BSN Round 8 (Regular Season): #1 Arecibo is defeated by Carolina

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in BSN. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Capitanes (7-5) in Arecibo on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Gigantes (5-3) 99-90. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Capitanes. Carolina shot 60.3 percent from the field. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Kobi Simmons (196-1997, college: Arizona) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 6 assists and the former international Isaac Sosa (191-1990, college: Canisius, agency: Octagon Europe) who added 16 points during the contest. Dominican Victor Liz (190-1986) responded with 19 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gigantes have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Santurce. Arecibo at the other side still keeps top position with five games lost. Carolina will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Arecibo will play on the road against Caguas and is hoping to win this game.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Mets (5-4) against fifth ranked Criollos (4-6) on Saturday night. Host Mets were defeated by Criollos in a tough game in Guaynabo 83-87. The winners were led by Nigerian guard Olumiye Oni (198-1997, college: Yale) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 24 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists and Akil Mitchell supported him with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Even a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds by international center Ismael Romero (205-1991) did not help to save the game for Guaynabo. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Criollos have a solid three-game winning streak. Caguas maintains fifth position with 4-6 record. Guaynabo at the other side dropped to the fourth place with four games lost. Caguas will play against league's leader Arecibo at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Guaynabo will play against the league's leader Bayamon and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Ponce. One of their biggest challengers host Leones (3-5) lost to third ranked Indios (6-4) 72-61. The best player for the winners was Samuel Waardenburg who had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. Paris Bass produced 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Mayaguez maintains third position with 6-4 record having just two points less than leader Arecibo. Loser Leones keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last two games of round 8 San German lost to Santurce on the opponent's court 91-101. Bayamon managed to outperform Aguada in a home game 94-86.



Santurce - San German 101-91

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 5th ranked Atleticos' (1-6) road loss to fourth ranked Cangrejeros (5-3) 91-101 on Friday. Santurce looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists. The best player for the winners was American center Hassan Whiteside (213-1989, college: Marshall) who had a double-double by scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds. The other American import swingman Ian Clark (190-1991, college: Belmont) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists. Four Cangrejeros players scored in double figures. American guard Joseph Young (188-1992, college: Oregon) produced 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) added 16 points and 9 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Santurce moved-up to second place, which they share with Carolina. San German lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
San German: J.Young 28+6reb+6ast, S.Mennenga 16+9reb, T.Fernandez 13+6reb+4ast, E.Ayala 9+4reb+1ast, A.Curbelo 9+1reb+1ast, A.Gordon 5+3reb+2ast
Santurce: H.Whiteside 27+12reb+1ast, I.Clark 18+4reb+4ast, A.Matias 16+1reb+4ast, W.Hodge 12+8ast, C.Goulding 10+1reb+2ast, D.Collier 7+9reb

Bayamon - Aguada 94-86

Very predictable result in Bayamon where first ranked Vaqueros (8-2) defeated 6th ranked Santeros (1-7) 94-86 on Friday. Bayamon dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Santeros's 36. Bayamon looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was Italian forward Danilo Gallinari (208-1988) who scored 22 points and 7 rebounds. Dominican swingman Chris Duarte (197-1997, college: Oregon) chipped in 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. The former international point guard Ivan Gandia-Rosa (185-1997, college: UNF, agency: Octagon Europe) produced 25 points and 5 rebounds and Dominican center Joel Soriano (211-2000, college: St.John's) added 14 points and 11 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Bayamon maintains first position with 8-2 record. Loser Santeros keeps the sixth place with seven games lost. Bayamon will meet at home Guaynabo (#4) in the next round. Aguada will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Aguada: I.Gandia-Rosa 25+5reb+3ast, N.Sobey 16+4reb+1ast, J.Soriano 14+11reb+1ast, N.Rakocevic 11+3reb+1ast, A.Abreu 9+1reb+3ast, J.Holland 9+2reb+2ast
Bayamon: D.Gallinari 22+7reb+2ast, C.Duarte 19+6reb+5ast, J.McGee 17+7reb+5ast, S.Thompson Jr. 13+1reb+2ast, J.Mojica 10+2reb, R.Balkman 6+4reb

