PUR - Santurce and San Germán score big road wins

PONCE (Baloncesto Superior Nacional) - Cangrejeros de Santurce and Atléticos de San Germán won their away games on Monday, beating Leones de Ponce 97-91 and Gallitos de Isabela 89-83 respectively.

The win saw Santurce (11-9) climbed to third in the standings while Ponce (10-9) dropped their third home game in a row.

Imports Leon Rodgers and Lee Nailon combined for 13 points to help the hosts take a 24-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.

And they stayed in front for the better part of the second period before three-pointers by Ricardo Dalmau and Wilfredo Pagán edged Cangrejeros in front 39-38. Gabriel Colon scored to put Ponce back up by one as they headed into the locker room at halftime.

The home side scored eight unanswered points late in the third period to stretch their advantage to nine, 65-56, but the visitors were within 67-64 to start the final frame.

Ponce used yet another spurt to create some distance, going up 79-69 with six minutes left to play.

Santurce answered right back, going on an 11-0 run capped by a Dalmau long bomb to take an 80-79 lead.

Carlos Rivera and Manuel Narváez scored the next five points to put Leones in front 84-80, before Santurce scored 10 unanswered points to go up 90-84 and that proved to be the decisive run.

Michael Sweetney had 23 points for Cangrejeros, Walter Hodge added 18 while Wilfredo Pagán and Roberto Nieves both had 17.

Nailon had 22 points for Ponce and Colón had 16 - 12 in the final quarter. Narváez finished with 14 points and 15 boards.

Meanwhile, Atleticos de San German held off a spirited rally by Gallitos de Isabela for their victory.

San Germán had their opponents backed in the corner as they were up 57-29 at the break, but Gallitos didn't quit and, with Darnell Hinson leading the way, they used a 19-0 run to get within 67-54 by the end of the third period.

The hosts continued their comeback in the final frame and cut the deficit to three, 86-83, on Rafael Pérez's three-pointer but Ryan Abraham then made a pair of free-throws to seal the deal for San Germán.

Hinson finished with a game-high 32 points but it wasn't enough. Mario Austin was the high-man for the visitors with 26 points.

FIBA