LPB Round 7: Lobos hand first loss to Atletico

Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Atletico (11-1) on the court of second ranked Lobos on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Lobos 72-63. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of Atletico. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Lobos forced 20 Atletico turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Amir Alvarado (198-1984, college: Marshalltown) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 7 rebounds. Costa Rican swingman Daniel Shedden (191-1996, college: MSUB) contributed with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Power forward Josimar Blenman (200-1989, college: Globe Tech) answered with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds for Atletico. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lobos have a solid series of four victories in a row. Newly promoted Lobos maintains second place with 7-4 record having five points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Atletico at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost. Lobos are looking forward to face Halcones (#4) in the next round. Atletico will play against Caballos in Aguadulce and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in . Fifth ranked Centinelas (4-7) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 3rd placed Caballos (6-6) 74-71 on Friday evening. It was a great evening for Lucas Chavez (187-1995) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists. Armani Cotton helped adding 21 points and 6 rebounds. At the losing side forward Michael Hicks (196-1976, college: TAMUCC) responded with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (made all of his seven free throws). Newly promoted Centinelas maintains fifth place with 4-7 record. Caballos at the other side keep the third position with six games lost. Centinelas will play against higher ranked Halcones (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Caballos will play against the league's leader Atletico and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Panama City: Atletico (#1) and Universitarios (#6). Atletico (11-1) crushed visiting Universitarios (1-10) by 30 points 97-67. It was an exceptional evening for Bryan Flores who led the winners and scored 24 points. Brandon Franklin came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds for Universitarios 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. Atletico have an impressive series of eleven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 11-1 record. Universitarios lost ninth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with ten games lost. Atletico will meet Caballos (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Universitarios will play against Centinelas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 7 Halcones were smashed by Caballos on the road 72-48.

Caballos - Halcones 72-48

The game between closely ranked teams ended with third ranked Caballos' (6-6) home victory over 4th placed Halcones (5-6) in Aguadulce 72-48 on Thursday. Caballos dominated down low during the game scoring 44 of its points in the paint compared to Halcones' 18. They outrebounded Halcones 49-35 including 16 on the offensive glass. It was an exceptional evening for power forward Aldimir Castillo (203-2002) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Michael Hicks (196-1976, college: TAMUCC) accounted for 11 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side. Four Caballos players scored in double figures. American point guard Kendarius Smith (178-1996, college: N.Alabama) came up with 21 points and 4 assists and Colombian forward Leyder Moreno (195-2000) added 14 points and 10 rebounds respectively for Halcones 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. Caballos maintains third place with 6-6 record having five points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Newly promoted Halcones keep the fourth position with six games lost. Caballos will meet at home league's leader Atletico in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Halcones will play against Centinelas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Caballos: B.Ezequiel 16+6reb+1ast, R.Carlos 13+2reb, M.Hicks 11+5reb+7ast, C.Aldimir 10+14reb+2ast, J.Montenegro 9+6reb+4ast, G.Navarro 5+4reb+3ast
Halcones: K.Smith 21+4reb+4ast, L.Moreno 14+10reb, B.Waithe 5+1reb, F.Barrera 3+5reb+1ast, L.Bryan 2+1reb, M.Gotti 2+2reb

Atletico Nacional - Universitarios 97-67

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Panama City: Atletico (#1) and Universitarios (#6). Atletico (11-1) crushed visiting Universitarios (1-10) by 30 points 97-67. Atletico made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Bryan Flores (181-1992) who led the winners and scored 24 points. Point guard Joel Munoz (183-1980) accounted for 11 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals for the winning side. Four Atletico players scored in double figures. American forward Brandon Franklin (208-2001, college: Wake Tech CC) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds and point guard Jeff Montenegro (180) added 5 points and 7 assists respectively for Universitarios 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. Atletico have an impressive series of eleven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 11-1 record. Universitarios lost ninth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with ten games lost. Atletico will meet Caballos (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Universitarios will play against Centinelas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Atletico Nacional: F.Bryan 24+3reb+1ast, J.King 17+3reb+1ast, A.Rojas 13+10reb+1ast, J.Munoz 11+5reb+10ast, J.Blenman 9+4reb+1ast, P.Emir 7+3reb
Universitarios: B.Franklin 21+12reb, R.Maikol 8+1reb+2ast, M.Yanis 8+5reb, M.Arturo 7+3reb+1ast, C.Ibarra 6+2reb+3ast, W.Anthony 6+3reb+1ast

Centinelas - Caballos 74-71

Important game to mention about took place in . Fifth ranked Centinelas (4-7) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 3rd placed Caballos (6-6) 74-71 on Friday evening. Centinelas players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. It was a great evening for Lucas Chavez (187-1995) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists. Naturalized American guard Armani Cotton (201-1991, college: Yale) helped adding 21 points and 6 rebounds. Four Centinelas players scored in double figures. At the losing side forward Michael Hicks (196-1976, college: TAMUCC) responded with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (made all of his seven free throws) and Carlos Rodriguez scored 11 points and 7 assists. Newly promoted Centinelas maintains fifth place with 4-7 record. Caballos at the other side keep the third position with six games lost. Centinelas will play against higher ranked Halcones (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Caballos will play against the league's leader Atletico and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Centinelas: A.Cotton 21+6reb+2ast, T.Gaskins 19+3reb+3ast, A.Austin 16+4reb+1ast, C.Lucas 13+7reb+12ast, M.Petkovic 3+9reb+2ast, L.Ibarra 2+5reb+3ast
Caballos: M.Hicks 23+6reb+4ast, R.Carlos 11+3reb+7ast, C.Aldimir 11+4reb+1ast, J.Montenegro 9+1reb+1ast, G.Atencio 6+7reb+2ast, M.Barnes 4

Lobos - Atletico Nacional 72-63

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Atletico (11-1) on the court of second ranked Lobos on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Lobos 72-63. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of Atletico. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Lobos forced 20 Atletico turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Amir Alvarado (198-1984, college: Marshalltown) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 7 rebounds. Costa Rican swingman Daniel Shedden (191-1996, college: MSUB) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Power forward Josimar Blenman (200-1989, college: Globe Tech) answered with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds and Jonathan King (193-1990, college: ACU) added 16 points in the effort for Atletico. 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. Lobos have a solid series of four victories in a row. Newly promoted Lobos maintains second place with 7-4 record having five points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Atletico at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost. Lobos are looking forward to face Halcones (#4) in the next round. Atletico will play against Caballos in Aguadulce and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lobos: A.Alvarado 20+7reb+2ast, J.Lombardo 14+6reb+3ast, D.Shedden 14+10reb+4ast, V.Arias 10+7reb+5ast, B.Edward 6+1reb+2ast, O.Zephyrine 5
Atletico Nacional: J.King 16+4reb, J.Blenman 12+11reb, P.Emir 11+1ast, A.Gedeon 11+6reb, A.Alberto 7+2reb+4ast, J.Munoz 4+1reb+4ast



Tags : AMIR ALVARADO, LOBOS DE BOCAS Y CHIRIQUI, PANAMANIAN BASKETBALL