LNBP Round 26 (Regular Season): Fuerza Regia beat Halc.Rojos by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Twelfth-ranked Halcones Rojos (7-13) were very close to win a game against first ranked Fuerza Regia (17-3) in Monterrey on Saturday. Fuerza Regia managed to secure only one-point victory 71-70. However their fans expected much easier game. American players dominated the game. point guard Micah Speight (178-1998, college: S.Nazarene) saved the victory by scoring 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Power forward Jerai Grant (203-1989, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Fuerza Regia's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Guard Deshawndre Washington (201, college: NM State) replied with 15 points and 5 assists for Halc.Rojos. Fuerza Regia have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 17-3 record. Halc.Rojos at the other side keep the twelfth place with 13 games lost. Fuerza Regia are looking forward to face Astros (#3) in Guadalajara in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Halc.Rojos will play at home against Freseras (#9) and are hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Important game to mention about took place in Fresnillo. Seventh ranked Plateros (12-8) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Diablos (12-8) 79-76 in the game for the fifth place. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Diablos. American center Deion McClenton (208, college: Keiser) scored 19 points and 9 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Michael Bryson chipped in 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. International swingman Gael Bonilla (204-2003) responded with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Diablos' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Plateros moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Dorados and Diablos. Plateros will play against league's second-placed Halc.Xalapa in Xalapa in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Diablos will play at home against Panteras and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
A very close game took place in Irapuato between Freseras and El Calor. Eleventh ranked Freseras (9-11) got a very close home victory over 13th ranked El Calor (6-13). Freseras managed to escape with a 3-point win 85-82 on Saturday evening. Jimond Ivey notched 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort. Freseras' coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 22 points by Archie Goodwin did not help to save the game for El Calor. Freseras have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Soles and Mineros. El Calor lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth position with 13 games lost. Freseras will meet Halc.Rojos (#12) in the next round. El Calor will play against Dorados and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 26 Astros smashed Mineros on the road 103-79.
The most impressive performance of 26th round was 9 points and 7 assists by Rigoberto Mendoza of Astros.



Fuerza Regia - Halc.Rojos 71-70

Twelfth-ranked Halcones Rojos (7-13) were very close to win a game against first ranked Fuerza Regia (17-3) in Monterrey on Saturday. Fuerza Regia managed to secure only one-point victory 71-70. However their fans expected much easier game. American players dominated the game. Point guard Micah Speight (178-1998, college: S.Nazarene) saved the victory by scoring 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Power forward Jerai Grant (203-1989, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Fuerza Regia's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Guard Deshawndre Washington (201, college: NM State) replied with 15 points and 5 assists and forward Kenneth Horton (201-1989, college: CCSU, agency: Octagon Europe) added 15 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Halc.Rojos. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Fuerza Regia have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 17-3 record. Halc.Rojos at the other side keep the twelfth place with 13 games lost. Fuerza Regia are looking forward to face Astros (#3) in Guadalajara in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Halc.Rojos will play at home against Freseras (#9) and are hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Halc.Rojos: K.Horton 15+7reb+1ast, D.Washington 15+4reb+5ast, E.Ayala 13+6reb+1ast, I.Gandia-Rosa 10+6reb+2ast, I.Diogu 9+2reb+1ast, D.Jefferson 5+2reb
Fuerza Regia: J.Grant 14+7reb, M.Speight 12+7reb+5ast, J.Adaway 12+5reb+2ast, W.Langston 11+5reb+1ast, L.Faggiano 9+3reb+4ast, J.Dunn 8+2reb

Plateros - Diablos 79-76

Important game to mention about took place in Fresnillo. Seventh ranked Plateros (12-8) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Diablos (12-8) 79-76 in the game for the fifth place. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Diablos. American center Deion McClenton (208, college: Keiser) scored 19 points and 9 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) chipped in 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. International swingman Gael Bonilla (204-2003) responded with 15 points and 5 rebounds and American guard Michael Smith (193-1995, college: CBU) scored 13 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Diablos' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Plateros moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Dorados and Diablos. Plateros will play against league's second-placed Halc.Xalapa in Xalapa in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Diablos will play at home against Panteras and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Diablos: G.Bonilla 15+5reb+2ast, M.Smith 13+4reb+1ast, D.Giron 10+2reb+1ast, L.Gonzalez 10+4reb+3ast, A.Holmes 9+3reb+1ast, A.Harrison 6
Plateros: M.Bryson 20+6reb+4ast, D.McClenton 19+9reb+2ast, A.Matias 15+7reb+1ast, F.Vazquez 11+5reb+4ast, D.Collier 7+5reb, T.White 5+5reb+4ast

Freseras - El Calor 85-82

A very close game took place in Irapuato between Freseras and El Calor. Eleventh ranked Freseras (9-11) got a very close home victory over 13th ranked El Calor (6-13). Freseras managed to escape with a 3-point win 85-82 on Saturday evening. Freseras forced 19 El Calor turnovers. American guard Jimond Ivey (196-1996, college: Akron) notched 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and the other American import guard Antwon Lillard (198-1995, college: BGSU) supported him with 18 points. Lillard is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Freseras' coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 22 points by American guard Archie Goodwin (196-1994, college: Kentucky) did not help to save the game for El Calor. Venezuelan point guard Heissler Guillent (186-1986) added 15 points and 8 rebounds for the guests. Freseras have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Soles and Mineros. El Calor lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth position with 13 games lost. Freseras will meet Halc.Rojos (#12) in the next round. El Calor will play against Dorados and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
El Calor: A.Goodwin 22+3reb+2ast, H.Guillent 15+8reb+3ast, E.Mockevicius 15+10reb, A.Chidom 9+9reb, R.Delgado 6+1reb+4ast, J.Lawson 6+5reb+1ast
Freseras: J.Ivey 20+8reb+4ast, A.Lillard 18+4reb+3ast, K.Iverson 12+7reb, J.Wheeler 9+3reb+4ast, M.Crawford 9+7reb+4ast, D.Giddens 6+4reb+1ast

Mineros - Astros 79-103

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Astros (14-5) crushed 9th ranked Mineros (9-11) in Zacatecas 103-79 on Saturday. Astros outrebounded Mineros 37-24 including 26 on the defensive glass. Astros looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American forward Tre McCallum (201-1995, college: DePaul, agency: MSG) notched 18 points to lead the effort and Ruan Masques supported him with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Even 19 points and 7 rebounds by American forward Keith Stone (206-1997, college: Miami, FL) did not help to save the game for Mineros. Puerto Rican point guard Jorge Pacheco (188-1998, college: Liberty, agency: Octagon Europe) added 10 points for the hosts. Four Mineros players 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. Astros have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Mineros lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Soles and Freseras. Astros will meet at home league's leader Fuerza Regia in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Mineros will play against Santos (#8) in San Luis Potosi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Mineros: K.Stone 19+7reb, B.Nazione 11+2reb, A.Spight 11+1reb+1ast, J.Pacheco 10+4reb+3ast, A.Kappos 7+2reb+1ast, A.Thomas 7
Astros: T.McCallum 18+2reb, J.Loveridge 14+2reb+2ast, R.Masques 13+7reb, J.Rodriguez 10+2reb, C.Sanders 10+2reb+5ast, L.N'Guessan 10+5reb