in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mineros will play against Dorados (#1) in Chihuahua and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Mineros: E.Wembi 12+7reb+2ast, B.Nazione 11+7reb+2ast, L.Thomas 11+5reb+3ast, B.Rivera 10+3reb, M.Curry 9+4reb+4ast, A.Thomas 9+4reb+1ast
El Calor: M.Fernandez 17+8reb+1ast, C.Mitchell 15+3reb+2ast, A.Chidom 15+10reb+2ast, T.Gaskins 13+1reb+7ast, P.Ibeh 8+7reb+1ast, A.Walker 7