SPB Round 37 (Regular Season): Cocodrilos defeat Gaiteros

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 (19-3) in Caracas on Monday night. Visitors were edged by second ranked Cocodrilos (18-5) 81-78. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Gaiteros. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. They outrebounded Gaiteros 47-27 including a 31-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) who helped to win the game recording 26 points (made all of his eight free throws). The former international forward Luis Bethelmy (200-1986) contributed with 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Colombian-Dominican point guard Jesse Zarzuela (188, college: Oregon) answered with 30 points for Gaiteros. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cocodrilos maintains second place with 18-5 record behind leader Gaiteros. Defending champion Gaiteros still keep top position with three games lost. Cocodrilos are looking forward to face Piratas (#10) in La Guaira in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Gaiteros will play on the road against Marinos (#6) in Caracas and are hoping to win this game.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Caracas: Marinos (#6) and Brillantes (#8). Marinos (14-9) won against visiting Brillantes (11-13) 77-69. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Brillantes. American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) stepped up and scored 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Malik Dime chipped in 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. At the losing side American guard Elias King (203-2000, college: MTSU) responded with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Marinos have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Newly promoted Marinos maintains sixth place with 14-9 record. Brillantes at the other side keep the eighth position with 13 games lost. Marinos will play against league's leader Gaiteros in Maracaibo in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Brillantes will have a break next round.
A very close game took place in La Asuncion (derby !!!) between Centauros and Trotamundos. Twelfth ranked Centauros (5-18) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked Trotamundos (15-9). Centauros managed to escape with a 2-point win 76-74 on Monday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Trotamundos. Kelvin Pena nailed 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Ricky Ledo came up with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for Trotamundos in the defeat. Trotamundos' coach Ronald Guillen rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Centauros maintains twelfth place with 5-18 record. Loser Trotamundos keep the fifth position with nine games lost. Centauros will meet at home higher ranked Heroes (#9) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Trotamundos will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 37 Heroes smashed Panteras on the road 98-60. Diablos lost to Piratas on its own court 89-92.



Cocodrilos - Gaiteros 81-78

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gaiteros (19-3) in Caracas on Monday night. Visitors were edged by second ranked Cocodrilos (18-5) 81-78. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Gaiteros. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. They outrebounded Gaiteros 47-27 including a 31-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of Dominican Diego Colon (188-2001) who helped to win the game recording 26 points (made all of his eight free throws). The former international forward Luis Bethelmy (200-1986) contributed with 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Colombian-Dominican point guard Jesse Zarzuela (188, college: Oregon) answered with 30 points and swingman Luis Duarte (190-1994) added 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 steals in the effort for Gaiteros. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cocodrilos maintains second place with 18-5 record behind leader Gaiteros. Defending champion Gaiteros still keep top position with three games lost. Cocodrilos are looking forward to face Piratas (#10) in La Guaira in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Gaiteros will play on the road against Marinos (#6) in Caracas and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Gaiteros: J.Zarzuela 30+3ast, L.Duarte 18+8reb+5ast, N.Carter 9+3reb+2ast, A.Blanco 7+1reb+2ast, J.Vargas 5+2reb, M.Simon 4+2reb
Cocodrilos: C.Diego 26+4reb+2ast, B.Luis 20+7reb+1ast, E.Rahsaan 8+2reb+2ast, M.JD 8+6reb+1ast, M.Luis 7+14reb+4ast, B.Evert 7+6reb

Panteras - Heroes 60-98

No shocking result in a game when ninth ranked Heroes (9-14) crushed bottom-ranked Panteras (1-22) in Caracas 98-60 on Monday. Heroes dominated down low during the game scoring 46 of its points in the paint compared to Panteras' 24 and made 19-of-21 free shots (90.5 percent) during the game. Heroes forced 19 Panteras turnovers and outrebounded them 48-34 including 34 on the defensive glass. Heroes looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Panteras' players. Dominican forward Yeikson Montero (196-1996, college: EMU) nailed 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and American guard Jared Cunningham (194-1991, college: Oregon St., agency: BIG) accounted for 20 points (made all of his eight free throws). Five Heroes players scored in double figures. point guard Yochuar Palacios (183-1985) came up with 15 points and 5 assists and Australian forward Solomon Kuol (201, college: Lake Erie) added 18 points respectively for Panteras in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Heroes maintains ninth place with 9-14 record. Panteras lost their nineteenth game in a row. They stay dead last with 22 lost games. Heroes will meet Centauros (#12) in the next round. Panteras' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Caracas to the arena Spartans.
Top scorers:
Panteras: K.Solomon 18+1reb+2ast, Y.Palacios 15+3reb+5ast, O.Marquez 6+2reb+1ast, C.Jordan 5+3reb, L.Carrillo 4+9reb, N.Luiyer 4+2reb+2ast
Heroes: M.Yeikson 27+9reb+5ast, C.Jared 20+4reb+3ast, J.Jason 12+8reb, B.Maximillion 11+2reb+3ast, C.Gregory 10+5reb+11ast, N.David 6+5reb+2ast

