LNBP Round 22 (Regular Season): Diablos lose to Astros in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

4th ranked host Diablos (14-7) lost to second ranked Astros (19-2) 89-80. Astros shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 52.0 percentage. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Astros made 7 blocks. Dominican Rigoberto Mendoza (191-1992) scored 30 points and 6 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American point guard DJ Cooper (183-1990, college: Ohio) chipped in 22 points and 6 assists during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Dontrell Brite (175-1994, college: Mount Olive) responded with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astros have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Soles. Diablos lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth place with seven games lost. They share the position with Fuerza Regia. Astros will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Diablos will play again at home against the league's second-placed Astros (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
LNBP top team - Soles (19-2) added another victory to their record. This time they beat fifth ranked Fuerza Regia (14-7) in Monterrey 97-91. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Fuerza Regia. American guard Joshua Webster (190-1997, college: Missouri St.) notched a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 assists to lead the effort and Donald Sims supported him with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Even a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) by the former international center Joshua Ibarra (211-1995, college: HCU) did not help to save the game for Fuerza Regia. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Soles have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 19-2 record, which they share with Astros. Fuerza Regia at the other side dropped to the fourth place with seven games lost. They share the position with Diablos. Soles will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Fuerza Regia will play again at home against the league's leader Soles (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Chihuahua between El Calor and Dorados. Tenth ranked El Calor (9-12) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked Dorados (12-9). El Calor managed to escape with a 2-point win 92-90 on Monday evening. JJ Avila fired 23 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winners. Charles Mitchell produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds for lost side. El Calor have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Correcaminos. Loser Dorados keep the sixth position with nine games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 22: Correcaminos won against Santos on the opponent's court 87-85. Freseros unfortunately lost to Halc.Xalapa in a home game 76-90. Panteras managed to beat Gambusinos on the road 88-84. Mineros crushed Abejas on its own court 91-63.



Santos - Correcaminos 85-87

Very expected game in San Luis Potosi where 14th ranked Santos (2-19) were edged by ninth ranked Correcaminos (9-12) 87-85 on Monday. Costa Rican-Belizean Charles Garcia (204-1988, college: Seattle) fired a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American guard Taylor Johnson (193-1994, college: Dartmouth) chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Correcaminos' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Dominican Luismal Ferreiras (200-2003) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 17 rebounds and American guard Jaire Grayer (196-1996, college: TCU) added 15 points and 10 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Correcaminos maintains ninth position with 9-12 record, which they share with El Calor. Santos lost seventh consecutive game. They stay dead last with 19 lost games. Correcaminos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santos will play again against Correcaminos (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Correcaminos: C.Garcia 20+10reb+2ast, D.Daniels 17+1reb+4ast, T.Johnson 14+6reb+5ast, V.Blue 14+4reb+4ast, T.Cracknell 6+4reb+2ast, B.Tuach 6+1reb
Santos: A.Kaye Williams 19+2reb+2ast, L.Ferreiras 17+17reb, J.Grayer 15+10reb+3ast, M.Nuga 15+2reb+3ast, M.Bell 7+1reb+1ast, J.Haley Jr. 6+2reb+5ast

Freseros - Halc.Xalapa 76-90

Very predictable result in Irapuato where eighth ranked Halcones UV Xalapa (10-11) defeated 13th ranked Freseras (3-18) 90-76 on Monday. American-Puerto Rican Jaysean Paige (188-1994, college: WVU) fired 18 points for the winners. Argentinian-Italian point guard Fernando Zurbriggen (185-1997) chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds. American forward Darnell Brodie (208-1998, college: Drake) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and his fellow American import swingman JP Moorman II (201-1998, college: UC Riverside, agency: Players Group) added 11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals respectively for lost side. Four Freseros players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Halc.Xalapa moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Panteras. Freseros lost fourteenth consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth position with 18 games lost. Halc.Xalapa will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Freseros will play against Halc.Xalapa (#8) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Halc.Xalapa: J.Paige 18+2reb+1ast, G.Giron 12+2reb+3ast, F.Zurbriggen 10+8reb+3ast, J.Bibbs 9+1reb+2ast, T.McFadden 8+1reb, P.Stoll 8+4reb+3ast
Freseros: M.Lukic 15+1reb+2ast, B.Boyd 13+1reb, D.Brodie 12+11reb+4ast, J.Moorman II 11+5reb+6ast, H.Butler 9+4reb+1ast, K.Coats 7+1reb+1ast

Gambusinos - Panteras 84-88

Not a big story in a game when 11th ranked Gambusinos (7-14) were defeated at home by eighth ranked Panteras (10-11) 88-84 on Monday. Senegalese center Serigne Barro (208-1995) fired a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. American guard Terrell Brown (185-1998, college: NM State) chipped in 18 points. Panteras' coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) produced 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and Brazilian center Lucas Doria (203-1997, college: St.Edward's) added 18 points respectively for lost side. Four Gambusinos players scored in double figures. Panteras have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Halc.Xalapa. Gambusinos lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 14 games lost. Panteras will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gambusinos will play again against Panteras (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Panteras: T.Brown 18+1reb, S.Barro 16+11reb, T.White 13+3reb+3ast, V.Shahid 10+2reb+2ast, S.Lemon 9+2ast, E.Thomas 8+5reb+2ast
Gambusinos: M.Bryson 18+7reb+6ast, L.Doria 18+4reb+1ast, J.Narcis 12+5reb, K.Feagin 11+1reb+8ast, B.Jackson 9+3reb+4ast, N.Tomsick 8+2reb+4ast

