Barquisimeto, Venezuela.- Cangrejas de Monagas completed a three-game sweep over Estudiantes de Caracas (3-0) with a home win, 80-71, at Gilberto Roque Morales Arena of Maturin, Monagas, earning the first title in the history of the franchise, as Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Femenino's 2017 champions (Linabafe 2017), after finishing in second place back in 2016.
In a schedule-shortened season because of several financial trouble that prevented teams from participating in the season or even completing it (Deportivo Anzoategui withdrew and forced the league to reduce the official schedule), Cangrejas were able to take the chrown without ever losing a game.
The regular season ended with Cangrejas de Monagas ahead with a 7-0 record, followed by Estudiantes de Caracas with a 4-3, Tatuyes de Merida finished with a 1-6 and Deportivo Anzoategui only played three games and lost them all (0-3).
In the Finals, Cangrejas traveled to Caracas for the first two games at Naciones Unidas Park and were able to prevail, 75-68 and 75-58 to come back home and finish the job in a great display of quality. Waleska Perez (180-SG-94, college: Weatherford JC) finished up with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in Game 2.
In Game 3, the home team recovered from a bad third quarter and despites trailing by five points (55-50), was able to wake up and win, thanks to 15 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists by Waleska Perez. Jofranny Guerra (G/F-88) added 14 points, Siuly Marcano (186-PF-96) completed a double double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, Laury Garcia (174-SF-97) added 9 points and Angely Frontado also scored 8 points.
"I'm very excited. This was all thanks to a great team work that we completed to conquer this title", said Perez, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the winning side.
"I want to thank the general management and the main board of the organization because, without them, this project that was born last season would have never taken place. Now we're going to enjoy this success and plan ahead for what's coming up next", said head coach Jose Dos Santos .
The winning team's roster included Waleska Perez, Jofranny Guerra, Siuly Marcano, Vanessa Candallo (96), Catherine Monasterio (G-84, college: Frank Phillips JC), Angely Frontado, Nathaly Castellanos, Katherine Russian (180-C-01), Isabelys Veliz, Yasmily Accent (96), Dayenlys Veliz (179-C-00), Laury Garcia and Maireth Alfonzo.
HISTORY OF LINABAFE CHAMPIONSHIPS
LINABAFE CHAMPIONS
2009 - EPB Escuela Pedagogica de Baloncesto (over Estudiantes BBC in a Final Four) - Coach Eduardo Gil - MVP Roselis Silva
2010 - EPB Escuela Pedagogica de Baloncesto (over Yaracuyanas BBC, 3-0) - Coach Eduardo Gil - MVP Cleyder Blanco
2011 - Yaracuyanas BBC (over Llaneras de Cojedes, 3-1) - Coach Hugo Calvette - MVP Ivaney Marquez
2012 - Yaracuyanas BBC (over Bucaneras de La Guaira, 3-2) - Coach Hugo Calvette - MVP Ivaney Marquez
2013 - Bucaneras de La Guaira (over Deportivo Anzoategui, 3-1) - Coach Victor Gustavo Rojas - MVP Sharol Renault
2014 - Deportivo Anzoategui (over Bucaneras de La Guaira, 3-2) - Coach Eduardo Gil - MVP Roselis Silva
2015 - Bucaneras de La Guaira (over Deportivo Anzoategui, 3-1) - Coach Alecia Landaeta - MVP Ivaney Marquez
2016 - Bucaneras de La Guaira (over Cangrejas de Monagas, 3-1) Coach Alecia Landaeta - MVP Jofranny Guerra
2017 - Cangrejas de Monagas (over Estudiantes de Caracas, 3-0) Coach Jose Dos Santos - MVP Waleska Perez
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