Isabela tops Fajardo, clinches homecourt advantage in BSNF postseason
Monarcas beat Cangrejeras, keep playoff hopes alive
By THE STAR STAFF
The Pollitas of Isabela and the Monarcas of Juana Díaz were winners on Saturday night in the Women’s Superior National Basketball (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) league.
Isabela defeated the Cariduras of Fajardo 75-68 for their 14th win of the season against only three losses, mathematically guaranteeing them the top spot in the overall standings and homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.
Fajardo led at halftime, 41-32, but the landscape shifted dramatically at the start of the third quarter. Isabela returned from the locker room with a completely different level of intensity, orchestrating an 11-2 run that tied the game with 5:50 remaining in the period. From that point on, the Pollitas ramped up their defensive pressure, limiting the Cariduras to just seven more points for the remainder of the quarter to take a 53-50 lead into the final frame.
The Cariduras looked to rally in the final quarter, scoring 18 points, but Isabela remained composed when it counted most. With 2:37 left to play and the Pollitas leading by seven, Angel McCoughtry drove in from the left side and finished on the right to make it 69-64.
Isabela’s response, however, was immediate and emphatic. Emily Kiser hit a crucial three-pointer that extended the lead to 72-64, while Jaliena Sánchez followed with another long-range shot from the top of the arc, putting Isabela ahead 75-64 with 1:14 remaining on the clock.
Fajardo made a final push when McCoughtry grabbed a rebound following a missed three-pointer by Zaida González and drew a personal foul. She went to the free-throw line and converted both attempts, bringing the score to 75-66. Shortly after, Alexa Vélez scored from under the basket to narrow the gap to 75-68, but the Pollitas managed their possessions well and ran out the remaining time, securing a victory that guaranteed them the top spot in the postseason tournament.
Quionche “Che” Carter led the Pollitas (14-3) with an outstanding performance of 31 points and five rebounds, while Kiser recorded a double-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
McCoughtry was the standout player for the Cariduras (4-13), posting 25 points and 14 rebounds. Beyond the statistics, Isabela once again demonstrated its ability to make adjustments, ramp up defensive intensity and perform under pressure -- key qualities in their impressive nine-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, the Monarcas defeated the Cangrejeras of Santurce 64-58 at Dolores “Toyita” Martínez Coliseum in Juana Díaz. Bolstered by an extraordinary defensive effort that held their opponents to just 14 points throughout the entire second half, the Monarcas earned their seventh win of the season -- matching their total from last year -- and kept their hopes alive for qualifying for the postseason.
The game reached a turning point in the fourth quarter when Manuela Ríos hit a jump shot to put Juana Díaz ahead, 56-55, with 7:17 remaining. From there the Monarcas never relinquished the lead, imposing their defense on a Santurce squad that struggled to find offensive answers. With 4:07 on the clock, Ríos sank one of two free throws to extend the lead to 59-55, and shortly after, Lesiriam Pagán converted an assist from Ríos into a crucial basket, pushing the hosts’ advantage to 61-55 with 3:27 left to play.
Santurce still had some fight left, and with 3:03 remaining, Brianna Jones drained a difficult three-pointer over the defense of Imani McGee, narrowing the gap to 61-58. However, Ríos once again went to the free-throw line, sinking one of two attempts after being fouled by Shae Kelley, to make it 62-58.
The Cangrejeras had a chance to cut it to two, but Kelley missed a shot while virtually alone under the basket. Juana Díaz capitalized on the opportunity as seconds later, Ríos hit a driving floater in the paint, to extend the lead to 64-58. On the ensuing possession, Santurce tried to advance the ball quickly but lost the ball out of bounds on a downcourt pass in the waning seconds.
McGee was the standout performer for the Monarcas (7-10) scoring 23 points and grabbing 20 rebounds.
Jones led the Cangrejeras with 15 points, while Kelley recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Monarcas need to win their final game on Tuesday night if they hope to be among the eight teams that advance to the postseason. Meanwhile, Santurce finished at 9-9, provisionally holding the fifth spot in the standings pending the results of this week’s remaining regular-season games.
After the game, Che Carter expressed her gratitude for the support the team has received from the fans in Isabela and highlighted the unity within the squad. “Every day, we step onto the court for the right reasons. This city supports us with great fans, and we are so grateful to them. Our fans mean everything to us. There is no selfishness on this team; we play for each other and for them. We hope to hang another banner this year,” Carter concluded.
