SPB Round 29 (Regular Season): Pioneros defeat Gaiteros

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gaiteros (18-2) in Caracas on Sunday night. Visitors were edged by third ranked Pioneros (12-7) 87-84. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Gaiteros. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Pioneros looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Pioneros made 7 blocks. American power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) orchestrated the victory by scoring 18 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU) contributed with 16 points and 8 assists for the winners. Dominican forward Miguel Simon (203-1994, college: ASA CC) answered with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks for Gaiteros. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Pioneros have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Gaiteros at the other side still keep top position with two games lost. Pioneros are again looking forward to face league's leader Gaiteros in Maracaibo in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Gaiteros will have a break next round.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Marinos (11-8) against tenth ranked Piratas (9-7) on Sunday night. Visiting Marinos were edged by Piratas in a tough game in La Guaira 86-88. American-Jamaican guard Rashad James (185-1990, college: Iona) stepped up and scored 23 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Juan Suero chipped in 17 points and 7 assists. American swingman Wesley Saunders (196-1993, college: Harvard) responded with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Piratas moved-up to seventh place. Marinos at the other side keep the third position with eight games lost. They share it with Trotamundos and Spartans. Piratas will again play against higher ranked Marinos (#3) in Puerto La Cruz in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Marinos will have a break next round.
Bottom-ranked Llaneros managed to get a fourth victory on Sunday night. This time they edged ninth-ranked Brillantes in Caracas 87-85. Diego Colon nailed 29 points (was perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line !!!) for the winning side. Llaneros' coach Carl Herrera used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Myke Henry came up with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for Brillantes in the defeat. Llaneros maintains fourteenth place with 4-15 record. Loser Brillantes keep the ninth position with 11 games lost. Llaneros' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas Brillantes.

In the last game of round 29 Guaiqueries were beaten by Panteras on the road 97-90.



Panteras - Guaiqueries 97-90

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when twelfth ranked Panteras (6-12) beat 11th ranked Guaiqueries (7-10) in Caracas 97-90 on Saturday. Panteras outrebounded Guaiqueries 46-28 including a 22-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Panteras shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American Elijah Minnie (203-1994, college: EMU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) nailed 30 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Sydney Curry (203-2000, college: GCU) accounted for 17 points and 14 rebounds. Minnie is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Panteras' coach Dixson Salazar used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Erik McCree (202-1993, college: La Tech) came up with 21 points and 7 rebounds and the former international forward Jose Ascanio (204-1996) added 20 points and 4 assists respectively for Guaiqueries in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Panteras maintains twelfth place with 6-12 record. Guaiqueries lost their third game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Panteras: E.Minnie 30+9reb+3ast, E.Alcala 20+4reb+1ast, S.Curry 17+14reb+2ast, W.Gomez 13+2reb+2ast, T.Williams 7+8reb+4ast, J.Acosta 7+7reb+3ast
Guaiqueries: E.McCree 21+7reb, A.Banks 21+4reb+3ast, J.Ascanio 20+4reb+4ast, J.Anderson 13+4reb+5ast, T.White 9+2reb+1ast, E.Medina 4+2reb+1ast

Pioneros - Gaiteros 87-84

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gaiteros (18-2) in Caracas on Sunday night. Visitors were edged by third ranked Pioneros (12-7) 87-84. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Gaiteros. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Pioneros looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Pioneros made 7 blocks. American power forward Jeff Allen (201-1987, college: Virginia Tech) orchestrated the victory by scoring 18 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU) contributed with 16 points and 8 assists for the winners. Bond is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Dominican forward Miguel Simon (203-1994, college: ASA CC) answered with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks and swingman Luis Duarte (190-1994) added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Gaiteros. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Pioneros have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Gaiteros at the other side still keep top position with two games lost. Pioneros are again looking forward to face league's leader Gaiteros in Maracaibo in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Gaiteros will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Pioneros: J.Allen 18+8reb+1ast, A.Castillo 16+5reb+4ast, T.Bond 16+1reb+8ast, E.Centeno 9+6reb+1ast, E.Montano 9+5reb+1ast, K.Bar 6+4reb
Gaiteros: M.Simon 14+7reb+2ast, J.Gonzalez 13+2reb+2ast, L.Duarte 12+6reb+5ast, M.Warren 12+4reb+2ast, D.St.Hilaire 9+3reb+2ast, K.Caraballo 9+10reb+2ast

Piratas - Marinos 88-86

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Marinos (11-8) against tenth ranked Piratas (9-7) on Sunday night. Visiting Marinos were edged by Piratas in a tough game in La Guaira 86-88. American-Jamaican guard Rashad James (185-1990, college: Iona) stepped up and scored 23 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Dominican guard Juan Suero (196-1993) chipped in 17 points and 7 assists. American swingman Wesley Saunders (196-1993, college: Harvard) responded with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Piratas moved-up to seventh place. Marinos at the other side keep the third position with eight games lost. They share it with Trotamundos and Spartans. Piratas will again play against higher ranked Marinos (#3) in Puerto La Cruz in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Marinos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Piratas: R.James 23+7reb, D.Summers 19+6reb+1ast, J.Suero 17+4reb+7ast, E.Mijares 11+2reb+4ast, J.Vargas 11+4reb+1ast, K.Nino 3+5reb+1ast
Marinos: M.Bryson 23+6reb+2ast, W.Saunders 18+9reb+5ast, L.Bethelmy 15+11reb+2ast, T.Farmer 13+2reb+1ast, S.Jones 10+7reb, J.Centeno 4+3reb

Llaneros - Brillantes 87-85

Bottom-ranked Llaneros managed to get a fourth victory on Sunday night. This time they edged ninth-ranked Brillantes in Caracas 87-85. Llaneros made 24-of-29 free shots (82.8 percent) during the game. Llaneros outrebounded Brillantes 42-31 including 16 on the offensive glass. Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) nailed 29 points (was perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line !!!) for the winning side and center Carlos Rodriguez (206-1989) accounted for 5 points and 13 rebounds. Llaneros' coach Carl Herrera used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) came up with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and American-Dominican Gerardo Suero (196-1989, college: Albany) added 13 points respectively for Brillantes in the defeat. Four Brillantes players scored in double figures. Llaneros maintains fourteenth place with 4-15 record. Loser Brillantes keep the ninth position with 11 games lost. Llaneros' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas Brillantes.
Top scorers:
Llaneros: D.Colon 29+2reb, K.Urbina 14+1reb+1ast, M.Escobar 12+3reb+2ast, H.Bompart 11+5reb+1ast, D.Graham 7+10reb+3ast, C.Rodriguez 5+13reb+2ast
Brillantes: M.Henry 26+9reb+4ast, J.Vargas 14+1reb+1ast, G.Suero 13+4reb+1ast, M.Diaz 10+6reb, L.Lopez 8+3reb+4ast, M.Marriaga 6+4reb