SPB Round 32 (Regular Season): Spartans defeat Cocodrilos in the closest game of the week

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 32 in the SPB took place in Caracas. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of 6th ranked Cocodrilos (11-11) to fourth ranked Spartans (14-8) 76-73 on Friday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Steve Taylor Jr (206-1993, college: Toledo) who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 9 rebounds and Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001) who added 16 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. American power forward Willie Reed (211-1990, college: St.Louis, agency: Diamond Sports) responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Spartans have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Cocodrilos at the other side keep the sixth position with 11 games lost. Spartans are looking forward to face Piratas (#8) in La Guaira in the next round where they are favorite. Cocodrilos will have a break next round.
SPB top team - Gaiteros (19-3) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat seventh ranked Brillantes (10-12) in Maracaibo 82-68. The winners were led by American swingman Micheal Warren (196-1995, college: CSUN) who scored that evening 22 points and 5 rebounds and Miguel Simon supported him with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Even 15 points and 6 rebounds by American forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) did not help to save the game for Brillantes. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gaiteros maintains first position with 19-3 record. Brillantes at the other side keep the seventh place with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
A very close game took place in La Guaira between Guaiqueries and Piratas. Eleventh ranked Guaiqueries (8-10) got a very close victory on the road over 8th ranked Piratas (9-9). Guaiqueries managed to escape with a 3-point win 98-95 on Thursday evening. The best player for the winners was Erik McCree who had a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds. Guaiqueries' coach Yonaicker Ecker used entire bench in such tough game. Juan Suero produced 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Guaiqueries maintains eleventh position with 8-10 record. Loser Piratas keep the eighth place with nine games lost. Guaiqueries will meet at home higher ranked Gladiadores (#9) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Piratas will play against Spartans and will have a slim chance for a victory.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 32: Frontinos lost to Pioneros on the opponent's court 76-80. Pioneros managed to outperform Frontinos in a home game 82-76. Marinos managed to beat Panteras on the road 92-86.



Pioneros - Frontinos 80-76

Very expected game in Caracas where 13th ranked Frontinos (6-16) were defeated by second ranked Pioneros (15-7) 80-76 on Thursday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Pioneros had a 18-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American Tim Bond (201-1995, college: EMU) who scored 27 points. Dominican-American forward Anyeuri Castillo (201-1997, college: USC Aiken) chipped in 16 points. Bond is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Pioneros' coach Nelson Solorzano used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Swingman Melvin Zambrano (193-1995) produced 20 points and 8 rebounds and forward Jovanni Diaz (203-1990) added 11 points and 12 rebounds respectively for the guests. Four Frontinos players scored in double figures. Pioneros have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 15-7 record having four points less than leader Gaiteros. Loser Frontinos keep the thirteenth place with 16 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Frontinos: M.Zambrano 20+8reb+1ast, L.Bearden 13+1reb+2ast, A.Cabrera 12+2reb, J.Diaz 11+12reb+3ast, E.Rios 11+6reb+6ast, S.Lloyd 9+6reb+2ast
Pioneros: T.Bond 27+2reb+1ast, A.Castillo 16+3reb+1ast, E.Montano 10+9reb, A.Acosta 9+2reb+3ast, M.Martinez 6+1reb+1ast, K.Bar 4+9reb+1ast

Cocodrilos - Spartans 73-76

The most exciting game of round 32 in the SPB took place in Caracas. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of 6th ranked Cocodrilos (11-11) to fourth ranked Spartans (14-8) 76-73 on Friday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Steve Taylor Jr (206-1993, college: Toledo) who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 9 rebounds and Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001) who added 16 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. American power forward Willie Reed (211-1990, college: St.Louis, agency: Diamond Sports) responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds and the former international guard Luis Betancourt (183-2002) scored 14 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Spartans have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Cocodrilos at the other side keep the sixth position with 11 games lost. Spartans are looking forward to face Piratas (#8) in La Guaira in the next round where they are favorite. Cocodrilos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Cocodrilos: W.Reed 16+11reb, L.Betancourt 14+6reb+1ast, K.Woods 13+3reb+2ast, E.Bernal 11+6reb+2ast, W.Cherry 6+4reb+5ast, I.Banks 4+5reb
Spartans: S.Taylor Jr. 16+9reb+2ast, J.Perez 16+9reb+2ast, N.Palacios 11+2ast, Y.Sifontes 10+5reb, T.Efianayi 7+3reb+1ast, T.Wilkerson 6+8reb+1ast

