VEN - Guaiqueries on brink of second stage

CARACAS (Liga Profesional) - Guaiqueries are on the verge of the second stage of the semi-finals after taking a 3-1 series lead against Marinos.

Roger Washington was the matchwinner in Game Four on Sunday, pouring in 26 points to inspire his team to a 94-90 victory.

Washington's 29 points had got Guaiqueries off to the perfect start with a 84-82 win in the first match of the series and the Margarita-based side came back from a 16-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to win 83-81 in the second.

Marinos had given themselves a lifeline on Saturday after Lee Benson netted 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help his side win Game Three 70-68.

The best six teams in the regular season made it into the first stage of semis and the three tie winners and a lucky-loser will progress to the second phase, the penultimate stage of the championship.

The other two stage one ties, Trotamundos against Gaiteros and Cocodrilos versus Guaros, are tied at 2-2.

Reigning champions Trotamundos fell to a heavy 121-98 defeat on Sunday, Chris Jeffries netting 30 points for Gaiteros, who had lost the previous two games after taking an early series lead.

Gaiteros won Game One 83-82 before going down 118-101 and 111-89 in the next two, Odartey Blankson pouring in 16 points and Adrian Penland 15 for Trotamundos in Game Three.

The momentum is firmly with Guaros in the other other tie after they came from 2-0 down to draw level on Sunday.

Cocodrilos won the opening games 109-85 and 97-93, but their opponents recovered to take the next two over the weekend, claiming a 108-89 victory in Game
Three and a 90-87 triumph on Sunday.

Brazilian Alex Carcamo netted 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, while Marlon Parmer contributed 19 points in Guaros' latest win.

FIBA