Aguada ties BSN Finals at 2-2

Iván Gandía sank three of Aguada’s 11 3-pointers in the Santeros’ Game 4 win. The team’s total included eight in the first half.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Santeros of Aguada defeated the Vaqueros of Bayamón 67-64 on Sunday night at Ismael “Chavalillo” Delgado Coliseum in Aguada to tie the National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league championship series at two games apiece.

After dropping the first two games of the best-of-seven series, Aguada bounced back with consecutive victories in Bayamón and Aguada, turning the championship battle into a best-of-three.

The Vaqueros opened the game with a 5-0 run, but the Santeros quickly rallied to lead 24-14 at the end of the first quarter. Rigoberto Mendoza led the charge for Aguada, scoring 15 points in the first 10 minutes.

The Santeros maintained control during the second period and went into the locker room with a 42-28 lead.

Long-range shooting was one of the home team’s primary weapons during the first half. Aguada connected on eight three-pointers in the first 20 minutes, compared to three for Bayamón, which would mount its own rally after the break.

After a three-pointer by Mendoza to start the second half, the Vaqueros responded with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to nine points, 47-38. Iván Gandía answered from long range for Aguada, but Bayamón attacked again with an 8-0 run to pull within four, 50-46.

The defending champions won the third quarter 20-10, and heading into the final 10 minutes, the Santeros’ lead had shrunk to four points, 52-48.

With three minutes left to play, Aguada held a 60-57 lead. Jassel Pérez scored in the paint to pull Bayamón within one point at 60-59, and after a turnover by the Santeros, Gary Browne scored from the free-throw line to give the Vaqueros a 61-60 lead.

The teams traded leads until Manny Camper stepped up at the decisive moment, hitting a three-pointer to put the Santeros ahead 66-64 with 45.9 seconds remaining. Bayamón came up empty on its next possession, and Camper returned to the free-throw line to make it 67-64 with 14.4 seconds on the clock.

The Vaqueros had one last chance but could not convert.

Mendoza led Aguada with 22 points and five rebounds. Camper added 16 points and four rebounds, while Gandía and Jacob Wiley contributed nine points each.

Renaldo Balkman finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for Bayamón. Damian Jones recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, Browne added 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists, and Chris McCullough finished with 10 points.

Game 5 is Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón.