SPB Round 29 (Regular Season): Gaiteros beat Pioneros by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Sixth-ranked Pioneros (9-9) used its home court advantage to challenge first ranked Gaiteros (15-1) in Caracas on Sunday. The visitors from Maracaibo managed to secure only three-point victory 76-73. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Pioneros. Colombian-Dominican point guard Jesse Zarzuela (188, college: Oregon) orchestrated the victory by scoring 18 points and 6 rebounds. American guard Nahziah Carter (198-1999, college: Washington) contributed with 14 points for the winners. The former international point guard Heissler Guillent (186-1986) answered with 15 points and 5 rebounds for Pioneros. Pioneros' coach Daniel Seoane tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Gaiteros have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 15-1 record. Pioneros at the other side keep the sixth position with nine games lost. They share it with Marinos. Gaiteros are looking forward to face Guaiqueries (#4) in Porlamar in the next round. Pioneros will play on the road against Trotamundos in La Asuncion and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Porlamar supposed to be also worth to mention about. 4th placed Trotamundos (11-7) played at the court of fifth ranked Guaiqueries (11-6). Guaiqueries smashed Trotamundos 98-67. Dominican Juan Guerrero (203-1993) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and Gelvis Solano chipped in 23 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. American Ricky Ledo (201-1992, college: Providence) responded with 16 points and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Guaiqueries moved-up to fourth place. Trotamundos at the other side dropped to the fifth position with seven games lost. Guaiqueries will play against league's leader Gaiteros in Maracaibo in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Trotamundos will play at home against Pioneros (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Caracas: Cocodrilos (#2) and Heroes (#9). Heroes were defeated at home 89-101 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Diego Colon nailed 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. Romario Roque came up with 16 points for Heroes in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cocodrilos (14-3) have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain second place behind leader Gaiteros. Loser Heroes keep the ninth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Diablos. Cocodrilos' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas Diablos.

In the last two games of round 29 Centauros were beaten by Marinos on the road 82-67. Piratas were destroyed by Spartans on its own court 75-102.



Guaiqueries - Trotamundos 98-67

The game in Porlamar supposed to be also worth to mention about. 4th placed Trotamundos (11-7) played at the court of fifth ranked Guaiqueries (11-6). Guaiqueries smashed Trotamundos 98-67. Dominican Juan Guerrero (203-1993) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and Dominican point guard Gelvis Solano (185-1994, college: Merrimack) chipped in 23 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Five Guaiqueries players scored in double figures. American Ricky Ledo (201-1992, college: Providence) responded with 16 points and 8 rebounds and the former international power forward Fernando Fuenmayor (201-2000) scored 11 points and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Guaiqueries moved-up to fourth place. Trotamundos at the other side dropped to the fifth position with seven games lost. Guaiqueries will play against league's leader Gaiteros in Maracaibo in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Trotamundos will play at home against Pioneros (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Trotamundos: R.Ledo 16+8reb+2ast, F.Fuenmayor 11+8reb, J.Reese V 10+2reb+1ast, E.Romero 8+6reb, D.Sulbaran 6+2reb+1ast, R.Anthony 5+1reb+1ast
Guaiqueries: S.Gelvis 23+4reb+5ast, W.Tyrone 20+2reb+3ast, G.Juan 18+13reb+1ast, U.Kender 10+1reb+1ast, C.Francisco 10+8reb+1ast, C.Pedro 6+1reb+3ast

Marinos - Centauros 82-67

No shocking result in a game when eighth ranked Marinos (9-9) beat 12th ranked Centauros (3-14) in Caracas 82-67 on Sunday. American guard Tobin Carberry (192-1991, college: LIU Post) nailed 25 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import guard Wesley Saunders (196-1993, college: Harvard) accounted for 18 points. Carberry is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Dominican swingman Luis Martinez (196-2000) came up with 25 points and 9 rebounds and naturalized Dominican Kelvin Pena (193-1980, college: Southeastern) added 15 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Centauros in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Marinos moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Pioneros. Loser Centauros keep the twelfth position with 14 games lost. Marinos' 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:
Centauros: L.Martinez 25+9reb+1ast, K.Pena 15+8reb+3ast, G.Atencio 11+6reb+2ast, M.Nguirane 7+10reb+1ast, J.Arias 4+3reb, G.Antony 3+1reb+1ast
Marinos: C.Tobin 25+5reb+3ast, S.Wesley 18+4reb+1ast, P.Anthony 14+1reb+1ast, L.Lenin 6+7reb+2ast, V.Gregory 5+2reb+5ast, J.Bryan 5+4reb+3ast

Piratas - Spartans 75-102

Very expected game when 11th ranked Piratas (5-12) were smashed by third ranked Spartans (13-4) in La Guaira 102-75 on Sunday. Spartans shot 63.2 percent from the field and made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. Spartans had a 31-17 advantage in offensive rebounds. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 63.6 percentage. Spartans looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American forward Michael Watkins (206-1995, college: Penn State) nailed a double-double by scoring 17 points and 14 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Dominican point guard Richard Bautista (185-1997) accounted for 9 points and 9 assists. Dominican Yeison Colome (190-1996) came up with 23 points and American forward Jordan Hamilton (201-1990, college: Texas) added 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Piratas in the defeat. Four Piratas players scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Spartans maintains third place with 13-4 record having just one point less than leader Gaiteros. Piratas lost third consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 12 games lost. Spartans' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Caracas to the arena Marinos.
Top scorers:
Piratas: Y.Colome 23+4reb+1ast, E.Egbuta 13+5reb+1ast, J.Hamilton 13+7reb+5ast, H.Bompart 12+5reb+2ast, M.Bolivar 6+3reb, E.Kleiber 4+1reb
Spartans: W.Michael 17+14reb, C.Michael 15+3reb+1ast, H.Adonys 13, P.Nelson 13+1reb, G.Cesar 11+1reb, S.Juan 9+4reb+3ast

Heroes - Cocodrilos 89-101

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Caracas: Cocodrilos (#2) and Heroes (#9). Heroes were defeated at home 89-101 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Cocodrilos made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) nailed 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and Dominican Luis Montero (203-1993, college: South Plains) accounted for 20 points and 5 rebounds. Colombian forward Romario Roque (180-1998) came up with 16 points and Bahamas David Nesbitt (205-1991, college: St.Thomas, FL) added 15 points respectively for Heroes in the defeat. Four Heroes players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cocodrilos (14-3) have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain second place behind leader Gaiteros. Loser Heroes keep the ninth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Diablos. Cocodrilos' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Caracas Diablos.
Top scorers:
Heroes: R.Roque 16+3reb+1ast, D.Nesbitt 15+2reb, J.Cunningham 13+2ast, M.Bell 12+1reb, G.Jose 11+1reb, M.Jackson 11+4reb
Cocodrilos: C.Diego 24+8reb+5ast, M.Luis 20+5reb+3ast, B.Evert 12+1reb+1ast, E.Rahsaan 9+3ast, B.Luis 9+5reb+2ast, R.Raymond 7+1reb+1ast

Pioneros - Gaiteros 73-76

Sixth-ranked Pioneros (9-9) used its home court advantage to challenge first ranked Gaiteros (15-1) in Caracas on Sunday. The visitors from Maracaibo managed to secure only three-point victory 76-73. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Pioneros. Colombian-Dominican point guard Jesse Zarzuela (188, college: Oregon) orchestrated the victory by scoring 18 points and 6 rebounds. American guard Nahziah Carter (198-1999, college: Washington) contributed with 14 points for the winners. The former international point guard Heissler Guillent (186-1986) answered with 15 points and 5 rebounds and American center Kelby Kramer (213-1999, college: MSU, agency: Starting 5) added 10 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Pioneros. Four Pioneros players scored in double figures. Pioneros' coach Daniel Seoane tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Gaiteros have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 15-1 record. Pioneros at the other side keep the sixth position with nine games lost. They share it with Marinos. Gaiteros are looking forward to face Guaiqueries (#4) in Porlamar in the next round. Pioneros will play on the road against Trotamundos in La Asuncion and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Pioneros: H.Guillent 15+5reb+3ast, B.Galloway 13+4reb+2ast, K.Kramer 10+10reb, J.Eddie 10+6reb+2ast, D.Summers 7, J.Diaz 6+2reb
Gaiteros: Z.Jesse 18+6reb+2ast, C.Nahziah 14+3reb+2ast, A.Nation 9+6reb, B.Angel 8+3reb+4ast, V.Javinger 7+7reb+1ast, A.Albert 6+1reb