Manatí outlasts Santurce in overtime

Thomas Robinson scored 22 points, shooting 83.3% from the field, and grabbed nine rebounds as the Leones of Ponce defeated the Santeros of Aguada 98-91 on Saturday night.

Ponce & Bayamón also post wins in BSN

By THE STAR STAFF

The Osos of Manatí, Leones of Ponce and Vaqueros of Bayamón were winners on Saturday night in the Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league.

At Juan Aubin Cruz Coliseum in Manatí, the Osos defeated the Cangrejeros of Santurce 95-93 in overtime, in a game featuring 43 lead changes that was decided in the final moments of the extra period.

After a back-and-forth affair that appeared to swing Santurce’s way late in the fourth quarter, the Osos tied the game at 84 at the end of regulation on Jameer Nelson Jr.’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.

Although the Cangrejeros managed to tie the score at 89 after Manatí took an early lead in overtime, Tyquan Rolon converted a three-point play to make it 95-93 with 20 seconds remaining, ultimately sealing the victory with a final defensive rebound.

Nelson led the way for Manatí (10-16) with 39 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 42 minutes and excelling in the clutch. Kristian Doolittle added 25 points and eight rebounds while shooting an efficient 53.8% from the field, while Rolon contributed 15 points and played a key role in overtime.

Davon Jefferson led Santurce (11-14) with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Walter Hodge Jr. scored 20 points, including four three-pointers. D.J. Wilson posted a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds as the Cangrejeros dominated the boards 49-32 in the loss.

At Juan Pachín Vicens Auditorium in Ponce, meanwhile, the Leones defeated the Santeros of Aguada, 98-91.

In a one-possession game just inside the final two minutes, Thomas Robinson scored back-to-back baskets to extend Ponce’s lead to seven points with 53 seconds left, and the Leones sealed the win from the free-throw line.

The Santeros tried to narrow the gap with free throws of their own, but came up short.

Robinson led Ponce (11-16) with 22 points and nine rebounds, shooting 83.3% from the field. Tjader Fernández contributed 20 points with efficient perimeter shooting, while Jalen Bernard Crutcher added 15 points and six assists

Jacob Wiley led the Santeros (11-13) with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Iván Gandia scored 16 points and Rigoberto Mendoza added 14 points and seven rebounds.

At Fernando “Rube” Hernández Coliseum in Gurabo, the Vaqueros defeated the Mets of Guaynabo, 103-91.

With Bayamón leading the back-and-forth contest 83-81 with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth period, Jae Crowder nailed a corner three-pointer to push the lead back to five points. From there, the Vaqueros executed at the free-throw line, defended well and got a late 3-pointer from Jassel Pérez to seal the win.

Pérez led Bayamón (17-10) with 29 points in 30 minutes, hitting four three-pointers and coming up big during crunch time. Crowder contributed 26 points, while Jordan Cintrón added nine points and 11 rebounds as the Vaqueros dominated the boards 50-36, in addition to getting 33 points from their bench.

Jaysean Paige led the way for Guaynabo (12-13) with 24 points, followed by Devin Williams with 21 and Torrey Craig with 18.