Pioneros - Frontinos 82-76

Very predictable result in Caracas where second ranked Pioneros (15-7) defeated 13th ranked Frontinos (6-16) 82-76 on Friday. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Strangely Frontinos outrebounded Pioneros 45-32 including 16 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was Dominican-American forward Anyeuri Castillo (201-1997, college: USC Aiken) who scored 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Mayron Martinez (180-2003) chipped in 18 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Pioneros' coach Nelson Solorzano used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Forward Jovanni Diaz (203-1990) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and swingman Melvin Zambrano (193-1995) added 12 points and 17 rebounds respectively for the guests. Four Frontinos players scored in double figures. Pioneros have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 15-7 record having four points less than leader Gaiteros. Loser Frontinos keep the thirteenth place with 16 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Frontinos: J.Diaz 19+10reb+3ast, L.Bearden 14+7reb+8ast, M.Zambrano 12+17reb, E.Rios 11+6reb+1ast, A.Cabrera 10+2reb+1ast, L.Palacios 6+2reb+7ast
Pioneros: A.Castillo 22+8reb+4ast, M.Martinez 18+1reb+1ast, T.Bond 12+2reb+5ast, J.Allen 9+5reb+2ast, E.Centeno 8+6reb+1ast, E.Montano 4+2reb

Panteras - Marinos 86-92

Not a big story in a game in Caracas where 12th ranked Panteras (7-14) were defeated by fourth ranked Marinos (13-8) 92-86 on Friday. Marinos looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was swingman Wesley Saunders (196-1993, college: Harvard) who scored 28 points and 8 assists. Guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) chipped in 20 points and 6 assists. Four Marinos players scored in double figures. Forward Sydney Curry (203-2000, college: GCU) produced a double-double by scoring 25 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists and swingman Tae Williams (201-2000, college: CSU) added 16 points and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Marinos maintains fourth position with 13-8 record. Loser Panteras keep the twelfth place with 14 games lost. Marinos will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Panteras will play again against Marinos (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Panteras: S.Curry 25+15reb+4ast, T.Williams 16+3reb+4ast, O.Marquez 9+5reb+1ast, E.Alcala 9+1reb+3ast, J.Acosta 8+4reb, W.Gomez 7+5ast
Marinos: W.Saunders 28+4reb+8ast, M.Bryson 20+3reb+6ast, L.Santos 15+11reb+1ast, L.Bethelmy 13+6reb+4ast, M.Sierralta 6+4reb+2ast, J.Fontena 6+1ast

Gaiteros - Brillantes 82-68

SPB top team - Gaiteros (19-3) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat seventh ranked Brillantes (10-12) in Maracaibo 82-68. Gaiteros dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Brillantes' 30. Gaiteros players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. The winners were led by American swingman Micheal Warren (196-1995, college: CSUN) who scored that evening 22 points and 5 rebounds and Dominican forward Miguel Simon (203-1994, college: ASA CC) supported him with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Four Gaiteros players scored in double figures. Even 15 points and 6 rebounds by American forward Myke Henry (198-1992, college: DePaul) did not help to save the game for Brillantes. Cuban power forward Marlon Diaz (200-1998) added 15 points for the guests. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gaiteros maintains first position with 19-3 record. Brillantes at the other side keep the seventh place with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Brillantes: M.Diaz 15+2reb, M.Henry 15+6reb+1ast, G.Suero 10+2reb+1ast, R.Boatright 8+2reb, B.Duran 7+3reb+4ast, D.Rondon 5+4reb+2ast
Gaiteros: M.Warren 22+5reb+3ast, M.Simon 17+5reb+3ast, N.Carter 14+3reb+2ast, L.Duarte 11+8reb+4ast, D.St.Hilaire 6+1reb+5ast, J.Martinez 4+3reb+1ast

Piratas - Guaiqueries 95-98

A very close game took place in La Guaira between Guaiqueries and Piratas. Eleventh ranked Guaiqueries (8-10) got a very close victory on the road over 8th ranked Piratas (9-9). Guaiqueries managed to escape with a 3-point win 98-95 on Thursday evening. The best player for the winners was American forward Erik McCree (202-1993, college: La Tech) who had a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds. The other American import guard Tyrone White (201-1990, college: CSUB) chipped in 17 points and 5 assists. Guaiqueries' coach Yonaicker Ecker used entire bench in such tough game. Dominican guard Juan Suero (196-1993) produced 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and American-Jamaican guard Rashad James (185-1990, college: Iona) added 21 points respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Guaiqueries maintains eleventh position with 8-10 record. Loser Piratas keep the eighth place with nine games lost. Guaiqueries will meet at home higher ranked Gladiadores (#9) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Piratas will play against Spartans and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Piratas: J.Suero 24+9reb+5ast, R.James 21+4reb+3ast, E.Mijares 17+3reb+2ast, G.Curvelo 12+5reb, K.Nino 10+1reb+1ast, M.Johnson 8+8reb+2ast
Guaiqueries: E.McCree 34+10reb, J.Ascanio 18+2reb, T.White 17+5ast, A.Banks 12+5reb+3ast, F.Centeno 8+5reb+2ast, E.Medina 7+2reb