Marinos fell to Cocodrilos in a duel that rekindled the old rivalry

Marinos de Oriente fell to Cocodrilos de Caracas with a score of 99-96, in a duel played at the United Nations Park (PNU), which rekindled the old rivalry between both organizations.

The clash on Wednesday, August 21 between the Saurios and the Navales was valid for the fourth day of the Super Round of the Professional Basketball Super League (SPB) 2024, an instance where the two best quintets are sought that will later fight for the title in the final.

With a swamp bursting at the seams, the team from the capital withstood the onslaught of the Eastern Battleship in the final stretch of the match and took the victory, their second in the round robin.

Tight match

Marinos finished the first quarter with a three-point lead (30-27). However, Cocodrilos responded strongly and won the second period to go into the break with a nine-point lead (62-53).

In the third quarter, the naval team was only able to reduce the gap to eight points, but in the last 10 minutes the dynamic changed a bit. Although they were never able to regain control of the scoreboard, the Eastern Battleship was down by just one point on a couple of occasions in the final stretch.

The Saurians had several opportunities to seal the game from the free throw line, but their players were not accurate enough to take advantage. The visitors took advantage of this to make the score 96-95 with a long three-pointer by Timothy Bond Jr. with less than 20 seconds left to play.

Marinos resorted to the strategy of sending rival players to the free throw line, but Franger Pirela had the cold blood to correctly execute two opportunities with 15 seconds left and put the score at 98-95.

With tempers running high, Pirela himself was involved in an altercation with Shamorie Ponds on the following play, which later involved Trayvon Palmer and Luis Montero.

The confrontation then resumed and Luis Bethelmy received the ball, only to suffer the foul that forced him to take two free throws with the game at three points. “El Tsunami” made the first shot, but missed the second and immediately took the rebound to try for the basket, but Montero blocked it and prevented the attempt to tie the score.

Montero was ultimately fouled on the play with Bethelmy and went to the free throw line, where he scored one and missed the other so that the game ended 99-96.

Tabla

With the result in the PNU, added to the victory of Trotamundos de Carabobo over Guaiqueríes de Margarita, the Super Round table was left with a four-way tie.

Gladiadores de Anzoátegui, in addition to the saurians, Expreso Azul and La Tribu, have a record of 2-1, with five points each. In fifth place is Marinos with four points, the result of two losses and one victory.

SPB action continues this Friday, August 23. La Armadura will host the team from the capital, while there will be an eastern classic between Guaiqueríes and Marinos in the state of Nueva Esparta.

Puerto La Cruz / Javier A. Guaipo