SPB Round 31 (Regular Season): Bottom-ranked Llaneros win against Toros

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. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Bottom-ranked Llaneros managed to get a fourth victory on Wednesday night. This time they edged ninth-ranked Toros in Maracay 95-93. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Delwan Graham (200-1988, college: Jacksonville, agency: Interperformances) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds. Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) contributed with 34 points (!!!) for the winners. American Rakim Brown (198-1991, college: Humboldt St.) answered with 24 points and 7 rebounds for Toros. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Llaneros maintains fourteenth place with 4-16 record. Toros at the other side dropped to the tenth position with 12 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 Tachira. Thirteenth ranked Frontinos (6-14) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th placed Trotamundos (12-9) 69-67 on Tuesday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the guest team. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Trotamundos. It was a great evening for forward Jovanni Diaz (203-1990) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points and 8 rebounds. Melvin Zambrano helped adding 12 points and 10 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Dallas Morgan (185-1998, college: CMU) responded with 21 points. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Frontinos maintains thirteenth place with 6-14 record. Trotamundos at the other side dropped to the fifth position with nine games lost. Frontinos will play against league's second-placed Pioneros in Caracas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Trotamundos will have a break next round.
Worth to mention about the upset in a game between Gladiadores (9-10) and Panteras (7-12), which took place in Caracas. 9th ranked Gladiadores lost to twelfth ranked Panteras in a road game 104-108 on Tuesday. It was an exceptional evening for Sydney Curry who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 20 rebounds. Gregory Vargas came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 assists for Gladiadores in the defeat. Panteras have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain twelfth place with 7-12 record. Defending champion Gladiadores keep the ninth position with ten games lost. Panteras will meet at home higher ranked Marinos (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gladiadores will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 31 Panteras were beaten by Cocodrilos on the road 76-70. Spartans won against Gladiadores on its own court 82-78.
The most impressive performance of 31th round was 18 points and 16 rebounds by Malik Dime of Gladiadores.



Panteras - Gladiadores 108-104

Worth to mention about the upset in a game between Gladiadores (9-10) and Panteras (7-12), which took place in Caracas. 9th ranked Gladiadores lost to twelfth ranked Panteras in a road game 104-108 on Tuesday. Panteras dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Gladiadores' 42. They outrebounded Gladiadores 40-29 including 17 on the offensive glass. It was an exceptional evening for American forward Sydney Curry (203-2000, college: GCU) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 20 rebounds. His fellow American import Elijah Minnie (203-1994, college: EMU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) accounted for 28 points (made all of his seven free throws) for the winning side. Minnie is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. International point guard Gregory Vargas (181-1986) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 assists and American forward Javan Johnson (198-1999, college: DePaul, agency: Slash Sports) added 24 points respectively for Gladiadores in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Panteras have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain twelfth place with 7-12 record. Defending champion Gladiadores keep the ninth position with ten games lost. Panteras will meet at home higher ranked Marinos (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gladiadores will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Panteras: S.Curry 36+20reb+1ast, E.Minnie 28+3reb+3ast, T.Williams 14+4reb+4ast, W.Gomez 11+1ast, E.Alcala 8+1reb+1ast, J.Acosta 6+9reb
Gladiadores: J.Johnson 24+2reb+2ast, G.Vargas 17+2reb+15ast, M.Dime 15+6reb+2ast, D.Summers 10+1reb+1ast, J.Lopez 10+7reb+1ast, C.Fulda 9+3reb+1ast

Frontinos - Trotamundos 69-67

Important game to mention about took place in Tachira. Thirteenth ranked Frontinos (6-14) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th placed Trotamundos (12-9) 69-67 on Tuesday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the guest team. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Trotamundos. Frontinos forced 22 Trotamundos turnovers. Strangely Trotamundos outrebounded Frontinos 44-31 including 32 on the defensive glass. It was a great evening for forward Jovanni Diaz (203-1990) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points and 8 rebounds. Swingman Melvin Zambrano (193-1995) helped adding 12 points and 10 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Dallas Morgan (185-1998, college: CMU) responded with 21 points and the former international center Nestor Colmenares (200-1987, college: Campbellsville) scored 14 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Frontinos maintains thirteenth place with 6-14 record. Trotamundos at the other side dropped to the fifth position with nine games lost. Frontinos will play against league's second-placed Pioneros in Caracas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Trotamundos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Frontinos: J.Diaz 21+8reb, E.Rios 18+6reb+1ast, M.Zambrano 12+10reb+3ast, L.Bearden 8+1reb+2ast, S.Lloyd 3+2reb, C.Vejar 3+3ast
Trotamundos: D.Morgan 21+4reb+1ast, N.Colmenares 14+7reb, H.Thompson 9+3reb, J.Zamora 8+5reb+3ast, T.Jones 6+7reb+1ast, M.Ruiz 4+10reb

