SPB Round 13 (Regular Season): Gaiteros edge Trotamundos by one point

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Fifth-ranked Trotamundos (5-5) made lots of trouble for leader Gaiteros (9-0) in Maracaibo on Thursday. Gaiteros managed to secure only one-point victory 84-83. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Trotamundos. 27 personal fouls committed by Trotamundos helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American swingman Micheal Warren (196-1995, college: CSUN) fired 21 points for the winners. Forward Kelvin Caraballo (198-1988) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Gaiteros' coach Julio Duquela used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Dallas Morgan (185-1998, college: CMU) produced 26 points for lost side. Undefeated Gaiteros have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-0 record. Trotamundos at the other side keep the fifth position with five games lost. They share it with Frontinos. Gaiteros are again looking forward to face Trotamundos (#6) in La Asuncion in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Trotamundos will have a break next round.
Bottom-ranked Llaneros managed to get the second consecutive victory. This time they won against fourth-ranked Frontinos in Tachira 85-81. And what about a second win in a row after ...eight consecutive losses. Worth to mention a great performance of Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) who helped to win the game recording 22 points and 8 rebounds. Humberto Bompart contributed with 19 points for the winners. American guard Lamonte Bearden (191-1995, college: WKU) answered with 23 points and 6 assists for Frontinos. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Llaneros maintains fourteenth place with 2-8 record. Frontinos at the other side dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. They share it with Trotamundos. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
We should mention about the upset which took place in La Guaira, where higher ranked Gladiadores (4-5) lost to eleventh ranked Piratas (4-4) in a road game 91-102 on Thursday. Juan Suero stepped up with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. At the losing side Michael Carrera responded with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Piratas. They moved-up to seventh place. Defending champion Gladiadores dropped to the eighth position with five games lost. They share it with Panteras and Guaiqueries. Piratas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gladiadores' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Caracas to the arena Spartans.




Piratas - Gladiadores 102-91

We should mention about the upset which took place in La Guaira, where higher ranked Gladiadores (4-5) lost to eleventh ranked Piratas (4-4) in a road game 91-102 on Thursday. Piratas made 24-of-30 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Strangely Gladiadores outrebounded Piratas 36-24 including 23 on the defensive glass. They shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 59.3 percentage. Dominican guard Juan Suero (196-1993) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and American DaJuan Summers (203-1988, college: Georgetown) chipped in 26 points and 4 assists. At the losing side the former international forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) responded with 17 points and 7 rebounds and international point guard Gregory Vargas (181-1986) scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Piratas. They moved-up to seventh place. Defending champion Gladiadores dropped to the eighth position with five games lost. They share it with Panteras and Guaiqueries. Piratas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gladiadores' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Caracas to the arena Spartans.
Top scorers:
Piratas: D.Summers 26+3reb+4ast, J.Suero 23+11reb+6ast, R.James 18+1reb, J.Mejias 18+3reb+2ast, K.Nino 10+2reb+1ast, G.Curvelo 7+1reb
Gladiadores: M.Carrera 17+7reb+3ast, D.Summers 16+4reb+1ast, R.Rada 13+4reb+1ast, G.Vargas 12+8reb+4ast, J.Diaz 10+1reb, C.Garcia 10+5reb+3ast

Gaiteros - Trotamundos 84-83

Fifth-ranked Trotamundos (5-5) made lots of trouble for leader Gaiteros (9-0) in Maracaibo on Thursday. Gaiteros managed to secure only one-point victory 84-83. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Trotamundos. 27 personal fouls committed by Trotamundos helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American swingman Micheal Warren (196-1995, college: CSUN) fired 21 points for the winners. Forward Kelvin Caraballo (198-1988) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Four Gaiteros players scored in double figures. Gaiteros' coach Julio Duquela used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Dallas Morgan (185-1998, college: CMU) produced 26 points and the former international center Nestor Colmenares (200-1987, college: Campbellsville) added 13 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Gaiteros have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-0 record. Trotamundos at the other side keep the fifth position with five games lost. They share it with Frontinos. Gaiteros are again looking forward to face Trotamundos (#6) in La Asuncion in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Trotamundos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Gaiteros: M.Warren 21+4reb+3ast, K.Caraballo 16+8reb+2ast, M.Simon 16+7reb+2ast, L.Duarte 14+8reb+4ast, D.St.Hilaire 8+5reb+6ast, J.Martinez 6+1reb
Trotamundos: D.Morgan 26+4reb+1ast, J.Zamora 17+3reb+1ast, N.Colmenares 13+12reb+4ast, F.Fuenmayor 10+2reb+1ast, D.Smith 6+5reb+5ast, T.Jones 6+8reb

Frontinos - Llaneros 81-85

Bottom-ranked Llaneros managed to get the second consecutive victory. This time they won against fourth-ranked Frontinos in Tachira 85-81. And what about a second win in a row after ...eight consecutive losses. Llaneros made 21-of-21 charity shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) who helped to win the game recording 22 points and 8 rebounds. Point guard Humberto Bompart (183-1994) contributed with 19 points for the winners. American guard Lamonte Bearden (191-1995, college: WKU) answered with 23 points and 6 assists and the other American import center Taylor Johns (197-1994, college: UC Riverside) added 8 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Frontinos. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Llaneros maintains fourteenth place with 2-8 record. Frontinos at the other side dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. They share it with Trotamundos. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Llaneros: D.Colon 22+8reb+3ast, H.Bompart 19+4reb+1ast, Y.Palacios 11+2reb+1ast, G.Natesan 7+1reb+5ast, A.Arias 6+13reb+1ast, C.Rodriguez 6+6reb
Frontinos: L.Bearden 23+3reb+6ast, A.Cabrera 17+5reb+1ast, A.Pruitt 14+5reb+1ast, T.Johns 8+12reb+5ast, L.Palacios 8+1reb+1ast, E.Rios 4+2reb