SPB Round 26 (Regular Season): Pioneros defeat Gladiadores

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gladiadores (15-2) in Caracas on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Pioneros (10-7) 88-76. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Gladiadores. American Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU, agency: BMS Sport Agency) orchestrated the victory by scoring 27 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Dominican-American forward Anyeuri Castillo (201-1997, college: USC Aiken) contributed with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Pioneros' coach Nelson Solorzano used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The former international forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) replied with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists for Gladiadores. Pioneros moved-up to third place. Defending champion Gladiadores still keep top position with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Caracas: Llaneros (#8) and Spartans (#6). Llaneros (4-12) won against visiting Spartans (7-9) 85-81. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Spartans. French center Ludgy Debaut (213-1998, college: ECU, agency: Helping Ballers) had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Elder Gimenez chipped in 16 points during the contest. Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001, agency: BMS Sport Agency) responded with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Llaneros maintains eighth position with 4-12 record, which they share with Centauros. Spartans at the other side keep the sixth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Gaiteros. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Trotamundos (12-6) against seventh ranked Frontinos (7-10) on Sunday night. Host Trotamundos were defeated by Frontinos in a tough game in La Asuncion 72-80. Lamonte Bearden notched 18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals to lead the effort. Even a double-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists by Nestor Colmenares did not help to save the game for Trotamundos. Trotamundos' coach Daniel Seoane rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Frontinos maintains seventh position with 7-10 record. Loser Trotamundos keep the second place with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last two games of round 26 Guaiqueries beat Panteras on the road 79-75. Marinos won against Diablos on its own court 86-81.



Panteras - Guaiqueries 75-79

No shocking result in a game when fifth ranked Guaiqueries (9-7) beat 7th ranked Panteras (5-11) in Caracas 79-75 on Friday. The former international forward Jose Ascanio (204-1996, agency: Pro Sports) notched a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the effort and the former international guard Pedro Chourio (196-1990, agency: Pro Sports) supported him with 17 points and 6 assists. Guaiqueries' coach Yonaicker Ecker used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Even 20 points and 6 rebounds by guard Wilkerman Gomez (190-2001) did not help to save the game for Panteras. The former international center Windi Graterol (204-1986, agency: Pro Sports) added 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the hosts. Five Panteras players scored in double figures. Guaiqueries moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Broncos. Loser Panteras keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Guaiqueries will meet at home Centauros (#8) in the next round. Panteras' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Caracas to the arena Cocodrilos.
Top scorers:
Panteras: W.Gomez 20+6reb+2ast, Y.Guerra 14+4reb+2ast, G.Williams 12+1reb+4ast, W.Graterol 11+10reb+4ast, J.Price 11+3reb+1ast, C.Raines 7+6reb
Guaiqueries: J.Ascanio 19+10reb+1ast, P.Chourio 17+3reb+6ast, A.Anderson 10+5reb+2ast, F.Corvalan 9+1reb+2ast, G.McGhee 7+5reb+1ast, E.Martinez 6+1reb+1ast

Marinos - Diablos 86-81

Very expected game when 9th ranked Diablos (3-14) lost to second ranked Marinos (12-5) in Puerto La Cruz 81-86 on Saturday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Marinos made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. Guard Carlos Lemus (190-1999, college: UTEP) notched 35 points (!!!) and 4 assists to lead the effort and Lithuanian Edgaras Zelionis (207-1989, agency: Octagon Europe) supported him with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Even 27 points and 5 rebounds by American-Argentinian guard Romeao Ferguson (196-1997, college: Lipscomb) did not help to save the game for Diablos. American-Dominican center Justin Satchell (203-1995, college: St.Leo) added 20 points and 6 rebounds for the guests. Diablos' coach Manuel Echezuria tried various players' combinations and tested in total twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Marinos maintains second position with 12-5 record behind leader Gladiadores. Diablos lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 14 games lost. Marinos will meet at home Heroes (#4) in the next round. Diablos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Diablos: R.Ferguson 27+5reb+3ast, J.Satchell 20+6reb, E.Gonzalez 10+2reb+4ast, C.Naylor 9+3reb+2ast, J.Rodriguez 6+2reb, A.Arias 4+7reb
Marinos: C.Lemus 35+3reb+4ast, E.Zelionis 16+6reb, O.Caraballo 13+6reb, Y.Palacios 8+4reb+5ast, J.Smith 5+1reb+1ast, T.Palmer 4+9reb+4ast

