Review: Fuerza Regia arrives unbeaten and with determined goals

BARQUISIMETO (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas Final4) – Fuerza Regia has not suffered a defeat in the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017 and that can prove to be a difinite advantage for the team from Monterrey in the 2017 Final4.

Fuerza Regia started its 2017 campaing by hosting Group B of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas and cemented its status as favorite of the 2017 edition after finishing the preliminary group with a 3-0 record.

The team coached by Francisco “Paco” Olmos earned victories over Leones de Quilpué (Chile), Caballos de Coclé (Panama) and defending champions Guaros de Lara (Venezuela).

The Mexican club dominated Leones de Quilpué (Chile) 109-73 in their first game of the group with a huge performance by the trio of Carlos Rivera, Andy Panko and Hector Hernandez, who combined to score 58 points in the win. Rivera added 10 assists in an impressive offensive display by the host.

In their second game, Fuerza Regia had a heat check, on-fire performance from Hector Hernandez, who scored 26 points (including 6 triples) in the first half.

The host continued its dominant pace with an 89-64 victory over Caballos de Coclé (Panama) in a game in which their virtues as were on full display as a patient, organized team with great length in the paint (dominating Caballos 24-10 in the assists department and 38-29 on the boards).

On the third and final day of competition in the group, Fuerza Regia faced defending champion Guaros de Lara for the first place. It was a competitive game in which both team exchanged leads and had important performances by key players. For Fuerza Regia was Andy Panko, with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, while for Guaros it was Zach Graham with 23 points, both responsible for carrying the offensive load of their teams.

In the end, the Mexican club closed the game with a very precise attack led by Panko who scored 10 points in the quarter. They won it by the score 84-78 and finished in first place of Group B with an undefeated 3-0 record.

Fuerza Regia hosted the first Semi-Final Group of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas when the team received the visit of Soles de Mexicali (Mexico), La Union de Formosa (Argentina) and Guaros de Lara (Venezuela).

Fuerza Regia continued in streak. The Mexican club scored three victories this weekend to improve their record in the 2017 edition to 6-0. Their first victory was against La Unión de Formosa in a great combined performance from six players scoring in double figures. Jaleel Akindele led the game with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Mexico won by a score of 93-72.

In the second match of the group, Fuerza Regia faced a known rival, Soles de Mexicali (Mexico). It was a harsh, low-scoring clash and in which the host had Juan Toscano at a very high level, getting a double-double in the second quarter. The forward finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, and their team dominated the rebounding duel (46-32) on the way to a 66-57 victory. The defense was key to the host's triumph, as they kept Justin Keenan, the scoring leader of the 2017 edition (with 25.7 points per game until that match) with only 7 points.

Fuerza Regia confirmed its leadership and status as a favorite of this DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017 with a 77-70 victory over Guaros de Lara in a well-fought match that needed overtime to determine a winner. The host came out furiously, in a first quarter they dominated 21-11, however, Guaros responded with an effective game in transition from the hand of their substitute point guard, Puerto Rican Alex Abreu. Fuerza Regia had its worst quarter of the competition with only 4 points scored in the second quarter.

The party had several exchanges of advantage until the last minute of regulation in which a three-pointer from Cristian Cortés tied the score and forced the overtime. In overtime, the host relied on their long range effectiveness with four three-pointers, including a decisive one by Jordan Glynn, who sealed the victory. Fuerza Regia qualified to the Final4 in the first position and Guaros in the second position.

Fuerza Regia will now travel to Barquisimeto, Venezuela to face the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas Final4. Monterrey’s team will face Bahia Basket in the first day of the Final4 and will need to defeat the Argentinian team to access the Championship Game.

The Final4 of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas will be played on 17-18 March.

The DIRECTV Liga de las Americas is broadcast through DIRECTV (América), Punto2 (Puerto Rico) and through the web at livebasketball.tv (subscription required).

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

FIBA