SPB Round 21 (Regular Season): Cocodrilos are defeated by Gladiadores in a derby game

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Caracas: Gladiadores (#7) and Cocodrilos (#8). Gladiadores (7-7) won against visiting Cocodrilos (7-8) 81-71. They outrebounded Cocodrilos 40-27 including a 35-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Gladiadores shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 56.5 percentage. American guard Paul Jackson (188-1996, college: EMU, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) stepped up and scored 23 points for the winners and Senegalese-American center Malik Dime (206-1992, college: Washington, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 9 points and 12 rebounds. The best for the losing side was international swingman Franger Pirela (187-2002) with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gladiadores have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Pioneros. Cocodrilos at the other side keep the eighth position with eight games lost. Gladiadores will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cocodrilos will play at home against Marinos (#3) and are hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
SPB top team - Gaiteros (15-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed sixth ranked Pioneros (7-7) in Maracaibo 83-58. American point guard Derek StHilaire (183-1998, college: New Orleans) nailed 18 points for the winning side and Luis Duarte accounted for 8 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. American power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) came up with 13 points and 7 rebounds for Pioneros in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gaiteros have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 15-1 record. Pioneros lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Gladiadores. Gaiteros will again play against Pioneros (#7) in Caracas in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Pioneros will have a break next round.
Another exciting game was again a derby between two local teams from Caracas: Brillantes (#6) and Llaneros (#14). Brillantes (8-6) won against visiting Llaneros (2-13) 75-65. The best player for the winners was Myke Henry who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Diego Colon who recorded 23 points and 6 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Brillantes have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Trotamundos. Llaneros lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Brillantes' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas .

In the last game of round 21 Frontinos lost to Trotamundos on the opponent's court 64-71.



Gladiadores - Cocodrilos 81-71

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Caracas: Gladiadores (#7) and Cocodrilos (#8). Gladiadores (7-7) won against visiting Cocodrilos (7-8) 81-71. They outrebounded Cocodrilos 40-27 including a 35-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Gladiadores shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 56.5 percentage. American guard Paul Jackson (188-1996, college: EMU, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) stepped up and scored 23 points for the winners and Senegalese-American center Malik Dime (206-1992, college: Washington, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 9 points and 12 rebounds. Jackson is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. The best for the losing side was international swingman Franger Pirela (187-2002) with 16 points and 5 rebounds and swingman Raymond Roca (192-2000) scored 12 points. Four Cocodrilos players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gladiadores have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Pioneros. Cocodrilos at the other side keep the eighth position with eight games lost. Gladiadores will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cocodrilos will play at home against Marinos (#3) and are hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Gladiadores: P.Jackson 23+3reb+3ast, M.Carrera 15+3reb+2ast, R.Rada 10+6reb+1ast, G.Vargas 9+6reb+7ast, M.Dime 9+12reb+1ast, J.Diaz 9+3reb
Cocodrilos: F.Pirela 16+5reb+3ast, R.Roca 12+3reb, L.Betancourt 11+3reb, I.Banks 10+3reb+1ast, W.Cherry 8+1ast, E.Bernal 5+1reb

Brillantes - Llaneros 75-65

Another exciting game was again a derby between two local teams from Caracas: Brillantes (#6) and Llaneros (#14). Brillantes (8-6) won against visiting Llaneros (2-13) 75-65. Brillantes looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds. His fellow American import swingman Chavaughn Lewis (195-1993, college: Marist) chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) who recorded 23 points and 6 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and the former international point guard Kender Urbina (176-2004) added 12 points and 6 assists respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Brillantes have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Trotamundos. Llaneros lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Brillantes' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas .
Top scorers:
Brillantes: C.Lewis 19+7reb+3ast, M.Henry 16+12reb+2ast, M.Diaz 10+7reb, E.Gimenez 9+3reb+1ast, C.Paez 6+5ast, L.Williams 6+7reb+1ast
Llaneros: D.Colon 23+6reb+2ast, K.Urbina 12+3reb+6ast, E.Gonzalez 7+5reb+1ast, H.Bompart 7+2reb+3ast, J.Rodriguez 6+2reb+1ast, D.Graham 5+9reb+2ast

Trotamundos - Frontinos 71-64

Very expected game in La Asuncion where 10th ranked Frontinos (5-9) were defeated by sixth ranked Trotamundos (8-6) 71-64 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American power forward Torren Jones (206-1994, college: William Penn) who scored 14 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Dallas Morgan (185-1998, college: CMU) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Four Trotamundos players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international point guard Leonardo Palacios (186-1994) who recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and American guard Lamonte Bearden (191-1995, college: WKU) added 18 points and 5 assists respectively. Frontinos' coach Bernardo Fitz-Gonzalez rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Trotamundos have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Brillantes. Frontinos lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth position with nine games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Trotamundos: T.Jones 14+8reb+1ast, D.Morgan 13+5reb+2ast, F.Fuenmayor 10+5reb+3ast, D.Cubillan 10+3reb+2ast, N.Colmenares 7+8reb+4ast, H.Thompson 6+6reb+1ast
Frontinos: L.Bearden 18+2reb+5ast, L.Palacios 13+7reb+6ast, A.Cabrera 8+1ast, M.Zambrano 8+6reb+1ast, C.Silva 6+7reb+2ast, J.Diaz 6+7reb+3ast

Gaiteros - Pioneros 83-58

SPB top team - Gaiteros (15-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed sixth ranked Pioneros (7-7) in Maracaibo 83-58. Gaiteros dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Pioneros' 30. American point guard Derek StHilaire (183-1998, college: New Orleans) nailed 18 points for the winning side and swingman Luis Duarte (190-1994) accounted for 8 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. Four Gaiteros players scored in double figures. American power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) came up with 13 points and 7 rebounds and the former international Elian Centeno (200-2000) added 8 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Pioneros in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gaiteros have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 15-1 record. Pioneros lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Gladiadores. Gaiteros will again play against Pioneros (#7) in Caracas in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Pioneros will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Gaiteros: D.St.Hilaire 18+2reb+3ast, N.Carter 12+2reb+1ast, M.Simon 11+10reb, M.Warren 10+6reb+2ast, L.Duarte 8+6reb+8ast, K.Caraballo 8+5reb+2ast
Pioneros: S.Wooten Jr. 13+1reb, J.Allen 13+7reb+1ast, A.Castillo 9+4reb+1ast, E.Centeno 8+11reb, E.Montano 7+6reb+1ast, T.Bond 5+6ast