LPB Round 8: Atletico is defeated by Caballos

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Atletico (11-2) in Aguadulce on Monday night. Visitors were edged by third ranked Caballos (7-6) 69-67. Caballos outrebounded Atletico 41-26 including a 32-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international power forward Orlando Ortega (200-1981) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) and forward Michael Hicks (196-1976, college: TAMUCC) who added 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. point guard Joel Munoz (183-1980) responded with 12 points and 6 assists. Caballos maintains third position with 7-6 record having four points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Atletico at the other side still keeps top place with two games lost. Caballos are looking forward to face league's second-placed Lobos in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Atletico will play against Halcones and is hoping to win this game.
Sixth-ranked Universitarios (1-12) gave a tough game to second ranked Lobos (9-4) in Panama City. The visitors managed to secure only one-point victory 64-63. However their fans expected much easier game. The winners were led by Costa Rican Victor Arias (197-1995) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds and Isaac Conejo supported him with 2 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 10 steals. Even 14 points by Alex Vergara (183-1999) did not help to save the game for Universitarios. Lobos have an impressive six-game winning streak. Newly promoted Lobos maintains second position with 9-4 record having just two points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Universitarios lost eleventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 12 games lost. Lobos will play against Centinelas (#4) in the next round. Universitarios will play against Halcones and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very significant was Lobos' (#2, 9-4) victory against 4th ranked Halcones (5-8) 87-78. The best player for the winners was Victor Arias who had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. Grant Alejandro produced a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. Lobos (9-4) have an impressive six-game winning streak. Newly promoted Lobos maintains second position having just two points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Halcones lost third consecutive game. Halcones at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the fifth place with eight games lost. Lobos will meet at home Centinelas (#4) in the next round. Halcones will play against Universitarios and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 8 Centinelas destroyed Universitarios on the opponent's court 85-63. Centinelas managed to outperform Halcones in a home game 89-73.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 30 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists by Lucas Chavez of Centinelas.

Universitarios - Lobos 63-64

Sixth-ranked Universitarios (1-12) gave a tough game to second ranked Lobos (9-4) in Panama City. The visitors managed to secure only one-point victory 64-63. However their fans expected much easier game. Lobos forced 28 Universitarios turnovers. The winners were led by Costa Rican Victor Arias (197-1995) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds and Costa Rican point guard Isaac Conejo (182-1994) supported him with 2 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 10 steals. Even 14 points by Alex Vergara (183-1999) did not help to save the game for Universitarios. Maikol Rodrguez added 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals for the hosts. Lobos have an impressive six-game winning streak. Newly promoted Lobos maintains second position with 9-4 record having just two points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Universitarios lost eleventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 12 games lost. Lobos will play against Centinelas (#4) in the next round. Universitarios will play against Halcones and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lobos: V.Arias 17+15reb+1ast, A.Alvarado 13+1reb, C.Fausto 12+2reb+1ast, J.Lombardo 7+4reb+3ast, O.Zephyrine 6+1reb+1ast, D.Shedden 5+4reb
Universitarios: V.Alex 14+4reb+1ast, M.Yanis 10+4reb+1ast, C.Ibarra 9+1reb+5ast, M.Jeff 9+5reb+1ast, R.Maikol 8+6reb+5ast, W.Anthony 8+8reb+1ast

Lobos - Halcones 87-78

Very significant was Lobos' (#2, 9-4) victory against 4th ranked Halcones (5-8) 87-78. Lobos looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was Costa Rican Victor Arias (197-1995) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. Costa Rican swingman Daniel Shedden (191-1996, college: MSUB) chipped in 19 points and 6 rebounds. Four Lobos players scored in double figures. Grant Alejandro (199-1993) produced a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds and American point guard Kendarius Smith (178-1996, college: N.Alabama) added 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the guests. Lobos (9-4) have an impressive six-game winning streak. Newly promoted Lobos maintains second position having just two points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Halcones lost third consecutive game. Halcones at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the fifth place with eight games lost. Lobos will meet at home Centinelas (#4) in the next round. Halcones will play against Universitarios and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lobos: V.Arias 20+10reb+3ast, J.Lombardo 20+5reb, D.Shedden 19+6reb+2ast, I.Conejo 15+3reb+9ast, A.Alvarado 4+3reb+2ast, O.Zephyrine 4+2reb+3ast
Halcones: G.Alejandro 25+10reb+2ast, K.Smith 25+6reb+5ast, L.Moreno 11+5reb+3ast, I.Munoz 9+7reb, B.Waithe 4+2reb+3ast, A.Oses 2+9reb+2ast

