SPB Round 18 (Regular Season): Pioneros are defeated by Brillantes in a derby game

SPB is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 18 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Caracas: Brillantes (#8) and Pioneros (#4). Pioneros were defeated at home 72-77 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Americans were the main players on the court. Power forward Latavious Williams (203-1989) had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Brillantes (6-6) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Trotamundos. Pioneros at the other side keep the fourth position with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Marinos (9-5) against twelfth ranked Gladiadores (5-7) on Wednesday night. Host Marinos were defeated by Gladiadores in a tough game in Puerto La Cruz 87-91. The former international forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) notched 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and Gregory Vargas supported him with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Even 33 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds by American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) did not help to save the game for Marinos. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Defending champion moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Frontinos. Marinos at the other side dropped to the third position with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Third ranked Spartans (9-4) crushed at home 10th ranked Guaiqueries (4-7) by 18 points 85-67, which is the biggest margin this round on Wednesday night. The best player for the winners was Luis Almanza who scored 20 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was Francisco Centeno who recorded 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Spartans have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Guaiqueries lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eleventh position with seven games lost. They share it with Panteras. Spartans will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Guaiqueries will play against Piratas (#7) and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 18 Trotamundos won against Llaneros on the opponent's court 89-82.



Marinos - Gladiadores 87-91

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Marinos (9-5) against twelfth ranked Gladiadores (5-7) on Wednesday night. Host Marinos were defeated by Gladiadores in a tough game in Puerto La Cruz 87-91. Gladiadores forced 21 Marinos turnovers. Marinos were plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. The former international forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) notched 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and international point guard Gregory Vargas (181-1986) supported him with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Even 33 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds by American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) did not help to save the game for Marinos. His fellow American import swingman Wesley Saunders (196-1993, college: Harvard) added 20 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Defending champion moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Frontinos. Marinos at the other side dropped to the third position with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Gladiadores: P.Jackson 20+1reb+2ast, M.Carrera 13+8reb+5ast, G.Vargas 12+7reb+6ast, M.Butler 11+1reb, O.Caraballo 11+3reb, M.Dime 9+6reb+2ast
Marinos: M.Bryson 33+8reb+3ast, W.Saunders 20+2reb+1ast, J.Centeno 12+5reb+4ast, E.Baez 11+1reb+1ast, J.Mejia 3+2reb, L.Bethelmy 3+12reb

Pioneros - Brillantes 72-77

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Caracas: Brillantes (#8) and Pioneros (#4). Pioneros were defeated at home 72-77 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Americans were the main players on the court. Power forward Latavious Williams (203-1989) had a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds and Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU) scored 11 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Brillantes (6-6) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Trotamundos. Pioneros at the other side keep the fourth position with five games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Brillantes: M.Henry 15+6reb+2ast, L.Williams 15+13reb, C.Lewis 11+2reb+2ast, J.Vargas 8+3reb+3ast, D.Rondon 7+3reb+4ast, L.Lopez 7+3reb+2ast
Pioneros: J.Bracho 14+4reb+1ast, T.Bond 11+6reb+7ast, J.Allen 10+13reb+1ast, S.Tineo 10, A.Acosta 8+3ast, S.Wooten Jr. 6+3reb+1ast

Llaneros - Trotamundos 82-89

Very expected game in Caracas where 14th ranked Llaneros (2-10) were defeated by sixth ranked Trotamundos (6-6) 89-82 on Wednesday. The best player for the winners was American Hollis Thompson (203-1991, college: Georgetown) who scored 22 points and 7 rebounds. The other American import power forward Torren Jones (206-1994, college: William Penn) chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds. Five Trotamundos players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) who recorded 28 points and forward Albert Arias (194-1989) added 10 points and 13 rebounds respectively. Llaneros' coach Carl Herrera rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Trotamundos moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Brillantes. Loser Llaneros stay at the bottom position with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Trotamundos: H.Thompson 22+7reb+2ast, T.Jones 20+7reb+1ast, N.Colmenares 14+6reb+1ast, F.Fuenmayor 11+4reb+3ast, J.Zamora 10+1reb+5ast, E.Tovar 7+1reb
Llaneros: D.Colon 28+4reb+2ast, A.Arias 10+13reb+2ast, A.Forbes 9+2reb, Y.Palacios 8+2reb+2ast, J.Rodriguez 8+4reb, H.Bompart 6+2reb+1ast

Spartans - Guaiqueries 85-67

Third ranked Spartans (9-4) crushed at home 10th ranked Guaiqueries (4-7) by 18 points 85-67, which is the biggest margin this round on Wednesday night. Spartans looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was naturalized Colombian Luis Almanza (196-1991) who scored 20 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). American-Nigerian swingman Tanksley Efianayi (198-1994, college: UCF) chipped in 20 points. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international power forward Francisco Centeno (203-1985) who recorded 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) and American guard Tyrone White (201-1990, college: CSUB) added 19 points and 5 assists respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Spartans have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Guaiqueries lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eleventh position with seven games lost. They share it with Panteras. Spartans will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Guaiqueries will play against Piratas (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Spartans: T.Efianayi 20+1reb+2ast, L.Almanza 20+4reb+1ast, Y.Sifontes 10+6reb+7ast, E.Thomas 8+5reb, J.Perez 6+1reb+4ast, N.Palacios 6+2reb+2ast
Guaiqueries: F.Centeno 20+9reb+4ast, T.White 19+3reb+5ast, E.Martinez 13+3reb+3ast, L.Valera 7+3reb+2ast, G.Correa 4+1reb+1ast, J.Ascanio 2+4reb+2ast