Cocodrilos - Panteras 76-70

No shocking result in a game when sixth ranked Cocodrilos (10-10) beat 12th ranked Panteras (7-12) in Caracas 76-70 on Wednesday. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. It was an exceptional evening for American power forward Willie Reed (211-1990, college: St.Louis, agency: Diamond Sports) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. Evert Bernal (195-1996) accounted for 17 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. Four Cocodrilos players scored in double figures. American forward Sydney Curry (203-2000, college: GCU) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 19 rebounds and the former international swingman Enderson Alcala (195-2001) added 21 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively for Panteras in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Cocodrilos have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain sixth place with 10-10 record. Loser Panteras keep the twelfth position with 12 games lost. Cocodrilos' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas Spartans.
Top scorers:
Cocodrilos: E.Bernal 17+5reb+1ast, W.Reed 12+11reb+2ast, K.Woods 12+6reb+2ast, W.Cherry 11+4reb+5ast, R.Roca 9+2reb+1ast, I.Banks 7+4reb+4ast
Panteras: E.Alcala 21+2reb+1ast, E.Minnie 13+8reb+1ast, S.Curry 12+19reb+2ast, J.Acosta 7+10reb+2ast, T.Williams 6+1ast, A.Indriago 6+1reb+6ast

Toros - Llaneros 93-95

Bottom-ranked Llaneros managed to get a fourth victory on Wednesday night. This time they edged ninth-ranked Toros in Maracay 95-93. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Delwan Graham (200-1988, college: Jacksonville, agency: Interperformances) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds. Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) contributed with 34 points (!!!) for the winners. American Rakim Brown (198-1991, college: Humboldt St.) answered with 24 points and 7 rebounds and Argentinian Diego Garcia (189-1979) added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists in the effort for Toros. Four Toros players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Llaneros maintains fourteenth place with 4-16 record. Toros at the other side dropped to the tenth position with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Llaneros: D.Colon 34+4reb+3ast, D.Graham 26+12reb+3ast, Y.Llerena 8+1reb, M.Escobar 8+1reb, J.Rodriguez 8+3reb, C.Rodriguez 5+11reb+1ast
Toros: R.Brown 24+7reb+3ast, D.Garcia 17+5reb+9ast, J.Hampton 16+3reb+1ast, B.Barrios 10+2reb, A.Spruill 6+1reb+2ast, B.Guidi 5+14reb+4ast

Spartans - Gladiadores 82-78

Very expected game when 9th ranked Gladiadores (9-10) lost to fourth ranked Spartans (12-8) in Caracas 78-82 on Wednesday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. It was an exceptional evening for Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001) who led the winners and scored 18 points and 8 rebounds. Argentinian-American Erik Thomas (195-1995, college: New Orleans) accounted for 17 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Senegalese-American center Malik Dime (206-1992, college: Washington, agency: Slash Sports) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 16 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) and American-Mexican Durrell Summers (196-1989, college: Michigan St.) added 18 points respectively for Gladiadores in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Spartans moved-up to third place, which they share with Marinos. Defending champion Gladiadores keep the ninth position with ten games lost. Spartans' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Caracas to the arena Cocodrilos.
Top scorers:
Spartans: S.Taylor Jr. 18+6reb, J.Perez 18+8reb+1ast, E.Thomas 17+7reb+2ast, N.Palacios 13+3reb+1ast, Y.Sifontes 5+1reb+8ast, J.Rodriguez 4+3reb
Gladiadores: M.Dime 18+16reb+1ast, D.Summers 18+3reb+3ast, J.Johnson 15+2ast, J.Lopez 11+3reb+1ast, P.Jackson 8+2reb+2ast, G.Vargas 8+2reb+8ast