The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
Third-ranked Capitanes (15-14) were very close to win a game against first ranked Piratas (19-12) in Quebradillas on Tuesday. Piratas managed to secure only three-point victory 86-83. However their fans expected easier game. It was a good game for DR Congolese guard Emmanuel Mudiay (196-1996) who led his team to a victory with 34 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. American center Thomas Robinson (203-1991, college: Kansas) contributed with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Piratas' coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Brandon Knight (190-1991, college: Kentucky) answered with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists for Arecibo. Quebradillas maintains first place with 19-12 record. Arecibo at the other side keeps the third position with 14 games lost. Quebradillas are looking forward to face Guaynabo (#5) on the road in the next round. Arecibo will play against San German and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Indios (18-12) against fourth ranked Gigantes (15-15) on Wednesday night. Visiting Indios were defeated by Gigantes in a tough game in Carolina 84-93. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Indios. It was a great evening for American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Kobi Simmons helped adding 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was New Zealand forward Samuel Waardenburg (208-1999, college: Miami, FL) with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Gigantes have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains fourth place with 15-15 record. Mayaguez at the other side keeps the second position with 12 games lost. Carolina will play against league's second-placed Santurce on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mayaguez will play against Caguas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game for Vaqueros (23-8) which hosted in Bayamon 4th placed Leones (14-16). First ranked Vaqueros had an easy win 107-88. It was an exceptional evening for Chris Duarte who led the winners and scored 38 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Jezreel De Jesus came up with 18 points for Ponce in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Bayamon maintains first place with 23-8 record. Loser Leones keeps the fourth position with 16 games lost. Bayamon will meet Ponce (#4) on the road in the next round. Ponce will have a break next round.
There were no big surprises in other games of round 27: Manati was beaten by Santurce on the road 88-73. San German won against Aguada on its own court 120-105. Ponce unfortunately lost to Guaynabo in a road game 105-112.
The most impressive performance of 27th round was 29 points and 16 rebounds by Ismael Romero of Guaynabo.
Bayamon - Ponce 107-88An interesting game for
Vaqueros (23-8) which hosted in Bayamon 4th placed
Leones (14-16). First ranked
Vaqueros had an easy win
107-88.
Bayamon made 20-of-26 free shots (76.9 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. It was an exceptional evening for Dominican swingman
Chris Duarte (197-1997, college:
Oregon) who led the winners and scored
38 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Italian forward
Danilo Gallinari (208-1988) accounted for 20 points and 4 assists for the winning side. The former international guard
Jezreel De Jesus (185-1991, agency:
Interperformances) came up with 18 points and naturalized Nicaraguan
Jared Ruiz (188-1992) added 17 points respectively for
Ponce in the defeat. Four
Bayamon and five
Ponce players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Bayamon maintains first place with
23-8 record. Loser Leones keeps the fourth position with 16 games lost.
Bayamon will meet Ponce (#4) on the road in the next round. Ponce will have a break next round.
Top scorers:Bayamon: C.Duarte 38+6reb+4ast, D.Gallinari 20+3reb+4ast, I.Palermo 17+4reb+1ast, S.Thompson Jr. 10+2reb+1ast, J.Ezquerra 8+4reb+2ast, A.Abreu 5+1reb+4ast
Ponce: J.Murphy 19+3reb, J.De Jesus 18+2reb+3ast, J.Ruiz 17+4reb+1ast, B.Manek 14+3reb, M.Mooney 11+4reb+7ast, C.Negron 3+2reb
gschID: 1263343
Quebradillas - Arecibo 86-83Third-ranked
Capitanes (15-14) were very close to win a game against first ranked
Piratas (19-12) in Quebradillas on Tuesday.
Piratas managed to secure only three-point victory
86-83. However their fans expected easier game. It was a good game for DR Congolese guard
Emmanuel Mudiay (196-1996) who led his team to a victory with
34 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. American center
Thomas Robinson (203-1991, college:
Kansas) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Piratas' coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American guard
Brandon Knight (190-1991, college:
Kentucky) answered with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists and Nigerian-American center
Jahlil Okafor (211-1995, college:
Duke) added 12 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Arecibo. Four
Arecibo players scored in double figures.
Quebradillas maintains first place with
19-12 record.
Arecibo at the other side keeps the third position with 14 games lost.
Quebradillas are looking forward to face Guaynabo (#5) on the road in the next round. Arecibo will play against San German and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:Quebradillas: E.Mudiay 34+7reb+3ast, T.Robinson 14+12reb+3ast, L.Avelon 12+4reb+1ast, P.Wheeler 9+4reb+1ast, G.Clavell 6+4reb, D.Clemente 5+1reb+3ast
Arecibo: B.Knight 20+8reb+8ast, V.Liz 13+3reb+1ast, J.Okafor 12+8reb+2ast, J.Wilson 11+4reb, J.Rodriguez 9+6reb+1ast, R.Melendez 9+3reb
gschID: 1263344
Santurce - Manati 88-73No shocking result in a game when second ranked
Cangrejeros (20-10) beat 6th ranked
Osos (5-25) in Santurce
88-73 on Tuesday.
Santurce outrebounded
Manati 44-33 including 36 on the defensive glass.
