SPB Round 15 (Regular Season): Cocodrilos defeat Marinos in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 15 in the SPB took place in Puerto La Cruz. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of second-best Marinos (8-4) to twelfth ranked Cocodrilos (4-6) 71-70 on Saturday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Marinos. It was a great evening for international swingman Franger Pirela (187-2002) who led his team to a victory scoring 19 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Isaac Banks (201-1994, college: ETSU) helped adding 7 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Cocodrilos' coach Alfredo Madrid used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) with 30 points. Cocodrilos moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Brillantes and Gladiadores. Marinos at the other side keep the second position with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Important game to mention about took place in Maracay. Third ranked Pioneros (7-3) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 13th ranked Toros (3-8) 81-80 on Saturday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. It was an exceptional evening for American Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU) who led the winners and scored 19 points and 7 rebounds. Jeff Allen accounted for 17 points and 9 rebounds. American Rakim Brown (198-1991, college: Humboldt St.) came up with 20 points and 7 rebounds for Toros in the defeat. Pioneros maintains third place with 7-3 record having just three points less than leader Gaiteros. Toros at the other side keep the thirteenth position with eight games lost. Pioneros will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Toros will play on the road against Llaneros (#14) in Caracas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Seventh ranked Piratas (5-4) beat at home 11th ranked Panteras (4-7) by 6 points 82-76, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. The best player for the winners was Juan Suero who scored 22 points and 9 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Elijah Minnie who recorded 15 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Piratas have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place. Loser Panteras dropped to the twelfth position with seven games lost. Piratas will meet higher ranked Spartans (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Panteras will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 15 Panteras lost to Spartans on the opponent's court 82-86.



Spartans - Panteras 86-82

Very expected game in Caracas where 11th ranked Panteras (4-7) were defeated by fourth ranked Spartans (7-4) 86-82 on Saturday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Yohanner Sifontes (192-1995) who scored 16 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001) chipped in 16 points and 6 rebounds. Five Spartans players scored in double figures. Spartans' coach Juan Manuel Cordoba allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Wilkerman Gomez (190-2001) who recorded 22 points and American Elijah Minnie (203-1994, college: EMU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) added 17 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Spartans maintains fourth place with 7-4 record. Loser Panteras dropped to the twelfth position with seven games lost. Spartans will meet at home Piratas (#5) in the next round. Panteras will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Spartans: Y.Sifontes 16+9reb+7ast, J.Perez 16+6reb+3ast, N.Palacios 14+1ast, E.Thomas 12+5reb+1ast, L.Almanza 10+2reb, L.Carrillo 6+3reb
Panteras: W.Gomez 22+4reb+1ast, E.Minnie 17+5reb+3ast, E.Alcala 11, J.Acosta 10+4reb, A.Indriago 8+3reb+4ast, B.Bridgeforth 6+6reb

Toros - Pioneros 80-81

Important game to mention about took place in Maracay. Third ranked Pioneros (7-3) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 13th ranked Toros (3-8) 81-80 on Saturday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. It was an exceptional evening for American Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU) who led the winners and scored 19 points and 7 rebounds. His fellow American import power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) accounted for 17 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side. Bond is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American Rakim Brown (198-1991, college: Humboldt St.) came up with 20 points and 7 rebounds and power forward Brian Guidi (200-1991) added 19 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Toros in the defeat. Four Toros players scored in double figures. Pioneros maintains third place with 7-3 record having just three points less than leader Gaiteros. Toros at the other side keep the thirteenth position with eight games lost. Pioneros will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Toros will play on the road against Llaneros (#14) in Caracas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Pioneros: T.Bond 19+7reb+2ast, J.Allen 17+9reb+1ast, S.Wooten Jr. 16+2reb+1ast, E.Montano 9+7reb+4ast, H.Guillent 7+3reb+7ast, E.Winchester 6+3reb+1ast
Toros: R.Brown 20+7reb+3ast, B.Guidi 19+8reb+1ast, A.Moore II 14+8reb+6ast, B.Barrios 12+6reb+1ast, J.Hampton 9+3reb, A.Spruill 6+3reb+11ast

Marinos - Cocodrilos 70-71

The most exciting game of round 15 in the SPB took place in Puerto La Cruz. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of second-best Marinos (8-4) to twelfth ranked Cocodrilos (4-6) 71-70 on Saturday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Marinos. It was a great evening for international swingman Franger Pirela (187-2002) who led his team to a victory scoring 19 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Isaac Banks (201-1994, college: ETSU) helped adding 7 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Cocodrilos' coach Alfredo Madrid used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) with 30 points and the other American import swingman Wesley Saunders (196-1993, college: Harvard) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds. Cocodrilos moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Brillantes and Gladiadores. Marinos at the other side keep the second position with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Cocodrilos: F.Pirela 19+6reb, R.Roca 18+1ast, W.Reed 11+7reb+1ast, K.Woods 8+1reb+1ast, I.Banks 7+8reb+5ast, L.Betancourt 3+6reb+1ast
Marinos: M.Bryson 30+4reb, W.Saunders 13+11reb+3ast, T.Farmer 10+3reb+3ast, S.Jones 7+3reb, J.Centeno 4+4reb, L.Bethelmy 4+5reb+1ast

Piratas - Panteras 82-76

Seventh ranked Piratas (5-4) beat at home 11th ranked Panteras (4-7) by 6 points 82-76, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. The best player for the winners was Dominican guard Juan Suero (196-1993) who scored 22 points and 9 rebounds. American-Jamaican guard Rashad James (185-1990, college: Iona) chipped in 19 points (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!). At the other side the best for losing team was American Elijah Minnie (203-1994, college: EMU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) who recorded 15 points and 8 rebounds and the other American import forward Sydney Curry (203-2000, college: GCU) added 16 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Four Panteras players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Piratas have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place. Loser Panteras dropped to the twelfth position with seven games lost. Piratas will meet higher ranked Spartans (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Panteras will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Piratas: J.Suero 22+9reb+2ast, R.James 19+4reb+2ast, J.Mejias 9+1reb+3ast, J.Vargas 8+9reb, K.Nino 7+1reb, D.Summers 7+3reb
Panteras: S.Curry 16+9reb+1ast, E.Minnie 15+8reb+3ast, W.Gomez 11, T.Williams 11+9reb+2ast, A.Indriago 7+3ast, E.Alcala 6+1reb