Rigoberto Mendoza had 31 points and 10 rebounds to guide the Reales de La Vega to a 106-101 victory in overtime over the Titanes del Distrito Nacional, in a game held at the Ángel González sports center corresponding to the National Basketball League (LNB). ).
Mendoza shot 11-for-18 from the field and also stole three balls for the Royals (6-7), who with the win keep alive their hopes of advancing to the elimination phase. Ángel Delgado had a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Devin Brooks added 14 points, Charles Lafayette 12 points and Gelvis Solano 11.
For the Titans (7-6), who have lost two in a row, Richard Bautista scored 31 points and gave 6 assists, while Jassel Pérez stood out with 25 in scoring and Keith Jordan Jr. contributed 20.
Solano was the figurehead in overtime for the Royals. Six points in a row from him gave the vegans a difference of 5 (98-93) with 2:04 to go. He then added a 3-pointer that made it 101-94 with 1:34 left. The hosts never recovered, falling for just the second time in eight games in San Cristobal.
The Royals shot 48 percent to the Titans’ 51. They won 46-41 rebounds and 29-16 scoring off the bench. The light blue team was superior in points in the paint (64-48) and in points from lost balls (23-15).
Lafayette hit a 3-pointer with 2:37 left in the first quarter to complete an 8-0 rally that gave the Royals a 20-16 lead. The Titans regained command with a layup by Henry Valdez with 40 seconds left, leaving the run 23-22 in their favor.
Pérez stole a ball, went to the rim and made a spectacular dunk, with which the Titans completed a 5-0 run to take a 46-39 lead with 0:28 left in the second quarter. Juan Coronado scored two in the last second for the Royals and the first half was 46-41.
Bautista had 15 points, Pérez 10 and Jordan Jr. 8 for the Titans in the first 20 minutes. Lafayette and Delgado, with 12 and 10 points respectively, led the Royals at halftime.
Mendoza tied the game 57-57 with 5:08 of the third quarter, when he dunked on a fast break. The Royals were ahead by 1 (64-65), but with 0:05 on the clock Pérez hit a 3-point shot to put the Titans ahead 67-65 after 30 minutes of action.
With 2:45 left in the fourth quarter, Delgado scored two to cap a 7-0 run with which the Royals went up 76-74. However, with 1:01 left, Pérez got up from three and scored, giving the Titans 83-80 command back.
Devin Brooks tied the game 83-83 with another 3-pointer with 0:45 remaining, but Pérez reappeared with another long-range shot, making it 86-83 with 0:23 left.
Bautista got one of two free throws with 8.3 seconds remaining and the game was 87-85. At 2.8, Brooks was fouled by Williams and tied the action by making both of his free throws. Williams fumbled on the final play of the final quarter and the game went into overtime.
The quarters ended 22-23, 19-23, 24-21, 22-20 and 19-14 for the Royals.
games this wednesday
The Soles of Santo Domingo Este (7-5) will visit the Marineros de Puerto Plata (5-7) at 7:00 p.m. at the Fabio Rafael González, while at 8:00 the Indios de San Francisco ( 7-5) from Macoris will host the Santiago Metros (6-6) at the Mario Ortega.