Gladiadores - Pioneros 76-88

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gladiadores (15-2) in Caracas on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Pioneros (10-7) 88-76. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Gladiadores. American Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU, agency: BMS Sport Agency) orchestrated the victory by scoring 27 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Dominican-American forward Anyeuri Castillo (201-1997, college: USC Aiken) contributed with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Bond is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Pioneros players scored in double figures. Pioneros' coach Nelson Solorzano used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The former international forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) replied with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists and international point guard Gregory Vargas (181-1986, agency: Pro Sports) added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in the effort for Gladiadores. Pioneros moved-up to third place. Defending champion Gladiadores still keep top position with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Gladiadores: M.Carrera 22+13reb+5ast, P.Jackson 11+1reb+5ast, A.Perez 11+1reb+2ast, G.Vargas 9+5reb+7ast, S.Hogan 8+3reb+1ast, J.Materan 7+4reb+1ast
Pioneros: T.Bond 27+6reb+7ast, A.Castillo 21+5reb+5ast, J.Diaz 11+4reb, T.Mathias 11+8reb+1ast, S.Tineo 7+6reb+1ast, F.Pichardo 6+5reb

Llaneros - Spartans 85-81

Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Caracas: Llaneros (#8) and Spartans (#6). Llaneros (4-12) won against visiting Spartans (7-9) 85-81. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Spartans. Spartans were plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. French center Ludgy Debaut (213-1998, college: ECU, agency: Helping Ballers) had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Elder Gimenez (197-1991) chipped in 16 points during the contest. Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001, agency: BMS Sport Agency) responded with 23 points and 5 rebounds and American forward Will Davis II (203-1992, college: UC Irvine) scored 15 points and 5 rebounds. Four Spartans players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Llaneros maintains eighth position with 4-12 record, which they share with Centauros. Spartans at the other side keep the sixth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Gaiteros. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Spartans: J.Perez 23+5reb+1ast, W.Davis II 15+5reb, Y.Sifontes 10+4reb, J.Valdez 10+3reb+1ast, L.Carrillo 5+5reb+1ast, K.Urbina 3
Llaneros: E.Gimenez 16+3reb+1ast, F.Marquez 14+2reb+1ast, Y.Llerena 13+2ast, L.Debaut 13+13reb+1ast, Y.Flores 11+2reb+2ast, R.Gallegos 8+5reb+3ast

Trotamundos - Frontinos 72-80

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Trotamundos (12-6) against seventh ranked Frontinos (7-10) on Sunday night. Host Trotamundos were defeated by Frontinos in a tough game in La Asuncion 72-80. Frontinos forced 22 Trotamundos turnovers. American guard Lamonte Bearden (191-1995, college: WKU) notched 18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals to lead the effort and Canadian forward Richard Amardi (206-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) supported him with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Even a double-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists by the former international center Nestor Colmenares (200-1987, college: Campbellsville, agency: Pro Sports) did not help to save the game for Trotamundos. American-Portuguese Jeremiah Wilson (205-1988, college: Tarleton St., agency: BIG) added 11 points and 9 rebounds for the hosts. Four Trotamundos players scored in double figures. Trotamundos' coach Daniel Seoane rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Frontinos maintains seventh position with 7-10 record. Loser Trotamundos keep the second place with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Trotamundos: N.Colmenares 19+11reb+4ast, D.Cubillan 14+2reb+4ast, T.Crump 12+3reb+1ast, J.Wilson 11+9reb+1ast, J.Zamora 8+3reb, E.Baez 4+1ast
Frontinos: R.Amardi 21+5reb, L.Bearden 18+5reb+7ast, A.Cabrera 14+6reb+2ast, S.Quiroz 8+1reb+2ast, M.Henry 8+2ast, M.Bolivar 6+9reb