SLFB 2025 Finals - Game 4 - Pastoras de Lara wins second straight championship in Venezuela

Pastoras de Lara won their second straight Superliga Femenina de Baloncesto Femenino (SLFB) title in Venezuela, after defeating Caribenas de Caracas, 72-63, in Game 4 of the 2025 Finals, played at Napoleon Rodriguez Arena of Barquisimeto (Lara), to achieve a 3-1 win in the series.

The team coached by former player Diego Vasquez had a commanding start (18-9) in the first 10 minutes and reached half time with a six-point advantage (41-35), which was extended to seven points (57-50) at the end of the third quarter. They also dominated the final 10 minutes with a 15-13 run to finish 9 points ahead (72-63).

Daniela Morillo-Wallen (179-SF-1995, college: Okla City), named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 Finals, earned the award by scoring 20 points and adding 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals and a block.

Meanwhile, Genesis Rivera (180-G/F-1996, college: UMass) netted 18 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, handed out an assists and added two steals and a block.

Point guard Mariana Duran (172-PG-1993, college: Okla City) had another great performance with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists while Odeth Betancourt (188-F-2000, college: WKU) completed a double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, including a couple of blocks.

For Caribenas, Waleska Perez (180-G-1994, college: Weatherford JC) tried her best to avoid the defeat with a double double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. She added 3 assists and 2 steals. Aguehil Fajardo (183-PF-1999) followed her with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Caribenas had finished the regular season at the top of the standings with only one defeat (19-1) while Pastoras had finished at third place with a 14-6 record. That's when coach Vasquez took over and they swept Diosas de Guacara (15-5), 3-0, in the Semifinals, while Caribenas, coached by Esteban Gonzalez, also swept Capitalinas de Distrito Capital (7-13), 3-0.

Quotes

"We knew it wasn't going to be an easy series. Caribenas had a great team and it's been a great Finals series. I hope it gives more recognition to all the players that are playing in other countries and still decided to come here to provide a higher level of quality to the competition, which we're all thankful for"
Diego Vasquez ( head coach of Pastoras de Lara)

"When I came into this team, I didn't have any doubts about the great team they had, the team supported me, they believed in what we were doing and that's why we were able to win. I told them to get ready in the mental aspect of the game. I'm thankful for the opportunity. I'm very happy. The merit is all theirs"
Diego Vasquez ( head coach of Pastoras de Lara)

"I'm very happy. It's not easy to win the MVP and winning the championship. It involves a lot of work, effort and discipline, stuff that sometimes people doesn't get to see. We've demonstrated it on the court to achieve what we achieved today. Playing for the first time in my life in Venezuela and finish the season this way makes me feel very proud of myself and the rest of the team. I'm speechless. I know my mom is seeing me from Heaven and this is also for her and because of her".
Daniela Morillo-Wallen (Pastoras de Lara, MVP of the 2025 Finals)

"This team means a lot for me. To win a second championship in a row is super important for us as a team and for the franchise. I'm very proud of all the team, even though we had our ups and downs. Barquisimeto fans gave us the support we needed so that it wasn't so difficult for us. We worked very hard for this, we had the mentality that we needed to get the trophy and that was the key"
Mariana Duran (PG of Pastoras de Lara)

"Too nervous, too much stress and a lot of different mixed emotions, but I'm very happy to have helped my team again to win another championship. I have to trust myself a little bit more when my team needs me, when I have the ball, to know that I can go to the basket easily and score when I want to"
Odeth Betancourt (PF-C of Pastoras de Lara)

Pastoras de Lara - Championship Roster
Daniela Morillo-Wallen
Mariana Duran
Genesis Rivera
Odeth Betancourt
Nirvana Garcia (174-F-2001)
Nicole Garcia (174-SG-2001)
Fabiana Hernandez (173-PG-2006)
Hillary Perez (169-SF-1995)
Greydismar Camacaro (167-SG-2009)
Valeria Rodriguez
Nolyet Torres
Angela Crespo
Veronica Schotborgh
Maria Carrasco
Rachel Moscan
Sharon Pena
Javianny Cueri (2006)
Roberli Perez (158-PG-2009)
Nikol Carrera
Angeles Veliz
Vanessa Velasco

Head coach: Diego Vasquez
Assistant coaches: Alberto Jimenez, Adriana Salas

LINABAFE CHAMPIONS
2009 - EPB Escuela Pedagogica de Baloncesto (over Estudiantes BBC in a Final Four) - Coach Eduardo Gil - MVP Roselis Silva
2010 - EPB Escuela Pedagogica de Baloncesto (over Yaracuyanas BBC, 3-0) - Coach Eduardo Gil - MVP Cleyder Blanco
2011 - Yaracuyanas BBC (over Llaneras de Cojedes, 3-1) - Coach Hugo Calvette - MVP Ivaney Marquez
2012 - Yaracuyanas BBC (over Bucaneras de La Guaira, 3-2) - Coach Hugo Calvette - MVP Ivaney Marquez
2013 - Bucaneras de La Guaira (over Deportivo Anzoategui, 3-1) - Coach Victor Gustavo Rojas - MVP Sharol Renault
2014 - Deportivo Anzoategui (over Bucaneras de La Guaira, 3-2) - Coach Eduardo Gil - MVP Roselis Silva
2015 - Bucaneras de La Guaira (over Deportivo Anzoategui, 3-1) - Coach Alecia Landaeta - MVP Ivaney Marquez
2016 - Bucaneras de La Guaira (over Cangrejas de Monagas, 3-1) Coach Alecia Landaeta - MVP Jofranny Guerra
2017 - Cangrejas de Monagas (over Estudiantes de Caracas, 3-0) Coach Jose Dos Santos - MVP Waleska Perez

SUPERLIGA CHAMPIONS
2021 - Deportivo Anzoategui (over Caribenas de Caracas, 2-0) - Coach Jose Arias - MVP Waleska Perez
2022 - Caribenas de Caracas (over Cayenas de Carabobo, 3-1) - Coach Julio Barreto - MVP Waleska Perez
2024 - Pastoras de Lara (over Caribenas de Caracas, 1-0) - Coach Daniel Queralez - MVP Odeth Betancourt
2025 - Pastoras de Lara (over Caribenas de Caracas, 3-1) - Coach Diego Vasquez - MVP Daniela Morillo-Wallen