FIBA Basketball

    VEN - Gaiteros through to next stage

    MARACAIBO (Liga Profesional) - Gaiteros from Zulia have become the fourth team to reach the second stage of the Venezuelan Liga Profesional, despite failing to win this week. Gaiteros were beaten twice by

    MARACAIBO (Liga Profesional) - Gaiteros from Zulia have become the fourth team to reach the second stage of the Venezuelan Liga Profesional, despite failing to win this week.

    Gaiteros were beaten twice by Gatos from Monagas, who are fighting to clinch one of the two remaining places for the six-team second stage.

    In Maracaibo, Gatos won 96-75 on Saturday, with 21 points by Greg Lewis, who also contributed 17 on Sunday when Gatos repeated the triumph, this time 88-75.

    The two defeats continued Gaiteros' poor form from Wednesday, when they were beaten by top-of-the-league Trotamundos, with 23 points from Tomas Aguilera.

    Three teams are fighting for the final two places - Guaiqueries from Margarita, Caracas-based Cocodrilos and Gatos, who also hit already-eliminated Panteras
    from Miranda twice last week, 91-87 and 108-99, to be seventh-placed with a 17-22 record.

    Cocodrilos and Guaiqueries met this weekend, with one victory apiece.

    Guaiqueries celebrated victory on Saturday, winning 98-92 as visitors with Rogers Washington netting 20 points.

    But on Sunday, Cocodrilos recovered to hit their rivals 100-90 at home, thanks to the help of Victor Diaz and Henry Paez, who poured in 23 and 20 points respectively.

    Guaiqueries are fifth in the standings, with 19 wins and 20 defeats, while Cocodrilos are one place below them, with a 17-21 record this season.

    In other results, Marinos and Trotamundos met in the Liga Profesional derby, with one win for each side.

    On Saturday, Trotamundos were winning 68-51 when Marinos fans expressed their unhappiness with the referees, who sanctioned a technical foul to Hector
    Romero when there were five minutes to go.

    The Liga Profesional ordered Sunday's match to be played behind closed doors and Marinos won 99-83 in an empty Anzoategui Stadium.

    With only one week of regular season play remaining, all six qualifiers will be known by next Sunday.

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