LNBP Round 11 (Regular Season): Diablos lose to Halc.Xalapa

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked Diablos (8-3) and twelfth ranked Halcones UV Xalapa (4-7) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Diablos were defeated by Halcones UV Xalapa in a tough game in Xalapa 72-81. Halc.Xalapa dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Diablos' 24. Halc.Xalapa looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Diablos' players. American guard Justin Bibbs (196-1996, college: Virginia Tech) orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points and 4 assists. Argentinian-Italian point guard Fernando Zurbriggen (185-1997) contributed with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Venezuelan forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) for Diablos. Diablos' coach Nicolas Casalanguida rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Halc.Xalapa moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Panteras and El Calor. Diablos at the other side keep the second position with three games lost. They share it with Fuerza Regia and Mineros. Halc.Xalapa is again looking forward to face league's second-placed Diablos in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Diablos will have a break next round.
LNBP top team - Soles (9-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed twelfth ranked Freseras (3-8) in Mexicali 78-56. It was a great evening for American forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points and 5 rebounds. Donald Sims helped adding 19 points. American-Puerto Rican center Antonio Gordon (206-2001, college: Oklah.Christian) responded with 9 points and 5 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Soles maintains first place with 9-1 record. Freseros lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with eight games lost. They share it with Correcaminos. Soles will play against Freseros (#13) in Irapuato in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Freseros will have a break next round.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 11: Gambusinos were beaten by Fuerza Regia on the road 97-83. Mineros won against Santos on its own court 89-79. El Calor unfortunately lost to Astros in Guadalajara 78-94. Panteras managed to beat Correcaminos at home 100-87.
The most impressive performance of 11th round was 16 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals by Erik Thomas of Panteras.



Fuerza Regia - Gambusinos 97-83

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Fuerza Regia (8-3) beat 7th ranked Gambusinos (5-6) in Monterrey 97-83. Fuerza Regia players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists. It was a great evening for Kosovan-American Scott Bamforth (188-1989, college: Weber St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 19 points. American forward Lewis Sullivan (201-1995, college: UAB, agency: BIG) helped adding 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (perfect from the field making all six shots). American guard Admon Gilder (193-1995, college: Gonzaga) responded with 13 points and Trinidad and Tobago center Jabari Narcis (206-1997, college: UT Arlington, agency: MSG) scored 14 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fuerza Regia have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Mineros and Diablos. Gambusinos at the other side keep the seventh position with six games lost. Fuerza Regia will again play against Gambusinos (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Gambusinos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fuerza Regia: S.Bamforth 19+3reb+3ast, A.Holmes 13+3reb+3ast, L.Sullivan 13+5reb+5ast, B.Paul 11+2ast, L.Doria 10+4reb+1ast, E.Giron 8
Gambusinos: J.Narcis 14+4reb, A.Gilder 13+3reb+3ast, S.CURRY 12+2reb, K.Vaughn 10+1reb+4ast, K.Feagin 10+3reb+1ast, T.Robinson 9+3reb

Mineros - Santos 89-79

Very expected game when 14th ranked Santos (1-10) lost to fourth ranked Mineros (8-3) in Zacatecas 79-89. Mineros outrebounded Santos 39-28 including 28 on the defensive glass. Mineros players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 8 blocks. It was a great evening for American forward Kenneth Horton (201-1989, college: CCSU, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Bahamas center Tavario Miller (203-1994, college: Texas A&M) helped adding 17 points and 9 rebounds. Miller is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American-Puerto Rican point guard Tjader Fernandez (178-1994) responded with 20 points and 6 assists and American forward Markedric Bell (203-1999, college: PVAMU) scored 22 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mineros moved-up to second place, which they share with Fuerza Regia and Diablos. Santos lost sixth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with ten games lost. Mineros will again play against bottom-ranked Santos (#14) in San Luis Potosi in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Santos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Mineros: K.Horton 23+5reb+4ast, T.Miller 17+9reb+2ast, D.McClanahan 10+3reb+3ast, J.Valinotti 9+4reb+4ast, V.Arteaga 6+4reb+4ast, B.Rivera 5+1reb
Santos: M.Bell 22+3reb+1ast, T.Fernandez 20+3reb+6ast, D.GONZALEZ 12+3ast, J.Grayer 6+8reb+2ast, R.Pinzon 5, T.Ferguson 4+1reb+2ast

