Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Thirteenth-ranked Oviedo (3-6) gave a tough game to second ranked Estudiantes (8-1) on Sunday. The visitors from Madrid managed to secure only two-point victory 78-76. However their fans expected much easier game. Estudiantes made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Italian-Uruguayan guard Jayson Granger (191-1989) stepped up and scored 22 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Senegalese center Serigne Barro (208-1995) chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds. Estudiantes’ coach Pedro Rivero used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American-Nigerian power forward Ike Nweke (201-2000, college: Quinnipiac) with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Estudiantes have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Burgos SP and Fuenlabrada. Oviedo at the other side dropped to the twelfth place with six games lost. They share the position with 4 other teams. Estudiantes is looking forward to face Ourense (#6) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Oviedo will play against Real Betis (#4) in Sevilla and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Important game to mention about took place in Ourense. Eighth ranked Burgos T. (5-4) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Ourense (6-3) 87-86 on Sunday evening. American guard Lance Jones (185-2000, college: Purdue) nailed 24 points for the winning side and Caio Pacheco accounted for 15 points and 5 rebounds. American guard Aanen Moody (190-1998, college: Montana) came up with 21 points and 6 rebounds for Ourense in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Burgos T. maintains eighth place with 5-4 record. Ourense at the other side keeps the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Obradoiro and Palencia. Burgos T. will play against Menorca (#16) in Mahon in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Ourense will play on the road against the league’s second-placed Estudiantes (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
LEB Gold top team – Burgos SP (8-1) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat twelfth ranked Menorca (3-6) 91-81. The best player for the winners was Joe Cremo who scored 19 points and 5 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). At the other side the best for losing team was Jalen Cone who recorded 24 points. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Burgos SP maintains first place with 8-1 record, which they share with Estudiantes and Fuenlabrada. Loser Menorca keeps the twelfth position with six games lost. They share it with 4 other teams. Burgos SP will meet at home Alicante (#17) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Menorca will play against Burgos T. (#8) and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 9: Zamora won against Alicante on the opponent’s court 70-68. Castello was outscored by Real Betis in a home game 60-94. Cantabria was rolled over Obradoiro on the road 93-54. Fuenlabrada defeated Cartagena on its own court 79-65. Palencia beat Moron in a road game 91-86. Valladolid lost to Gipuzkoa at home 66-79.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 31 points by Maj Kovacevic of Valladolid.

Alicante – Zamora 68-70

Very expected game when bottom-ranked Alicante (0-9) was edged at home by eleventh ranked Zamora (4-5) 70-68 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American point guard Jordan Walker (186-1997, college: Morehead St.) who scored 17 points. His fellow American import forward Kevin Buckingham (198-1997, college: SE Oklahoma) chipped in 12 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Danish center Kevin Larsen (208-1993, college: GWU) who recorded 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Adria Rodriguez (192-2003) added 8 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Zamora moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Castello and Gipuzkoa. Alicante lost their ninth game in a row. They still close the standings with nine games lost. They share the position with Moron. Zamora will meet at home bottom-ranked Moron (#18) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Alicante will play against the league’s leader Burgos SP where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Alicante: K.Larsen 13+9reb+4ast, A.Lopez 13+4reb+1ast, M.Kacinas 12+4reb+2ast, R.Bidias 9+3reb+1ast, S.Ceccardi 8, A.Rodriguez 8+8reb+5ast
Zamora: J.Walker 17+3reb+2ast, K.Buckingham 12+5reb+3ast, J.Paukste 8+4reb, K.Nikic 6+2reb, J.Powell 6+2reb+5ast, T.Naspler 6+6reb+3ast

gschID: 1181264

Burgos SP – Menorca 91-81

LEB Gold top team – Burgos SP (8-1) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat twelfth ranked Menorca (3-6) 91-81. Burgos SP made 20-of-23 free shots (87.0 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American guard Joe Cremo (193-1996, college: Villanova) who scored 19 points and 5 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Armenian-American center Luke Fischer (211-1994, college: Marquette) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Jalen Cone (180, college: California) who recorded 24 points and point guard Pol Figueras (187-1998) added 12 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Burgos SP maintains first place with 8-1 record, which they share with Estudiantes and Fuenlabrada. Loser Menorca keeps the twelfth position with six games lost. They share it with 4 other teams. Burgos SP will meet at home Alicante (#17) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Menorca will play against Burgos T. (#8) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Menorca: J.Cone 24+3reb, P.Ivanov 13+1reb, P.Molins 13+1reb, P.Figueras 12+1reb+2ast, S.McDonnell 5+3reb, W.Falk 3+1reb
Burgos SP: J.Axel Gudmundsson 20+3reb+1ast, J.Cremo 19+4reb+5ast, L.Fischer 16+10reb+1ast, D.Diez 14+5reb+1ast, M.Lapornik 7+3ast, G.Goloman 4+3reb+1ast

