LPB Round 18: Halcones lose to Correcaminos

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game of round 18 was a defeat of league's leader Halcones (11-3). They were crushed by first ranked Correcaminos (12-3) 96-63 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Halcones. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Correcaminos dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Halcones' 32. They outrebounded Halcones 54-32 including a 37-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Correcaminos looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Halcones' players. Cuban guard Adriano Barreras (186-89) scored 28 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and center Jaime Lloreda (204-80, college: LSU) chipped in 14 points and 19 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Troy Jones (201-92, college: TAMUK) with 11 points and 6 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. Correcaminos maintains first position with 12-3 record. Halcones at the other side dropped to the second place with three games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Correcaminos. Halcones will play next round against Panteras trying to make it back to the top of the standings. It will be a derby game for which supporters look forward to, where their team will face at home their local rival from Panama City - Panteras. Correcaminos will try to continue on its current victory against fourth ranked Atletico in Panama City.
Bottom-ranked Toros (0-16) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their 16th consecutive match to fifth ranked Atletico (8-6) 100-82. Serbian power forward Milos Petkovic (204-91, agency: Interperformances) notched a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 14 rebounds (on 13-of-16 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Jonathan King supported him with 36 points (!!!), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals. Atletico's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) by forward Gilberto de Gracia (194-0) did not help to save the game for Toros. Atletico moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Panteras. Toros at the other side still closes the standings. Atletico will play against league's leader Correcaminos in Colon in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Toros will have a break next round.
The game in Aguadulce supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Dragones (11-5) played at the court of 6th ranked Caballos (3-13). Dragones smashed Caballos 95-56 on Thursday. The best player for the winners was Pablo Rivas who scored 21 points and 4 assists. Dragones' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was Nicanor Alvarez who recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dragones have an impressive five-game winning streak. Newly promoted Dragones maintains third position with 11-5 record behind leader Correcaminos. Defending champion Caballos keep the sixth place with 13 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

Toros - Atletico Nacional 82-100

Bottom-ranked Toros (0-16) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their 16th consecutive match to fifth ranked Atletico (8-6) 100-82. Atletico dominated down low during the game scoring 78 of its points in the paint compared to Toros' 48. Atletico forced 19 Toros turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. Serbian power forward Milos Petkovic (204-91, agency: Interperformances) notched a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 14 rebounds (on 13-of-16 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Jonathan King (193-90, college: ACU) supported him with 36 points (!!!), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals. Atletico's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) by forward Gilberto de Gracia (194-0) did not help to save the game for Toros. Point guard Daniel Machore (170-6) added 16 points and 8 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Four Toros players scored in double figures. Atletico moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Panteras. Toros at the other side still closes the standings. Atletico will play against league's leader Correcaminos in Colon in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Toros will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Toros: O.Zephyrine 19+2reb+3ast, d.Gracia Gilberto 18+11reb+3ast, M.Daniel 16+3reb+8ast, R.Newball 11+11reb, B.Edward 5+2reb, O.Jose Luis 5+1reb+5ast
Atletico Nacional: J.King 36+7reb+4ast, M.Petkovic 34+14reb+3ast, R.Martinez 17+5reb+9ast, F.Bryan 6+3reb+5ast, D.King 5+4reb+4ast, S.Yosimar 2+1reb

Correcaminos - Universitarios 96-63

The most important game of round 18 was a defeat of league's leader Halcones (11-3). They were crushed by first ranked Correcaminos (12-3) 96-63 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Halcones. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Correcaminos dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Halcones' 32. They outrebounded Halcones 54-32 including a 37-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Correcaminos looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Halcones' players. Cuban guard Adriano Barreras (186-89) scored 28 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and center Jaime Lloreda (204-80, college: LSU) chipped in 14 points and 19 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Troy Jones (201-92, college: TAMUK) with 11 points and 6 rebounds and naturalized Chilean guard Eugenio Luzcando (187-95, college: Idaho St.) scored 13 points. Five Correcaminos and four Halcones 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. Correcaminos maintains first position with 12-3 record. Halcones at the other side dropped to the second place with three games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Correcaminos. Halcones will play next round against Panteras trying to make it back to the top of the standings. It will be a derby game for which supporters look forward to, where their team will face at home their local rival from Panama City - Panteras. Correcaminos will try to continue on its current victory against fourth ranked Atletico in Panama City.
Top scorers:
Universitarios: E.Luzcando 13+3reb+3ast, C.Jahir 12+4reb, T.Jones 11+6reb+3ast, L.Santiago 10+1reb+1ast, A.Alexis 6+9reb+2ast, G.Grimes 5+4reb+2ast
Correcaminos: A.Barreras 28+5reb+9ast, M.Hicks 15+11reb+7ast, T.Gaskins 14+3reb+2ast, J.Lloreda 14+19reb+3ast, D.Giron 11+4reb+4ast, C.Allgood 10+5reb+1ast

Caballos - Dragones 56-95

The game in Aguadulce supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Dragones (11-5) played at the court of 6th ranked Caballos (3-13). Dragones smashed Caballos 95-56 on Thursday. Dragones dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Caballos' 36. Dragones forced 19 Caballos turnovers. They shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. Dragones looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Caballos' players. The best player for the winners was forward Pablo Rivas (198-94, college: NCCU) who scored 21 points and 4 assists. Point guard Joel Munoz (183-80) chipped in 11 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Rivas is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Dragones players scored in double figures. Dragones' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international Nicanor Alvarez (192-91) who recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds and the former international power forward Orlando Ortega (200-81) added 10 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Dragones have an impressive five-game winning streak. Newly promoted Dragones maintains third position with 11-5 record behind leader Correcaminos. Defending champion Caballos keep the sixth place with 13 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Caballos: J.Montenegro 14+2reb, N.Alvarez 14+10reb, O.Ortega 10+11reb+2ast, B.Waithe 7+2reb+3ast, A.Rojas 6+5reb+1ast, D.Alberto 3+1reb+2ast
Dragones: P.Rivas 21+2reb+4ast, G.Ford 13+1reb+2ast, Z.Douglas 12+7reb+2ast, J.Munoz 11+5reb+6ast, J.Blenman 10+6reb+3ast, C.Lucas 8+5reb+3ast



Tags : ADRIANO BARRERAS, CORRECAMINOS DE COLON, PANAMANIAN BASKETBALL