Quade Green scored 32 points and the Reales de La Vega defeated the Titanes of the National District 99-96, in a match held at the Fernando Teruel corresponding to the elimination phase of the LNB Super League.
With the victory, the Royals conclude with a 15-9 record in the elimination phase and are waiting for what happens with the San Francisco de Macorís Indians this Sunday (14-9). If the Francomacorisans lose their match, the Vegans will go as the first seed to the semifinals. If the opposite happens, they will go to second place for having lost the particular series to them (1-3).
Green shot 9-for-17 from the field, 5-for-10 from three, 9-for-10 in free throws and gave 7 assists for the Royals, who had 18 points and 9 rebounds from Miguel Simón, with 13 points and 7 sacks. Earl Watson and with 12 points from Juan Valenzuela.
For the Titans, who with their 13-10 record are also qualified for the semifinals, Keith Jordan Jr. had 25 points and 4 rebounds and Jassel Pérez scored 23 points. MJ Rhett and Jaelyn Johnson chipped in with 14 drives and 7 boards each.
Green’s 3-pointer that capped an 11-0 rally lifted the Royals up 84-72 with 7:01 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Titans responded with a 12-0 run completed by a three-point play by Perez to tie the score at 84-84.
The Cibaeños did not lower their heads and with consecutive triples by Yomar Thomas they put the score at 90-84 in their favor, with 3:31 left to conclude the duel. Then, a 3-pointer by Johnson with 30 seconds left brought the Titans within 94-95.
On the next possession, Green combined near the basket with Watson, who scored against the board and raised the Vegan advantage to three (97-94) with 11 seconds remaining. With the game 99-96 the Titans had a chance to tie it, but Richard Bautista missed a 3-pointer in the last second.
The Titans had no problems in the first quarter and won it 31-20, thanks to 11 points from Jordan Jr. and 7 with 3 assists from Pérez. At one point they led 23-10 with 3:28 remaining. Green hit 10 and Putney 6 to stick up for the Royals.
In the second quarter, the Royals responded better and tied at 42-42 with 2:41 remaining, after a dunk by Simón. A layup by Pérez with 1:21 left put the Titans up by 5 (50-45). The first half concluded 52-47.
Jordan Jr. had 17 points and Pérez 14 at halftime for the Titans. Green led the Royals with 13 points, followed by 10 from Putney.
In the third quarter, Watson gave the Royals a 63-60 lead when he completed a three-point play with 4:16 left. The Titanes closed the score 68-69 with two free throws by Randy Bautista with 2:11 remaining, but the hosts prevailed 73-70 after three periods.
The quarters concluded 20-31, 27-21, 26-18 and 26-26 for the Royals.
Next match
For this Sunday the meeting between the Indians of San Francisco de Macorís and the Titans of the National District will be completed, which could not conclude on July 24. It will be in the same San Cristóbal sports center and it will resume starting the third quarter, with the Titanes leading the board 46-35. The roster will be the same with which that game began.