Isabela, Moca advance to BSNF semifinals

Anisha George’s 23 points and nine rebounds helped power the Pollitas de Isabela into the BSNF semifinals for the first time in nearly three decades.

Pollitas return to final four after a nearly 30-year drought

By THE STAR STAFF

The Pollitas of Isabela and the Explosivas of Moca

secured victories on Tuesday night and advanced to the semifinals of the National Women’s Superior Basketball (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) Championship tournament.

At José “Buga” Abreu Coliseum in Isabela, the Pollitas wrote a new page in their history by returning to the semifinals for the first time since 1996 after defeating the Criollas of Caguas 80-73 to take the best-of-three quarterfinal series two games to one.

Anisha George starred for Isabela with 23 points and nine rebounds, getting help from Kaelynn Satterfield and Lasha Petree with 15 points each, Nina de León with 14 points, and Quionche Carter with 10.

Katie Villarini scored 23 points and Amanda Paschal added 16 for Caguas.

Isabela, which won four straight BSNF titles (1993-1996), now returns to the big stage of Puerto Rican women’s basketball.

At Dr. Juan A. Sánchez Acevedo Coliseum in Moca, the Explosivas also punched their ticket to the Final Four after defeating the Ganaderas of Hatillo 67-59 in an elimination game.

Import center Samantha Fuehring led the charge with a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Leigha Brown scored 20 points and Hillary Martínez added 11.

McKenzie Forbes led Hatillo with 14 points, while Okako Adika and Essence Booker each scored 13, and Sofía Roma added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

With the win, Moca will face Isabela in the best-of-five semifinals starting this Friday at Sánchez Acevedo Coliseum.