Guaynabo tops Quebradillas, Manatí beats Ponce in BSN

Jezreel de Jesús had 24 points and seven assists for the Leones of Ponce in their home loss to the Osos of Manatí on Sunday night.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Mets of Guaynabo defeated the Piratas of Quebradillas 114-101 at Fernando “Rube” Hernández Coliseum in Gurabo on Sunday night.

In the evening’s other scheduled Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league game, the Osos of Manatí defeated the Leones of Ponce, 96-88.

After leading 48-42 at halftime, the Mets took control of the game in the third quarter, extending their lead to 78-64 heading into the final 10 minutes. Quebradillas outscored Guaynabo in the fourth quarter but never got closer than 11 points.

Malik Williams led the Mets (14-17) with 34 points and 15 rebounds. Jaysean Paige added 22 points and nine assists, Max Abmas contributed 20 points and 14 assists, and Torrey Craig finished with 17 points.

Emmanuel Mudiay had 22 points and nine assists for the Piratas (9-22). Grant Basile added 19 points and six rebounds, Phillip Wheeler contributed 16 points, and Víctor Liz finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

At Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce, meanwhile, Manatí improved its record to 13-18 with the win, while Ponce fell to an identical 13-18 mark.

The Osos dominated the first half, leading by as many as 19 points and controlling the boards 26-13 to take a 47-32 advantage into the break.

The Leones rallied in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 10 points, but the Osos held on down the stretch.

Kristian Doolittle led Manatí with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds. Jameer Nelson Jr. added 21 points, Tyquan Rolón contributed 18, and Cheick Diallo finished with 16.

Jezreel de Jesús had 24 points and seven assists for the Leones, Jalen Crutcher added 16 points and six assists, and Brady Manek contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.