Weber Bahia and Leones de Ponce advance to Semifinal Phase out of Group D

PONCE (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017) - The Semi-Final table is complete. Weber Bahía Basket (Argentina) and the Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico) qualified to the Semi-Final Phase of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas out of Group D.

The group started with a great and intense match between Weber Bahía Basket and Cocodrilos de Caracas. The Argentine club opened with a first half of 27-19 and maintained their advantage before a Cocodrilos that showed great defensive passages in the second and third quarter. Bahia got rid of an overtime after the Venezuelans could not capitalize on the final possession. Juan Pablo Vaulet (18 points and 8 rebounds) and Anthony Johnson (14 points and 8 rebounds) led Weber Bahía in the 77-75 win.

The Argentineans dominated Academia la Montaña to a 94-67 victory in their second match of the group. The contributions of the substitutes was key in the victory with 46 points against only 19 of the Colombian club. Once again, Johnson was decisive with 22 points and 5 rebounds in the win.

In the last game of the Group Stage, there was a duel of unbeaten when Bahia faced the hosts Leones de Ponce in a dramatic encounter. It was a close match in which both teams exchanged advantages behind big individual performances. For Leones, the start was given by the hand of Carlos Arroyo, who scored 12 points in the first quarter. For Bahia, the trio of Lucio Redivo, Vaulet and Johnson and an efficient offensive execution kept them in the game. In the third quarter appeared the figure of Angel Daniel Vassalló with 13 points and then in the fourth quarter with the basket that sent the game overtime.

In the overtime, Anthony Johnson was dominant in the paint and Bahia got the victory by a score of 96-92. Johnson finished with 22 points and 7 rebounds in the victory, while, for the Leones de Ponce, Vassallo shined with 34 points and 7 rebounds. Both teams qualified for the Semi-Final Phase.

The Leones de Ponce started their participation in this DIRECTV Liga de las Americas with victory over Academia (Colombia) by scorer of 76-61. The debut was a show of great plays by the host, led by Hakim Warrick, who led the game with 26 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 13/14 for a 92.9% from the field.

In their second game, the Leones faced Cocodrilos de Caracas in an emotional match that once again left the Venezuelan team one possession away to get the victory. The host took advantage early, but the defense of Cocodrilos was decisive, especially Yoshuar Palacios (with 5 steals) that returned them to the game. Maurice Sutton Jr. was huge in the paint for the Venezuelans, but Arroyo and his 8 points in the last 10 minutes of the match sealed the victory for the Leones by score of 88-84.

Cocodrilos de Caracas, eliminated in this Group D, was two possessions away from finishing the weekend with a perfect record.

With the qualification of Weber Bahía (Argentina) and Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico) in Group D, the Semi-Final table is complete. In Group A Soles de Mexicali (Mexico) and La Unión de Formosa (Argentina) advanced, while in Group B Fuerza Regia (Mexico) and the defending champion Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) qualified, and in Group C San Lorenzo (Argentina) and Hebraica y Macabi (Uruguay) advanced.

The Semifinal Phase will be played February 24-26 and March 3-5 in two groups that will be announced with their venues later in the week.

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.

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