LPB U23 Round 8 (Regular Season): No surprise as #1 Colon defeats Veraguas

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

LPB U23 top team - Colon (16-0) added another victory to their record on Saturday. This time they beat fifth ranked Veraguas (9-6) in Santiago 78-71. Colon dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Veraguas' 36. Colon forced 19 Veraguas turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of forward Jorhiel Zapata (194-2002) who helped to win the game recording 14 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists and Jeffrey Vega who added 11 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. Colon's coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Center Jose Toruno (200-2002) responded with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks. Undefeated Colon have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-0 record. Veraguas at the other side keep the fifth place with six games lost.
Bottom-ranked Los Santos (0-15) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their 15th consecutive match to fifth ranked Panama Norte (9-3) 94-56. The winners were led by Randal Aguilar (-2001) who scored that evening 17 points and 5 assists and Josue Mendoza supported him with 13 points. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Even 21 points and 7 rebounds by Anthony Cassino did not help to save the game for Los Santos. Panama Norte moved-up to fourth place. Los Santos at the other side still closes the standings with 15 games lost.
The game in Panama City was also quite interesting. 6th ranked Bocas Del Toro (8-8) played at the court of seventh ranked Panama Este (8-4). Panama Este defeated Bocas Del Toro 83-68 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bocas Del Toro. The best player for the winners was Alexander Pile who had a double-double by scoring 24 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals. Panama Este's coach used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Sizzla Alvarez produced 19 points and 8 rebounds for the guests. Panama Este have an impressive five-game winning streak. They moved-up to sixth place. Loser Bocas Del Toro dropped to the seventh position with eight games lost.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 8: Herrera was destroyed by Panama Metro on the opponent's court 105-72. Chiriqui outscored Guna Yala in a home game 83-46. Panama Oeste recorded a loss to Cocle on the road 81-76.



Panama Metro - Herrera 105-72

Very expected game in Panama City where 10th ranked Herrera (3-12) was crushed by second ranked Panama Metro (11-1) 105-72 on Saturday. Panama Metro looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Herrera's players. The best player for the winners was point guard Guillermo Navarro (181-2003) who had a triple-double by scoring 17 points, 16 rebounds and 13 assists. Point guard Diego Duque (167-2003) chipped in 26 points. Four Panama Metro players scored in double figures. Abraham Bingham produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 19 rebounds and guard Christian Quintero (188-2003, college: Cabrillo CC) added 17 points and 8 assists respectively for the guests. Panama Metro maintains second position with 11-1 record having nine points less than leader Colon. Herrera lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with 12 games lost.
Top scorers:
Panama Metro: D.Duque 26+2reb+1ast, J.Beckford 21+3ast, G.Navarro 17+16reb+13ast, J.Murillo 15+3reb+2ast, L.Poyatos 14+2reb+1ast, B.Lasso 6+4reb+4ast
Herrera: A.Bingham 18+19reb+1ast, J.Ford 18+7reb+1ast, C.Quintero 17+4reb+8ast, K.Osorio 8+5reb+1ast, E.Mudarra 7+6reb+1ast, E.Alonso 4+4reb

Chiriqui - Guna Yala 83-46

Rather predictable result in David where eighth ranked Chiriqui (6-10) smashed 11th ranked Guna Yala (2-13) 83-46 on Saturday. Chiriqui dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Guna Yala's 32. Chiriqui forced 26 Guna Yala turnovers and outrebounded them 52-35 including a 23-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was Jonathan Quintero who had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds. Sebastian Villaverde chipped in 13 points and 6 rebounds. Coach 's team had such big advantage that he gave the chance to play for all 12 players saving starting five for next games. Abner Cosca produced 6 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks and Juan Veroy added 15 points respectively for the guests. Chiriqui maintains eighth position with 6-10 record. Guna Yala lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Chiriqui: J.Quintero 18+13reb+2ast, S.Villaverde 13+6reb, J.Arauz 9+2reb+4ast, D.Ramirez 8+1reb+2ast, A.Flores 8+3reb+1ast, P.Toruno 7+2reb
Guna Yala: J.Veroy 15+4reb, A.Parks 8+4reb+3ast, J.Rosas 6+5reb, M.Tejada 6+4reb+1ast, A.Cosca 6+13reb+2ast, Y.Diaz 3+3reb

