MEX - Trigueros clinch finals berth

MAZATLAN (Cibacopa) - Trigueros have secured their place in the Cibacopa league South Zone finals after seeing off Tiburones with a comprehensive 4-1 series win.

The best-of-seven tie was settled in Mazatlan on Sunday as Trigueros collected a 91-89 victory - thanks largely to Ron Howard`s 28 points - and booked a spot in the season`s penultimate stage.

Tiburones were always on the back foot having lost in the two opening clashes, but managed to reduce the deficit on Friday, with a 97-90 home win.

Saturday, however, saw Trigueros recover and claim a crucial 103-102 triumph, with Howard again proving influential with a 30-point haul.

They will now meet the winners of the tie between Caballeros and Frayles, which is currently being led by Caballeros 3-2.

Frayles too came back from a 2-0 deficit by winning Game Three 114-108, but were brought back down to earth the following day on the wrong end of a 91-76 scoreline in Guasave.

But Sam Bowie helped them scramble back to 2-3, top-scoring with 49 points in a nervy 106-105 triumph on Sunday.

Vaqueros and Fuerza Guinda sit in the driving seat in the North Zone semi-finals, and both lead 3-2 in their respective ties over Mineros and Colorados.

Mineros won two of the three games played over the weekend at their home in Cananea - 110-105 on Friday and 89-88 on Sunday - but Saturday`s 105-95 defeat leaves them trailing.

Fuerza Guinda, meanwhile, won three in a row after being two games down and now find themselves just one win away from making the zone finals.

The Nogales-based side claimed a 100-93 victory on Friday, with Pop Thorton pouring in 27 points, before winning 111-108 the following day.

Thornton again popped up with 29 points on Sunday to cement a 95-93 win.

Games Six and Seven -if necessary- will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

FIBA