Universitarios - Centinelas 63-85

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Universitarios' (1-12) home loss to fifth ranked Centinelas (6-7) 63-85 on Saturday. Centinelas dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Universitarios' 42. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Serbian power forward Milos Petkovic (204-1991) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds (perfect from the field making all nine shots !!!). Naturalized American guard Armani Cotton (201-1991, college: Yale) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Centinelas players scored in double figures. Centinelas' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Center Manuel Yanis (202-1998) produced 15 points and 6 rebounds and Arturo Molina (182-2003) added 15 points and 5 steals respectively for the hosts. Centinelas have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Universitarios lost eleventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 12 games lost. Centinelas will meet league's second-placed Lobos in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Universitarios will play against Halcones (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Centinelas: M.Petkovic 21+14reb+2ast, A.Austin 18+4reb+2ast, T.Gaskins 17+3reb+5ast, C.Lucas 11+2reb+7ast, A.Cotton 10+12reb+4ast, A.Jeremy 4+2reb+1ast
Universitarios: M.Yanis 15+6reb+1ast, M.Arturo 15+4reb+2ast, C.Ibarra 10+6reb+3ast, M.Jeff 9+4reb+4ast, R.Maikol 8+6reb+2ast, V.Alex 3+1reb

Caballos - Atletico Nacional 69-67

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Atletico (11-2) in Aguadulce on Monday night. Visitors were edged by third ranked Caballos (7-6) 69-67. Caballos outrebounded Atletico 41-26 including a 32-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international power forward Orlando Ortega (200-1981) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) and forward Michael Hicks (196-1976, college: TAMUCC) who added 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Point guard Joel Munoz (183-1980) responded with 12 points and 6 assists and naturalized American Adalberto Rojas (200-1986) scored 14 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Caballos maintains third position with 7-6 record having four points less than leader Atletico Nacional. Atletico at the other side still keeps top place with two games lost. Caballos are looking forward to face league's second-placed Lobos in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Atletico will play against Halcones and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Caballos: M.Hicks 16+8reb+4ast, O.Ortega 16+11reb+5ast, G.Navarro 13+2reb+4ast, B.Ezequiel 11+8reb, C.Aldimir 6+7reb, D.Diego 3+4reb+2ast
Atletico Nacional: A.Rojas 14+3reb+2ast, J.King 12+4reb+1ast, J.Munoz 12+4reb+6ast, F.Bryan 10+2reb+1ast, J.Blenman 9+6reb, P.Emir 5+2reb+1ast

Centinelas - Halcones 89-73

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both fifth ranked Centinelas and one of their biggest challengers Halcones had identical 5-7 record. This time Centinelas used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from 89-73 on Tuesday night. Centinelas dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Halcones' 30. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was Lucas Chavez (187-1995) who scored 30 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. American Antonio Austin (196-1991, college: SDCC) chipped in a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds. Austin is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top summer league for players who want to play basketball overseas. Four Centinelas players scored in double figures. Grant Alejandro (199-1993) produced a double-double by scoring 20 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists (perfect from the field making all nine shots !!!) and American point guard Kendarius Smith (178-1996, college: N.Alabama) added 23 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. Halcones' coach rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Centinelas have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Halcones lost third consecutive game. Halcones at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the fifth position with eight games lost. Centinelas will meet league's second-placed Lobos in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Halcones will play against Universitarios and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Centinelas: C.Lucas 30+9reb+7ast, A.Austin 25+10reb+3ast, G.Fernando 12+11reb+2ast, M.Petkovic 10+9reb+5ast, O.Jose Luis 7+3reb+1ast, A.Armando 3+2reb
Halcones: K.Smith 23+6reb+2ast, G.Alejandro 20+13reb+6ast, E.Lopez 9+1reb, L.Moreno 7+5reb+1ast, A.Oses 6+4reb+2ast, I.Munoz 6+7reb



Tags : ORLANDO ORTEGA, CABALLOS DE COCLE AGUADULCE, PANAMANIAN BASKETBALL