MEDELLÍN (Colombia) – For the second straight game, Astros de Jalisco (MEX) delivered a strong performance on both ends of the floor, reinforcing its status as Group A favorites in the Basketball Champions League Americas with an emphatic 87–59 road win over Paisas Basketball Club (COL) at the Iván de Bedout Coliseum in Medellín, Colombia.
Turning point
Once again, a strong start set the tone for the Astros. The team opened the game on a 7-0 run and never relinquished the lead. Defense dictated the pace, while constant pressure in the paint allowed the Astros to control every quarter, leading 16-9, 45-27 and 63-41 at the end of the first, second and third quarters.
Player of the game
Christopher Perry (10 rebounds) and Adonys Henríquez led the Astros in scoring with 14 points apiece.
Daishon Smith added 12 points. Michael Carrera (7 rebounds) and Tyran De Lattibeaudiere followed with 11 and 10, respectively. For Paisas, Michael Miles finished with 17 points, and Luis Almanza added 15.
Stats don’t lie
The Jalisco squad’s defense held Paisas to just 36 percent shooting from the field (22-of-61). Meanwhile, the 59 points scored were the lowest by the Colombian team in their 10 appearances in BCL Americas play. And on the offensive end, the Astros knocked down 33 of 68 shots for 49 percent. Coached by Spaniard Iván Déniz, Astros dominated points in the paint (46-30) and also controlled fast-break points and second-chance points, 14-6.
Bottom line
Group A action now shifts to Villavicencio, Colombia, on February 1, with Caimanes del Llano (0-2) serving as hosts. Astros (2-0) will look to stay atop the standings, while Paisas (1-1) will aim for revenge. The hosts will need at least one win to keep their hopes alive.
They said
After setting a new scoring record in its opener (123 points), Astros once again left a strong impression with a commanding win over the hosts. Perry added three blocks to his double-double, and told FIBA Americas the team’s depth made the difference. “It’s the first time I’ve been on a stage like this. Being on a team with so many great players makes everything feel easier: scoring is easier, playing is easier. Everyone does their job and everything just flows.” The big man pointed to defense as the key to the victory and highlighted the unity within the roster. “Being a truly connected team helped us a lot, because you can tell on the other side everyone is kind of playing on their own, while we’re really together out there. If I get down, Mike (Michael Carrera) comes right over and tells me to pick it up and keep going,” he concluded. FIBA