LPB Round 9: Correcaminos lose their first game against Dragones

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Correcaminos (7-1) in Panama City on Tuesday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Dragones (4-3) 79-75. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Correcaminos. Dragones looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Dragones made 8 blocks. Point guard Joel Munoz (183-80) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists for the winners and American forward Zacarry Douglas (203-95, college: NCCU) chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Jaime Lloreda (204-80, college: LSU) with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 17 rebounds. Correcaminos' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Newly promoted Dragones maintains fourth place with 4-3 record, which they share with Panteras. Correcaminos at the other side still keep top position with one game lost. Dragones' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Panama City to the arena Panteras.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Panama City: Halcones (#3) and Atletico (#3). Atletico was crushed at home by 27 points 81-108 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Naturalized Chilean guard Eugenio Luzcando (187-95, college: Idaho St.) nailed a triple-double by scoring 12 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 blocks for the winning side and Anell Alexis accounted for 29 points (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field). American-Salvadorean point guard Robert Martinez (185-91, college: OLLU) came up with 23 points and 9 assists for Atletico in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Halcones have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 5-2 record having just three points less than leader Correcaminos. Atletico at the other side dropped to the second position with two games lost. Halcones will play against league's leader Correcaminos in Colon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Atletico will have a break next round.
Bottom-ranked Toros (0-8) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their eighth consecutive match to third ranked Atletico (6-2) 85-69 on Thursday evening. The best player for the winners was Akeme Smart who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was John Hernandez who recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and 16 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Atletico moved-up to second place. Loser Toros still closes the standings with eight games lost. Atletico will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Toros will play against Caballos (#6) and hope to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 9 Caballos lost to Panteras on the opponent's court 65-81.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 25 points and 6 rebounds by Raimer Santana of Panteras.

Dragones - Correcaminos 79-75

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Correcaminos (7-1) in Panama City on Tuesday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Dragones (4-3) 79-75. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Correcaminos. Dragones looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Dragones made 8 blocks. Point guard Joel Munoz (183-80) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists for the winners and American forward Zacarry Douglas (203-95, college: NCCU) chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Jaime Lloreda (204-80, college: LSU) with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 17 rebounds and the former international forward Tyler Gaskins (193-92, college: St.Peter's) scored 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Correcaminos' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Newly promoted Dragones maintains fourth place with 4-3 record, which they share with Panteras. Correcaminos at the other side still keep top position with one game lost. Dragones' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Panama City to the arena Panteras.
Top scorers:
Dragones: P.Rivas 16+8reb+1ast, J.Munoz 15+5reb+13ast, Z.Douglas 15+11reb+1ast, G.Atencio 13+7reb+1ast, G.Ford 9+3reb+2ast, M.Guevara 6+1ast
Correcaminos: M.Hicks 20+1reb+5ast, T.Gaskins 19+5reb+7ast, J.Lloreda 17+17reb+1ast, Y.Stewart 11+9reb, J.Andrade 3+1reb+3ast, O.Carlos 3+1reb+1ast

Atletico Nacional - Universitarios 81-108

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Panama City: Halcones (#3) and Atletico (#3). Atletico was crushed at home by 27 points 81-108 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Halcones outrebounded Atletico 42-30 including 32 on the defensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists. Naturalized Chilean guard Eugenio Luzcando (187-95, college: Idaho St.) nailed a triple-double by scoring 12 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 blocks for the winning side and the former international Anell Alexis (200-90, college: Marist) accounted for 29 points (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field). Five Halcones players scored in double figures. American-Salvadorean point guard Robert Martinez (185-91, college: OLLU) came up with 23 points and 9 assists and power forward Daniel King (203-87, college: Texas Southern) added 14 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Atletico in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Halcones have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 5-2 record having just three points less than leader Correcaminos. Atletico at the other side dropped to the second position with two games lost. Halcones will play against league's leader Correcaminos in Colon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Atletico will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Universitarios: A.Alexis 29+1ast, L.Santiago 21+3reb+6ast, Y.Cabeza 19+4reb, E.Luzcando 12+13reb+12ast, T.Jones 10+9reb+3ast, G.Gilmar 10+6reb+3ast
Atletico Nacional: R.Martinez 23+1reb+9ast, A.Alberto 17+1reb+4ast, D.King 14+11reb+1ast, F.Bryan 12+1reb, J.King 9+5reb+7ast, A.Smart 6+10reb+2ast

Atletico Nacional - Toros 85-69

Bottom-ranked Toros (0-8) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their eighth consecutive match to third ranked Atletico (6-2) 85-69 on Thursday evening. Atletico dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Toros' 36. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Vincentian center Akeme Smart (218-91, college: McCook CC) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. American-Salvadorean point guard Robert Martinez (185-91, college: OLLU) chipped in 18 points and 5 assists. Martinez is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Atletico players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Colombian center John Hernandez (207-84) who recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and 16 rebounds and guard Manuel Barnes (187-98) added 19 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Atletico moved-up to second place. Loser Toros still closes the standings with eight games lost. Atletico will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Toros will play against Caballos (#6) and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Atletico Nacional: R.Martinez 18+2reb+5ast, A.Alberto 16+5reb+3ast, D.King 15+7reb+2ast, A.Smart 14+10reb+4ast, J.King 12+3reb+7ast, F.Bryan 8+6reb
Toros: O.Zephyrine 19+4reb+1ast, M.Barnes 19+4reb+3ast, J.Hernandez 11+16reb+3ast, O.Jose Luis 8+3reb+9ast, d.Gracia Gilberto 6+2reb+1ast, H.Ortega 4+2reb+1ast

Panteras - Caballos 81-65

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Caballos' (1-7) road loss to fifth ranked Panteras (4-3) 65-81 on Thursday. The best player for the winners was Dominican point guard Raimer Santana (183-97) who scored 25 points and 6 rebounds. Dominican forward Cristian Joan Duran (201-96, college: Tenn Tech) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was naturalized American Adalberto Rojas (200-86) who recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and the former international Nicanor Alvarez (192-91) added 11 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Panteras have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Dragones. Caballos lost fifth consecutive game. Defending champion keep the sixth position with seven games lost. Panteras' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Panama City Dragones.
Top scorers:
Panteras: R.Santana 25+6reb+3ast, L.Dinolis 14+5reb+2ast, C.Joan Duran 14+10reb+3ast, A.Grant 10+5reb+3ast, A.Austin 8+1reb+1ast, M.Isaac 3+2reb+1ast
Caballos: A.Rojas 13+10reb+2ast, J.Montenegro 12+5reb+1ast, C.Rodriguez 12+5reb+4ast, N.Alvarez 11+10reb+1ast, F.Moore 8+3reb+1ast, O.Ortega 6+1reb+1ast



Tags : JOEL MUNOZ, DRAGONES DE DON BOSCO, PANAMANIAN BASKETBALL