Trotamundos - Centauros 74-76

A very close game took place in La Asuncion (derby !!!) between Centauros and Trotamundos. Twelfth ranked Centauros (5-18) got a very close victory on the road over higher ranked Trotamundos (15-9). Centauros managed to escape with a 2-point win 76-74 on Monday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Trotamundos. Naturalized Dominican Kelvin Pena (193-1980, college: Southeastern) nailed 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Dominican swingman Luis Martinez (196-2000) accounted for 24 points and 8 rebounds. American Ricky Ledo (201-1992, college: Providence) came up with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import guard James Reese V (193-1998, college: S.Carolina) added 18 points (made all of his eight free throws) respectively for Trotamundos in the defeat. Trotamundos' coach Ronald Guillen rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Centauros maintains twelfth place with 5-18 record. Loser Trotamundos keep the fifth position with nine games lost. Centauros will meet at home higher ranked Heroes (#9) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Trotamundos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Trotamundos: J.Reese V 18+3reb+1ast, R.Ledo 18+5reb+5ast, E.Romero 13+5reb+3ast, F.Fuenmayor 9+8reb+1ast, Z.Jhornan 7+4reb+1ast, D.Cubillan 5+2reb+1ast
Centauros: P.Kelvin 27+5reb+4ast, M.Luis 24+8reb+2ast, N.Maodo 10+10reb+3ast, C.Garcia 7+8reb+3ast, P.Milos 4+5reb+1ast, Y.Angel 2+3reb+1ast

Diablos - Piratas 89-92

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 10th ranked Diablos (8-16) were edged by eleventh ranked Piratas (8-14) in Caracas 92-89 on Tuesday. Piratas forced 21 Diablos turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Piratas made 9 blocks. Dominican Yeison Colome (190-1996) nailed 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and international swingman Franger Pirela (187-2002) accounted for 13 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Piratas players scored in double figures. Nicolas Palma (197-2004) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds and American forward Delwan Graham (200-1988, college: Jacksonville, agency: Interperformances) added 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks respectively for Diablos in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Piratas moved-up to tenth place. Loser Diablos dropped to the eleventh position with 16 games lost. Piratas will meet at home league's second-placed Cocodrilos in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Diablos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Diablos: P.Nicolas 20+15reb+2ast, D.Graham 20+10reb+3ast, S.Bryan 20+2reb+6ast, B.Miguel 8+3reb+1ast, E.Gonzalez 8+6reb+6ast, H.Jr Luis A 5+4reb
Piratas: C.Yeison 26+8reb+5ast, B.Humberto 18+5ast, E.Emmanuel 18+8reb+1ast, P.Franger 13+8reb+7ast, D.Davis 9+5reb+3ast, E.Hernandez 3+2reb+1ast

Marinos - Brillantes 77-69

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Caracas: Marinos (#6) and Brillantes (#8). Marinos (14-9) won against visiting Brillantes (11-13) 77-69. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Brillantes. They outrebounded Brillantes 43-32 including 16 on the offensive glass. American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) stepped up and scored 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Senegalese-American center Malik Dime (206-1992, college: Washington, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. Four Marinos players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Elias King (203-2000, college: MTSU) responded with 20 points and 8 rebounds (made all of his seven free throws) and the other American import center Tevin Glass (203-1994, college: ETSU) scored 16 points. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Marinos have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Newly promoted Marinos maintains sixth place with 14-9 record. Brillantes at the other side keep the eighth position with 13 games lost. Marinos will play against league's leader Gaiteros in Maracaibo in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Brillantes will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Brillantes: E.King 20+8reb+1ast, T.Glass 16+4reb+3ast, M.Henry 9+4reb+4ast, M.Lyons 7+2reb+1ast, C.Silva 6+1reb, J.Rodriguez 4+2reb
Marinos: B.Michael 20+7reb+3ast, D.Malik 15+12reb+1ast, M.KJ 15+7reb, P.Anthony 14+5reb, V.Gregory 6+3reb+3ast, S.Wesley 5+5reb+3ast