Soles - Freseros 78-56

LNBP top team - Soles (9-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed twelfth ranked Freseras (3-8) in Mexicali 78-56. Soles dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Freseras' 28. Soles players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Freseros' players. It was a great evening for American forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points and 5 rebounds. His fellow American import Donald Sims (190-1987, college: App State, agency: Pensack Sports) helped adding 19 points. American-Puerto Rican center Antonio Gordon (206-2001, college: Oklah.Christian) responded with 9 points and 5 rebounds and American guard Harrison Butler (196, college: SUU) scored 9 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Soles maintains first place with 9-1 record. Freseros lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with eight games lost. They share it with Correcaminos. Soles will play against Freseros (#13) in Irapuato in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Freseros will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Soles: D.Sims 19+1reb+1ast, C.Zinaich 16+5reb+2ast, L.Martinez 8+7reb+5ast, A.Henriquez 8+3reb+4ast, J.Moss 7+3reb+2ast, J.Glynn 7+2reb+1ast
Freseros: B.BOYD 14+2reb+2ast, H.Butler 9+4reb+1ast, A.Gordon 9+5reb+1ast, M.Lukic 8+5reb, C.Gutierrez 8+3reb, J.Moorman II 4+2reb+2ast

Astros - El Calor 94-78

Rather predictable result when fifth ranked Astros (7-1) won against 8th ranked El Calor (4-7) in Guadalajara 94-78. Astros players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. It was a great evening for international guard Karim Rodriguez (196-1988) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points and 4 assists (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Dominican Rigoberto Mendoza (191-1992) helped adding 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Four Astros players scored in double figures. American center Gerard DeVaughn (205-1988, college: Stillman) responded with 10 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import forward Jordan Loveridge (198-1993, college: Utah) scored 14 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astros have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 7-1 record. El Calor at the other side keeps the eighth position with seven games lost. They share it with Halc.Xalapa and Panteras. Astros will again play against El Calor (#9) in Cancun in the next round. El Calor will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Astros: K.Rodriguez 18+3reb+4ast, R.Mendoza 15+5reb+5ast, W.Gordon 14+4reb+4ast, A.Chaney 11+2reb+3ast, H.Hart 10+6reb+1ast, D.Davis 6+1ast
El Calor: J.Loveridge 14+1ast, G.DeVaughn 10+7reb+1ast, M.Toppin 10+5reb, M.Landis 8, M.Fernandez 8+6reb, J.Camacho 7+1reb

Halc.Xalapa - Diablos 81-72

The game between second ranked Diablos (8-3) and twelfth ranked Halcones UV Xalapa (4-7) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Diablos were defeated by Halcones UV Xalapa in a tough game in Xalapa 72-81. Halc.Xalapa dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Diablos' 24. Halc.Xalapa looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Diablos' players. American guard Justin Bibbs (196-1996, college: Virginia Tech) orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points and 4 assists. Argentinian-Italian point guard Fernando Zurbriggen (185-1997) contributed with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Venezuelan forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) and American guard Daishon Smith (185-1995, college: ULM) added 14 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Diablos. Diablos' coach Nicolas Casalanguida rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Halc.Xalapa moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Panteras and El Calor. Diablos at the other side keep the second position with three games lost. They share it with Fuerza Regia and Mineros. Halc.Xalapa is again looking forward to face league's second-placed Diablos in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Diablos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Halc.Xalapa: J.Bibbs 22+2reb+4ast, J.Washington 10, F.Zurbriggen 9+8reb+6ast, G.Giron 9+6reb+1ast, P.Stoll 8+3reb+7ast, J.Avila 8+11reb+2ast
Diablos: D.Smith 14+5reb+3ast, M.Carrera 14+10reb, K.Helmanis 12+4reb, L.Gonzalez 8+2reb+1ast, A.Anderson 7+5reb+2ast, G.Bonilla 6+3reb+2ast

Panteras - Correcaminos 100-87

Everything could happen in Aguascalientes at the game between two tied teams. Both twelfth ranked Panteras and 11th ranked Correcaminos had identical 3-7 record. This time Panteras used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Ciudad Victoria 100-87. Panteras made 28-of-33 charity shots (84.8 percent) during the game, while Correcaminos only scored eleven points from the stripe. Panteras players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. It was a great evening for Argentinian-American Erik Thomas (195-1995, college: New Orleans) who led his team to a victory scoring 16 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. American guard Terrell Brown (185-1998, college: NM State) helped adding 19 points and 7 rebounds (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!). Five Panteras players scored in double figures. Panteras' coach Pascal Meurs used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American point guard Roddy Peters (193-1995, college: Nicholls) responded with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 5 rebounds and 14 assists and the other American import guard Alphonso Willis (188-1998, college: A&M-Commerce) scored 10 points and 7 rebounds. Panteras have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Halc.Xalapa and El Calor. Correcaminos lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth position with eight games lost. They share it with Freseros. Panteras will again play against Correcaminos (#12) in Ciudad Victoria in the next round. Correcaminos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Panteras: T.Brown 19+7reb+1ast, E.Thomas 16+6reb+7ast, J.Martin 15+4reb+5ast, T.White 12+3reb+1ast, S.Barro 11+5reb, V.Iwuakor 9+4reb
Correcaminos: R.Peters 17+5reb+14ast, T.JOHNSON 13+8reb+2ast, D.Trasvina 12+3reb, C.GARCIA 12+8reb, A.Willis 10+7reb+1ast, N. FAUST 8+3reb+1ast