gschID: 1181265

Castello – Real Betis 60-94

Rather predictable result in Castellon where fifth ranked Real Betis (7-2) smashed 8th ranked Castello (4-5) 94-60 on Sunday. Real Betis forced 24 Castello turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Mark Hughes (195-1997, college: Wright St.) who scored 28 points and 4 steals. Brazilian Vitor Benite (194-1990) chipped in 19 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Alvaro Martinez (199-2003) who recorded 14 points and 5 rebounds and American guard Jalen Tate (198-1998, college: Arkansas) added 10 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Castello’s coach Frederic Castello gave up on the game allowing to play twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Real Betis moved-up to fourth place. Loser Castello dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. They share it with Zamora and Gipuzkoa. Real Betis will meet at home Oviedo (#13) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Castello will play against Gipuzkoa (#10) in San Sebastian and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Castello: A.Martinez 14+5reb+3ast, E.Stutz 12+3reb, J.Tate 10+6reb, T.Ngom 8+2reb, G.Arcos 4+2reb+2ast, J.Menendez 3+4reb+2ast
Real Betis: M.Hughes 28+1reb+1ast, V.Benite 19+5reb+1ast, A.Cvetkovic 15+1reb+5ast, A.Domenech 11+3reb+1ast, B.De Bisschop 7+5reb+3ast, J.Kasibabu 6+8reb+1ast

gschID: 1181266

Obradoiro – Cantabria 93-54

Not a big story in a game in Santiago de Compostela where 12th ranked Cantabria (3-6) was rolled over by seventh ranked Monbus Obradoiro (6-3) 93-54 on Sunday. Obradoiro dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Cantabria‘s 26. They outrebounded Cantabria 36-21 including 24 on the defensive glass. It was a great shooting night for Obradoiro especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Cantabria‘s players. The best player for the winners was American center Jake Stephens (213-1999, college: Chattanooga) who scored 15 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Brad Davison (193-1999, college: Wisconsin) chipped in 16 points and 5 assists. Five Monbus Obradoiro players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Bosnian Mirza Bulic (207-1992) who recorded 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and guard German Martinez (189-1998) added 11 points respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Monbus Obradoiro. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Ourense and Palencia. Loser Cantabria keeps the twelfth position with six games lost. They share it with 4 other teams. Obradoiro will meet Palencia (#7) on the road in the next round. Cantabria will play against Fuenlabrada (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cantabria: G.Martinez 11+4reb+1ast, S.Littleson 9+1reb+1ast, M.Bulic 9+5reb+4ast, R.Belemene 6+4reb, K.Bercy 5+5reb+1ast, J.Vega 5+1ast
Obradoiro: B.Davison 16+2reb+5ast, J.Stephens 15+8reb+2ast, S.Micovic 14+5reb, S.Quintela 14+2reb+4ast, A.Galan 14+7reb+1ast, I.Arroyo-Varela 6+2reb+3ast

gschID: 1181267

Fuenlabrada – Cartagena 79-65

Everything went according to plan in Madrid where third ranked Fuenlabrada (8-1) beat 13th ranked Cartagena (3-6) 79-65 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was power forward Ivan Cruz-Uceda (208-1991, college: Miami, FL) who scored 18 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). Italian-American guard Paul Jorgensen (188-1996, college: Butler) chipped in 13 points. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Nigerian forward Stephen Ugochukwu (201-1996, college: McNeese St.) who recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds and Dutch forward Dylan Van Eyck (203-1998, college: Iona) added 15 points respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Fuenlabrada. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Estudiantes and Burgos SP. Cartagena lost their fourth game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the twelfth place with six games lost. They share the position with 4 other teams. Fuenlabrada will meet Cantabria (#15) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Cartagena will play against Valladolid and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cartagena: S.Ugochukwu 16+10reb, D.Van Eyck 15+3reb+2ast, J.Rogers 11+5reb+1ast, T.Smallwood 7+1reb, G.Blat 5+4reb+2ast, A.Cabrera 3+1reb+1ast
Fuenlabrada: I.Cruz-Uceda 18+7reb+2ast, P.Jorgensen 13+4reb+3ast, L.Nwogbo 13+4reb, Y.Nzosa 8+5reb+1ast, E.Duran 8+1reb+1ast, F.Zurbriggen 6+6reb+4ast

