MACAS (DIRECTV League of the Americas) - Iccan de Macas (Ecuador) stood tall in the Coliseo La Loma after a 92-73 win over Deportivo Calero (Bolivia), in the first day of Group B. Olimpia Kings (Paraguay) celebrated against Piratas de los Lagos (Ecuador) with a score of 98-78.

The host were led by 26 points and 10 rebounds from Venezuelan César Silva and 21 points from Cuban Reynaldo García, to achieve the important victory.

In the second half of the game, Iccan managed to capitalize in a more forceful way the turnovers from the opponent. The team coached by Rubén Coronel scored 22 points from 21 turnovers of the opponents and 19 points after capturing 17 offensive rebounds.

For Calero, the Argentinean Agustín Ambrosino contributed 16 points and Michael Liabo 14. Others who stood out for Macas were Darol Ernández with 18 points and Axiers Sucre with a “double-double” of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

In the game that marked the start of the preliminary group, Olimpia defeated the representative from Ecuador.

The Piratas won the first quarter 27-24, but from then on, the Paraguayan champion began to impose their collective game to draw the difference. In the second quarter, the team from Paraguay produced a 22-9 quarter that marked the path of victory by going to halftime with the advantage of 46-36.

The encounter was practically sentenced when at the beginning of the last quarter, Olimpia created a 12-0 run to open the gap to 81-59 with 7:50 on the clock.

The Argentine base Juan Pablo Cantero took the offensive baton of Olimpia with 21 points and five assists, while Guillermo Araujo and Rodney Green added 20 points each.

For Piratas, Willie Readus scored 19 points and Jonathan Arboleda 16.

Group B will continue when Deportivo Calero takes on Olimpia and Piratas faces Iccan.

FIBA