BARQUISIMETO (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017) – Weber Bahia Basket pulled off the upset over Fuerza Regia and Guaros de Lara held their ground against Leones de Ponce to advance to the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017 Grand Finale.

Weber Bahia Basket imposed their rhythm early and dominated Fuerza Regia, picking up a 15-point lead (29-14) with 6 minutes to go in the second quarter. But the Mexican club came back, with patience and discipline, and a great effort from Jordan Glynn to close the first half with a 12-0 run that put them within reach at the halfway point (34-28).

The Argentineans showed grit and opened up the third with an imposing Juan Pablo Vaulet in the paint, that gave them a 12-point lead with 5:38 to go in the quarter. Fuerza Regia was still resilient and came back once more on the game with a sped up offensive execution from Glynn and Daniel Toscano. The score showed 51-47 with 10 minutes to go in the game. In the fourth, Weber Bahia ran everything through their main player in the 2017 season of the continental competition, Lucio Redivo, who more than delivered to give the historic win to the Argentinean club by the score of 74-65. Weber Bahia, made up of young stars, was not supposed to even be in the Final4 by every possible prediction, but they made it and have moved on to their second international finale in a row (made it to the Liga Sudamericana 2016 Grand Finale). Redivo led all scorers in the game with 23 points in the win.

In the second game of the Final4, defending champion Guaros de Lara, dominated Leones de Ponce on their way to a 100-87 victory. The hosts came out swinging, with great effectiveness from long range and a hot hand from Zach Graham, who scored 8 points in the opening quarter. Leones de Ponce could not keep up with Guaros on the defensive side of the court, and the home team closed the first half with a 14-point lead, 41-55.

Leones closed the gap with an overpowering performance from Hakim Warrick and a good closing offensive stretch from Carlos Arroyo in the third, shortening the lead in the scoreboard to only 8 points (63-71) with 10 minutes to go in the game. But Guaros once again came on strong in the fourth. After Leones closed the lead to 5 points, 70-75, with 6 minutes to go, the hosts went on a 25-17 run to secure the victory. Graham was the leading scorer of the game with 27 point, including 6 three-pointers in the win.

Guaros de Lara and Weber Bahia Basket will now play for the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017 championship in what promises to be an exciting matchup of experience vs. youth in the Domo Bolivariano in Barquisimeto. The game will be played tomorrow at 19:30 (local Venezuela time). Leones de Ponce and Fuerza Regia will face off for third place in the first game of the day at 17:30.

The Liga de las Americas is broadcasted in DIRECTV (Americas), Telemundo (Puerto Rico) and livebasketball.tv (subscription required).

For the best coverage of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017, visit ligamericas.com and our @ligamericas social networks.

FIBA