gschID: 1181268

Ourense – Burgos T. 86-87

Important game to mention about took place in Ourense. Eighth ranked Burgos T. (5-4) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Ourense (6-3) 87-86 on Sunday evening. American guard Lance Jones (185-2000, college: Purdue) nailed 24 points for the winning side and Brazilian point guard Caio Pacheco (189-1999) accounted for 15 points and 5 rebounds. American guard Aanen Moody (190-1998, college: Montana) came up with 21 points and 6 rebounds and forward Sergio Rodriguez (204-1993) added 19 points respectively for Ourense in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Burgos T. maintains eighth place with 5-4 record. Ourense at the other side keeps the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Obradoiro and Palencia. Burgos T. will play against Menorca (#16) in Mahon in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Ourense will play on the road against the league’s second-placed Estudiantes (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Ourense: A.Moody 21+6reb, S.Rodriguez 19+3reb+2ast, J.Lopez 9+2reb+4ast, R.Gill 8+7reb, R.Lisboa 8+1reb+3ast, U.Mendicote 8+8reb+4ast
Burgos T.: L.Jones 24+1reb+1ast, C.Pacheco 15+5reb+3ast, J.Lobo 14+1reb+3ast, J.Diaz 9+4reb, D.Simeunovic 7+3reb, R.Vila 6+2reb+1ast

gschID: 1181269

Oviedo – Estudiantes 76-78

gschID: 1181270

Moron – Palencia 86-91

There was no surprise in Moron de la Frontera where bottom-ranked Moron (0-9) was defeated by seventh ranked Zunder Palencia (6-3) 91-86 on Sunday. Palencia made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American guard Adam Kunkel (193-1999, college: Xavier) who scored 22 points. Polish-Argentinian Juan Pablo Vaulet (199-1996) chipped in 14 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was point guard Javier Marin (190-1992) who recorded 17 points and 7 assists and Ivorian guard Lionel Kouadio (192-2001) added 24 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Zunder Palencia. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Ourense and Obradoiro. Moron lost their ninth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with nine games lost. They share the position with Alicante. Palencia will meet at home Obradoiro (#5) in the next round. Moron will play against Zamora (#9) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Moron: L.Kouadio 24+3reb+1ast, J.Marin 17+4reb+7ast, I.Tamba 14+4reb+2ast, P.Badji 12+8reb+2ast, J.Alberto Jimenez 8+5ast, A.Norris 5+1reb
Palencia: A.Kunkel 22+1reb+1ast, J.Pablo Vaulet 14+5reb+2ast, C.Krutwig 13+6reb, M.Kamba 11+9reb, A.Wintering 9+3reb+3ast, T.Borg 9+1reb+4ast

gschID: 1181271

Valladolid – Gipuzkoa 66-79

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both twelfth ranked Gipuzkoa and 16th ranked Valladolid had identical 3-5 record. But Valladolid was not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from San Sebastian 79-66 on Saturday night. Gipuzkoa dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Valladolid‘s 30. The best player for the winners was Canadian-Croatian power forward Josip Vrankic (206-1998, college: Santa Clara, agency: Players Group) who scored 15 points and 4 assists. Power forward Javier Nicolau (208-1997, college: UMC) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was Slovenian-Croatian guard Maj Kovacevic (192-1990, agency: BIG) who recorded 31 points and Serbian power forward Vasilije Vucetic (207-1996) added 10 points respectively. Gipuzkoa (4-5) moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Zamora and Castello. Loser Valladolid dropped to the twelfth position with six games lost. They share it with 4 other teams. Gipuzkoa will meet at home Castello (#11) in the next round. Valladolid will play against Cartagena and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Valladolid: M.Kovacevic 31+4reb, V.Vucetic 10+4reb+1ast, H.Atencia 6+4reb+2ast, A.Sans 6+3reb+1ast, S.De La Fuente 5+4reb, D.Rozitis 3+3reb+1ast
Gipuzkoa: J.Vrankic 15+3reb+4ast, J.Nicolau 15+6reb, M.Sturup 11+2reb+3ast, A.Martinez 10+4reb+1ast, M.Ansorregui 9+10reb+2ast, M.Diaz 8+3reb+5ast