LPB U23 Round 6 (Regular Season): Cocle is upset by Bocas Del Toro

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in between second ranked Cocle (9-6) and sixth ranked Bocas Del Toro (7-7) on Saturday night. Cocle was defeated by Bocas Del Toro in a tough game at home 73-77. Bocas Del Toro forced 25 Cocle turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 27 personal fouls committed by Cocle helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was forward Juan Lewis (181-2004) who had a double-double by scoring 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Roberto Mitchell chipped in 20 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Fernando Gonzalez (182-2004) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds. Cocle's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Bocas Del Toro maintains sixth position with 7-7 record. Cocle at the other side dropped to the third place with six games lost.
Another exciting game was between seventh ranked Panama Este and 4th ranked Veraguas where Panama Este (6-4) won against Veraguas (8-5) on the road 76-69. It was a good game for swingman Emir Pinillo (194-2002) who led his team to a victory with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Emanuel Taton contributed with 9 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Carlos Moreno replied with 24 points and 9 rebounds for Veraguas. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Panama Este have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain seventh position with 6-4 record. Veraguas at the other side dropped to the fifth place with five games lost.
Undefeated leader Colon delivered the fourteenth consecutive victory on Saturday night. This time they crushed 11th ranked Guna Yala (2-11) 157-66. Hammurabi De Leon had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 19 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Colon's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was Brandon Franklin with 28 points and 8 rebounds. Undefeated Colon (14-0) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position with a perfect record of 14 victories in a row. Guna Yala lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with 11 games lost.

In the last two games of round 6 Herrera was defeated by Panama Norte in a road game 82-76. Chiriqui lost to undefeated Panama Metro at home 78-101.



Panama Norte - Herrera 82-76

There was no surprise when 9th ranked Herrera (3-10) was defeated on the road by fifth ranked Panama Norte (8-2) 82-76 on Saturday. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Panama Norte forced 25 Herrera turnovers. Point guard Gonzalo Ortiz Jr. (182-2002) scored 23 points and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Randal Aguilar (-2001) chipped in 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Four Panama Norte players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was forward Justin Diaz (187-2002) with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and Josir Diaz scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Panama Norte moved-up to fourth place. Herrera lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Panama Norte: G.Ortiz Jr. 23+3reb+5ast, D.Betegon 15+1reb+5ast, R.Aguilar 15+6reb+4ast, R.De La Espada 12+6reb, J.Goodrigde 6+1reb+2ast, K.Vega 5+4reb+1ast
Herrera: J.Diaz 21+5reb, J.Diaz 14+9reb+6ast, C.Quintero 12+4reb+3ast, K.Alvarado 8+1ast, A.Bingham 7+6reb+1ast, C.Saavedra 6+2reb+1ast

Chiriqui - Panama Metro 78-101

No shocking result in a game when top-ranked Panama Metro (10-0) smashed on the road 8th ranked Chiriqui (5-9) 101-78 on Saturday. Panama Metro looked well-organized offensively handing out 35 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Chiriqui's players. Swingman Amilcar Sanchez (191-2001) had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and point guard Diego Duque (167-2003) chipped in 11 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists during the contest. Four Panama Metro players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Jorge Arauz with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and Abdiel Arauz scored 11 points and 5 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Panama Metro have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 10-0 record having 4 victories less than leader Colon. Loser Chiriqui keeps the eighth place with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Panama Metro: A.Sanchez 21+10reb+4ast, R.Oglivie 13+2reb, O.Aparicio 12+2reb, B.Lasso 12+3reb, D.Duque 11+5reb+11ast, E.Brown 10+10reb+2ast
Chiriqui: J.Arauz 14+5reb+6ast, A.Arauz 11+2reb+5ast, J.Lizondro 10+4reb, J.Matos 10+2reb, J.Quintero 9+7reb+1ast, J.Leon 9+4reb+1ast

Colon - Guna Yala 157-66

Undefeated leader Colon delivered the fourteenth consecutive victory on Saturday night. This time they crushed 11th ranked Guna Yala (2-11) 157-66. Colon dominated down low during the game scoring 130 of its points in the paint compared to Guna Yala's 46. Colon forced 51 Guna Yala turnovers and outrebounded them 50-37 including 18 on the offensive glass. Colon looked well-organized offensively handing out 36 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Guna Yala's players. Hammurabi De Leon had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 19 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Jeffrey Vega chipped in 12 points, 5 rebounds and 12 assists during the contest. Five Colon players scored in double figures. Colon's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was Brandon Franklin with 28 points and 8 rebounds and Juan Veroy scored 18 points and 7 rebounds. Colon (14-0) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain first position with a perfect record of 14 victories in a row. Guna Yala lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Colon: D.Laguna 21+1reb+1ast, H.De Leon 20+19reb+2ast, D.Armuelles 20+2reb+1ast, J.Marcel 19+6reb+3ast, A.Hall 16+6reb, G.De Obaldia 16+6reb+5ast
Guna Yala: B.Franklin 28+8reb, J.Veroy 18+7reb+2ast, M.Tejada 7+6reb+2ast, E.Martinez 5+4reb+1ast, J.Rosas 4+3reb, Y.Diaz 4+3reb+3ast

Veraguas - Panama Este 69-76

Another exciting game was between seventh ranked Panama Este and 4th ranked Veraguas where Panama Este (6-4) won against Veraguas (8-5) on the road 76-69. It was a good game for swingman Emir Pinillo (194-2002) who led his team to a victory with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Emanuel Taton contributed with 9 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Carlos Moreno replied with 24 points and 9 rebounds and Marlon Madrid added 14 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Veraguas. Four Veraguas players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Panama Este have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain seventh position with 6-4 record. Veraguas at the other side dropped to the fifth place with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Panama Este: Y.Acosta 15+1reb+1ast, G.Llerena 13+4reb+4ast, E.Pinillo 13+5reb+4ast, E.Taton 9+10reb+3ast, D.Andrade 8+5reb, D.Hun 5+4reb
Veraguas: C.Moreno 24+9reb+2ast, M.Madrid 14+9reb+1ast, J.Toruno 12+10reb+1ast, J.Gordon 10+2reb, L.Madrid 4+1reb, A.Murillo 2+3reb

Cocle - Bocas Del Toro 73-77

The most important game in the last round took place in between second ranked Cocle (9-6) and sixth ranked Bocas Del Toro (7-7) on Saturday night. Cocle was defeated by Bocas Del Toro in a tough game at home 73-77. Bocas Del Toro forced 25 Cocle turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 27 personal fouls committed by Cocle helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was forward Juan Lewis (181-2004) who had a double-double by scoring 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Roberto Mitchell chipped in 20 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Fernando Gonzalez (182-2004) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds and swingman Joshua Lemon (180) added 14 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Cocle's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Bocas Del Toro maintains sixth position with 7-7 record. Cocle at the other side dropped to the third place with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Bocas Del Toro: R.Mitchell 20+5reb+2ast, J.Lewis 12+11reb+4ast, J.Lewis 11+10reb, S.Alvarez 11+6reb+3ast, J.Williams 8+1reb+2ast, L.Gordn 7+5reb+6ast
Cocle: F.Gonzalez 18+11reb+1ast, J.Lemon 14+12reb+4ast, J.Verdooren 11+3reb, J.Espinosa 11+8reb+3ast, C.Rivas 6, J.Ceville 6+4reb