Panama Norte - Los Santos 94-56

Bottom-ranked Los Santos (0-15) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their 15th consecutive match to fifth ranked Panama Norte (9-3) 94-56. Panama Norte forced 24 Los Santos turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Los Santos' players. The winners were led by Randal Aguilar (-2001) who scored that evening 17 points and 5 assists and Josue Mendoza supported him with 13 points. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Even 21 points and 7 rebounds by Anthony Cassino did not help to save the game for Los Santos. Phillip Flaaut added 11 points and 13 rebounds for the guests. Four Los Santos players scored in double figures. Panama Norte moved-up to fourth place. Los Santos at the other side still closes the standings with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Panama Norte: R.Aguilar 17+2reb+5ast, J.Mendoza 13+2reb+2ast, D.Betegon 11+1reb+4ast, D.Green 8+7reb+1ast, A.Johnson 8+4reb+2ast, D.Castano 8+2reb+3ast
Los Santos: A.Cassino 21+7reb+2ast, P.Flaaut 11+13reb+3ast, M.Zarzavilla 10+11reb+1ast, A.Mendez 10+4reb+2ast, C.Castillo 2+2reb, D.Dominguez 2+1reb+2ast

Cocle - Panama Oeste 81-76

Not a big story in a game in Penonome where 9th ranked Panama Oeste (3-8) was defeated by third ranked Cocle (11-6) 81-76 on Saturday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Cocle forced 22 Panama Oeste turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was forward Fernando Gonzalez (182-2004) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Joseph Ceville chipped in a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds. Four Cocle players scored in double figures. Gabriel Perez produced 16 points and 5 rebounds and forward Aymar Wilson (200) added 15 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cocle maintains third position with 11-6 record having four points less than leader Colon. Loser Panama Oeste keeps the ninth place with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Cocle: F.Gonzalez 19+11reb+5ast, J.Lemon 14+5reb+1ast, J.Ceville 12+10reb+3ast, H.Dayton 11+3reb+7ast, J.Verdooren 8+2reb+1ast, J.Espinosa 7+5reb+1ast
Panama Oeste: G.Perez 16+5reb+2ast, A.Wilson 15+4reb+1ast, L.Brown 11+4reb+1ast, K.Thompson 10+2reb+2ast, A.Correa 9+4reb+2ast, A.Jones 6+8reb+3ast

Veraguas - Colon 71-78

LPB U23 top team - Colon (16-0) added another victory to their record on Saturday. This time they beat fifth ranked Veraguas (9-6) in Santiago 78-71. Colon dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Veraguas' 36. Colon forced 19 Veraguas turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of forward Jorhiel Zapata (194-2002) who helped to win the game recording 14 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists and Jeffrey Vega who added 11 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. Four Colon players scored in double figures. Colon's coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Center Jose Toruno (200-2002) responded with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks and Carlos Moreno scored 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Colon have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-0 record. Veraguas at the other side keep the fifth place with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Colon: J.Zapata 14+5reb+8ast, J.Vega 11+6reb+3ast, A.Castillo 10+6reb, D.Laguna 10+5reb+1ast, R.Paul 8+2reb+2ast, J.Marcel 6+2reb+1ast
Veraguas: J.Toruno 26+10reb, C.Moreno 25+5reb+4ast, A.Murillo 4+6reb+1ast, L.Madrid 4+1reb+1ast, M.Madrid 4+7reb+3ast, R.Franco 3+2reb

Panama Este - Bocas Del Toro 83-68

The game in Panama City was also quite interesting. 6th ranked Bocas Del Toro (8-8) played at the court of seventh ranked Panama Este (8-4). Panama Este defeated Bocas Del Toro 83-68 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bocas Del Toro. Panama Este forced 27 Bocas Del Toro turnovers. The best player for the winners was Alexander Pile (198) who had a double-double by scoring 24 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals. Gilberto Llerena chipped in 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Panama Este players scored in double figures. Panama Este's coach used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Sizzla Alvarez produced 19 points and 8 rebounds and forward Juan Lewis (181-2004) added 15 points and 10 rebounds respectively for the guests. Panama Este have an impressive five-game winning streak. They moved-up to sixth place. Loser Bocas Del Toro dropped to the seventh position with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Panama Este: A.Pile 24+15reb+4ast, A.Dominguez 14+7reb+1ast, G.Llerena 12+8reb+4ast, D.Hun 11+3reb, A.Rivera 10+10reb+2ast, R.Navarro 9+1reb+4ast
Bocas Del Toro: S.Alvarez 19+8reb, J.Lewis 15+10reb+1ast, R.Mitchell 14+8reb+1ast, J.Lewis 9+11reb+2ast, L.Gordn 7+3reb+2ast, N.Sthepen 2+5reb