Santurce looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by
Manati's players. American players dominated the game. It was an exceptional evening for forward
Kenneth Faried (203-1989, college:
Morehead St.) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. Guard
John Jenkins (193-1991, college:
Vanderbilt, agency:
Slash Sports) accounted for 19 points for the winning side. Guard
Logan Johnson (188-1999, college:
SMC) came up with 14 points and 6 rebounds and swingman
Deonte Burton (193-1994, college:
Iowa St.) added 12 points and 7 rebounds respectively for
Manati in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
Cangrejeros have an impressive series of five victories in a row.
Santurce maintains second place with
20-10 record having four points less than leader Quebradillas.
Manati lost tenth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 25 games lost.
Santurce will meet at home Carolina (#4) in the next round. Manati will have a break next round.
Top scorers:Santurce: J.Jenkins 19+2reb+2ast, A.Matias 14+4reb+3ast, I.Clark 13+2reb+2ast, K.Faried 12+11reb+2ast, D.Collier 10+6reb+1ast, J.Martinez 6+2reb
Manati: C.Diallo 15+3reb, L.Johnson 14+6reb+2ast, C.Ortiz 13+2reb+1ast, D.Burton 12+7reb+1ast, E.Rodriguez 9+3reb, G.Santiago 6+2reb+4ast
gschID: 1263345
Carolina - Mayaguez 93-84Very important is a road loss of second ranked
Indios (18-12) against fourth ranked
Gigantes (15-15) on Wednesday night. Visiting
Indios were defeated by
Gigantes in a tough game in Carolina
84-93. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Indios.
Carolina players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists. It was a great evening for American forward
Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college:
Oklahoma, agency:
Pensack Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import guard
Kobi Simmons (196-1997, college:
Arizona) helped adding 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was New Zealand forward
Samuel Waardenburg (208-1999, college:
Miami, FL) with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international
Josue Erazo (203-1995, college:
PR-Rio Piedras) scored 22 points and 7 rebounds. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures.
Gigantes have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains fourth place with
15-15 record.
Mayaguez at the other side keeps the second position with 12 games lost.
Carolina will play against league's second-placed Santurce on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mayaguez will play against Caguas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:Carolina: K.Simmons 24+5reb+4ast, K.Doolittle 18+9reb+7ast, E.Ortiz 15+4reb+9ast, J.Wiley 14+6reb, J.Cruz 11+2reb+2ast, J.Romer 7+6reb
Mayaguez: J.Erazo 22+7reb, S.Waardenburg 18+8reb+5ast, M.Doyle 12+8reb+5ast, J.Pacheco 11+1reb+8ast, N.Perkins 11+11reb+2ast, N.Alvarez 10+4reb+3ast
gschID: 1263346
San German - Aguada 120-105The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked
Santeros' (10-19) road loss to fifth ranked
Atleticos (14-17) in San German
105-120 on Wednesday.
San German dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to
Santeros's 42.
San German shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 59.1 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 37 assists comparing to just 23 passes made by
Aguada's players. It was an exceptional evening for guard
Andre Curbelo (183-2001, college:
Southern Miss) who led the winners with a triple-double by scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. New Zealand forward
Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college:
Davidson) accounted for 20 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. American
John Meeks (197-1999, college:
Charleston) came up with 23 points and 4 assists and Australian guard
Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college:
Wyoming) added 20 points respectively for
Aguada in the defeat. Five
San German and four
Aguada players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
San German maintains fifth place with
14-17 record. Loser Santeros keeps the sixth position with 19 games lost.
San German will meet higher ranked Arecibo (#3) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Aguada will play against the league's second-placed Mayaguez and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:San German: G.York 22+4ast, S.Mennenga 20+8reb+3ast, A.Curbelo 18+10reb+12ast, A.Gordon 17+2reb+2ast, E.Crawford 15, T.Fernandez 12+1reb+7ast
Aguada: B.Forbes 25+1ast, J.Meeks 23+3reb+4ast, N.Sobey 20+4reb+3ast, I.Gandia-Rosa 10+2reb+9ast, J.Febres 8+2reb, A.Toro 7+13reb+3ast
gschID: 1263347
Guaynabo - Ponce 112-105We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when fifth ranked
Mets (10-20) won against 4th placed
Leones (14-16) in Guaynabo
112-105 on Thursday.
Guaynabo outrebounded
Ponce 44-33 including 30 on the defensive glass.
Guaynabo looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. It was an exceptional evening for international center
Ismael Romero (205-1991) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 16 rebounds. American swingman
Theo Pinson Jr (198-1995, college:
UNC) accounted for 22 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side. American power forward
Brady Manek (206-1998, college:
UNC) came up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international power forward
Jordan Murphy (200-1997, college:
Minnesota) added 21 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for
Ponce in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
Guaynabo maintains fifth place with
10-20 record. Loser Leones keeps the fourth position with 16 games lost.
Guaynabo will meet at home league's leader Quebradillas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Ponce will play against the league's leader Bayamon and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:Guaynabo: I.Romero 29+16reb+3ast, T.Pinson Jr. 22+5reb+7ast, R.Pearson 19+2reb+1ast, J.Paige 11+5reb+5ast, B.Gonzalez 10+5reb, J.Roman-Angueira 7+3reb
Ponce: B.Manek 26+10reb+4ast, J.Murphy 21+7reb+5ast, J.De Jesus 14+6reb+6ast, J.Ruiz 12+2reb+2ast, M.Devoe 9+2reb+2ast, A.Ford 9+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1263348