Monterrey (Mexico), Nov 22 (EFE) .- The Fuerza Regia of Argentine coach Nicolás Casalánguida came from behind to beat the Astros de Jalisco 85-81 this Monday and win his fourth title in the Mexican basketball league.
On his home field in Monterrey, northern Mexico, the Astros of Spanish strategist Sergio Valdeolmillos, losers of the first three games of the final, came out plugged and led by Marco Ramos, with nine points and four rebounds, took advantage of 26-17 in the first half.
With good defense and aim under the rim and in the shots from behind, the Jalisco team reached third 12 points ahead. The champion Fuerza Regia came close to three, but the visiting team closed better.
Valdeolmillos rotated little to their starters who maintained the advantage at the start of the second segment, but suddenly the Astros committed several fouls and the locals approached 35-39.
Gabriel Girón made the score 37-39 and after a missed shot by Jared Frame, Casalánguida’s team drew 39-39.
Astros lost the compass; Jonatan Machado and Jared Frame went blank in a pair of three-point shots and the regios took advantage of it to, with a Giron basket, go ahead for the first time.
The third quarter was fought, with Fuerza Regia in front until, at 4:33 left, Blake Javion tied, after which the duel went back and forth, with good points in the paint on both sides.
Astros went ahead in the last minute, Fuerza Regia caught up with a pair of Avila’s free throws, but Javion scored a basket in the finals to give the visiting team a 64-62 lead.
After a start to the last quarter with errors from both sides, the Astros regained their level and escaped 74-69, taking advantage of mishaps in the home defense.
A triple by Dominique Johnson brought Casalánguida’s team closer, which drew 74-74 with a basket from Argentine Facundo Piñero, four and a half minutes from the end.
The duel increased the tension until 1:36 from the end Cristian Cortez made a three-pointer and broke an 81-81 tie, from which the Valdeolmillos team did not recover.
Ávila scored a free-throw point 10 seconds before closing and sealed the victory with which Fuerza Regia tied the Soles de Mexicali and Halcones de Xalapa in league titles.
Joseph Ávila, with 16 points and seven rebounds, led the attack of the regios, who scored 36 points from the paint and took advantage of the high performance of the players from the bench, who made 46 points.
For the Astros, Blake Javion led the attack with 20.
(c) EFE Agency