Guaynabo - Caguas 83-87

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Mets (5-4) against fifth ranked Criollos (4-6) on Saturday night. Host Mets were defeated by Criollos in a tough game in Guaynabo 83-87. Strangely Guaynabo outrebounded Caguas 45-33 including a 15-0 advantage in offensive rebounds. Caguas players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. The winners were led by Nigerian guard Olumiye Oni (198-1997, college: Yale) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 24 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists and Panamanian-American center Akil Mitchell (206-1992, college: Virginia) supported him with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Even a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds by international center Ismael Romero (205-1991) did not help to save the game for Guaynabo. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) added 22 points and 4 assists for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Criollos have a solid three-game winning streak. Caguas maintains fifth position with 4-6 record. Guaynabo at the other side dropped to the fourth place with four games lost. Caguas will play against league's leader Arecibo at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Guaynabo will play against the league's leader Bayamon and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Guaynabo: B.Cotton 22+3reb+4ast, I.Romero 17+15reb+3ast, J.Paige 13+6reb+5ast, D.Williams 11+11reb+1ast, B.Boyd 6+3reb+1ast, W.Douglas 6+1reb+2ast
Caguas: O.Oni 24+7reb+10ast, A.Mitchell 18+14reb+3ast, C.Pizarro 13+2reb+4ast, C.Lopez 12+2ast, L.King 6+5reb+2ast, M.O'Connell 5+1reb

Ponce - Mayaguez 61-72

The game between Top Four teams took place in Ponce. One of their biggest challengers host Leones (3-5) lost to third ranked Indios (6-4) 72-61. Mayaguez outrebounded Ponce 47-32 including a 17-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was New Zealand forward Samuel Waardenburg (208-1999, college: Miami, FL) who had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. New Zealand center Tyrell Harrison (214-1999) chipped in 9 points and 14 rebounds. American power forward Paris Bass (207-1995, college: Detroit) produced 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international power forward Jordan Murphy (200-1997, college: Minnesota) added 12 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Mayaguez maintains third position with 6-4 record having just two points less than leader Arecibo. Loser Leones keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Ponce: J.Ruiz 14+6reb+1ast, P.Bass 14+5reb+4ast, J.Murphy 12+6reb+3ast, J.De Jesus 7+6reb, A.Vasquez 5+3reb, M.Mooney 5+4reb+4ast
Mayaguez: S.Waardenburg 15+10reb+1ast, J.Pacheco 12+4reb+6ast, M.Doyle 12+5reb+3ast, G.Belardo 9+3reb+3ast, T.Harrison 9+14reb+1ast, J.Early Jr. 4+2reb

Arecibo - Carolina 90-99

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Capitanes (7-5) in Arecibo on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Gigantes (5-3) 99-90. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Capitanes. Carolina shot 60.3 percent from the field. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Kobi Simmons (196-1997, college: Arizona) who helped to win the game recording 21 points and 6 assists and the former international Isaac Sosa (191-1990, college: Canisius, agency: Octagon Europe) who added 16 points during the contest. Dominican Victor Liz (190-1986) responded with 19 points and 4 assists and the former international Wilfredo Rodriguez (198-1994, college: Binghamton) scored 21 points (perfect from the field making all nine shots !!!). 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. Gigantes have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Santurce. Arecibo at the other side still keeps top position with five games lost. Carolina will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Arecibo will play on the road against Caguas and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Arecibo: W.Rodriguez 21+3reb, V.Liz 19+4reb+4ast, R.Melendez 16+4reb, D.Gonzalez 10+4reb+2ast, R.Pinzon 6+2reb, D.Hernandez 6+2reb+1ast
Carolina: K.Simmons 21+2reb+6ast, I.Sosa 16+1reb+3ast, J.Cruz 15+1reb, A.Franklin 13+3reb, K.Maura 7+2reb+1ast, K.Doolittle 7+3reb+5ast