Dorados - El Calor 90-92

A very close game took place in Chihuahua between El Calor and Dorados. Tenth ranked El Calor (9-12) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked Dorados (12-9). El Calor managed to escape with a 2-point win 92-90 on Monday evening. The former international JJ Avila (203-1991, college: Colorado St.) fired 23 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winners. American guard Jimond Ivey (196-1996, college: Akron) chipped in 25 points. American power forward Charles Mitchell (203-1993, college: Georgia Tech) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and his fellow American import Akia Pruitt (203-1997, college: UNCP) added 12 points and 6 assists respectively for lost side. Four Dorados players scored in double figures. El Calor have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Correcaminos. Loser Dorados keep the sixth position with nine games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
El Calor: J.Ivey 25+3reb+1ast, J.Avila 23+7reb+1ast, A.Barber 13+4reb+7ast, M.Landis 8+3ast, G.DeVaughn 6+4reb, M.Fernandez 6+2reb
Dorados: A.Banks 16+3reb+1ast, C.Mitchell 13+10reb+2ast, A.Pruitt 12+3reb+6ast, S.Branch 10+8reb+2ast, T.Johnson 9+3ast, M.Myers 8+2reb+1ast

Mineros - Abejas 91-63

Everything went according to plan in Zacatecas where fifth ranked Mineros (15-6) outscored 12th ranked Abejas (4-17) 91-63 on Monday. Bosnian Mirza Bulic (207-1992) fired 9 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American center Kenny Lawson (207-1988, college: Creighton) chipped in 16 points. Puerto Rican Jorge Torres (196-2000) produced 8 points and 9 rebounds and American power forward Makhi Mitchell (206-2000, college: Arkansas) added 11 points and 7 rebounds respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Mineros moved-up to third place. Abejas lost ninth consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 17 games lost. Mineros will again meet at home Abejas (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Abejas will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Mineros: K.Lawson 16+2reb+1ast, D.McClanahan 11, T.Miller 11+5reb+1ast, K.Horton 10+4reb+1ast, M.Bulic 9+12reb, J.Valinotti 8+4reb+3ast
Abejas: S.Keith 12+4reb+1ast, M.Mitchell 11+7reb, J.Torres 8+9reb+3ast, J.Kosakowski 7, J.Rivera 6+5reb+2ast, E.Weaver 6+1reb+1ast

Diablos - Astros 80-89

4th ranked host Diablos (14-7) lost to second ranked Astros (19-2) 89-80. Astros shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 52.0 percentage. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Astros made 7 blocks. Dominican Rigoberto Mendoza (191-1992) scored 30 points and 6 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American point guard DJ Cooper (183-1990, college: Ohio) chipped in 22 points and 6 assists during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Dontrell Brite (175-1994, college: Mount Olive) responded with 21 points and 6 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Daishon Smith (185-1995, college: ULM) scored 12 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astros have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Soles. Diablos lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth place with seven games lost. They share the position with Fuerza Regia. Astros will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Diablos will play again at home against the league's second-placed Astros (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Astros: R.Mendoza 30+6reb+2ast, D.Cooper 22+4reb+6ast, B.Jefferson 8+5reb+1ast, C.Lewis 8+4reb+2ast, D.Upson 6+4reb, A.Chaney 6+2reb+5ast
Diablos: D.Brite 21+6reb+2ast, D.Smith 12+3reb+4ast, K.Helmanis 10+1reb+1ast, J.Cruz 9+4reb+1ast, T.Leimanis 7+1reb, L.Gonzalez 7+3reb+4ast

Fuerza Regia - Soles 91-97

LNBP top team - Soles (19-2) added another victory to their record. This time they beat fifth ranked Fuerza Regia (14-7) in Monterrey 97-91. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Fuerza Regia. American guard Joshua Webster (190-1997, college: Missouri St.) notched a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 assists to lead the effort and the other American import Donald Sims (190-1987, college: App State, agency: Pensack Sports) supported him with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Even a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) by the former international center Joshua Ibarra (211-1995, college: HCU) did not help to save the game for Fuerza Regia. American guard Avry Holmes (185-1994, college: Clemson) added 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for lost side. Four Soles and five Fuerza Regia players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Soles have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 19-2 record, which they share with Astros. Fuerza Regia at the other side dropped to the fourth place with seven games lost. They share the position with Diablos. Soles will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Fuerza Regia will play again at home against the league's leader Soles (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Soles: D.Sims 15+5reb+3ast, C.Zinaich 14+4reb, L.Martinez 14+1reb+4ast, J.Webster 12+2reb+10ast, J.Moss 10+3reb, J.Glynn 9+7reb+1ast
Fuerza Regia: S.Bamforth 18+1reb+3ast, W.Langston 16+4reb+2ast, J.Ibarra 14+10reb+2ast, A.Holmes 14+6reb+4ast, S.Shorter 12+3reb+4ast, B.Paul 7+1reb+3ast