PUR - Leones and Piratas tip off quarter-finals with wins

PONCE (Baloncesto Superior Nacional) - Leones de Ponce and Piratas de Quebradillas opened their BSN quarter-finals with wins over Cangrejeros de Santurce and Atléticos de San Germán respectively on Tuesday.

At Auditorio Juan "Pachín" Vicens in Ponce, Leones beat Santurce 88-81 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five-games series.

Rodney White scored 18 points as five players scored in double digits for the home side. Rick Apodaca added 16, Bobby Joe Hatton had 13 while Manuel Narvaez and Leon Rodgers had a dozen each.

Santurce had the hot hand from long range in the first quarter and led 27-23 after knocking down two long bombs in a row to end the period.

But Leones answered right back, scoring 11 unanswered points to go in front 34-27 and they had a 43-39 cushion at halftime.

Ponce stayed in the ascendancy in the third quarter and started the final frame with a 65-62 edge.

Santurce scored consecutive baskets to nip back in front, 66-65, but Rick Apodaca buried a three-pointer and Ponce led the rest of the way.

Michael Sweetney had a game-high 26 points for the visitors, while Roberto Nieves added 18.

The series resumes on Thursday at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.

In the other game, Piratas de Quebradillas crushed Atléticos de San Germán 104-86 behind Peter John Ramos' stellar performance. The big man scored 30 points and grabbed 20 rebounds and was well helped by Shawn Redhage and Joel Jones who combined for 41 points.

San German will look to even the series when they play at home on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the series between Guaynabo-Arecibo and Isabela-Bayamón will begin.

FIBA