Moca, Manatí to meet in BSNF finals after Explosivas rally past Isabela
By THE STAR STAFF
The Explosivas of Moca came from behind to defeat the Pollitas of Isabela 69-68 on Saturday night and advance to the Women’s National Superior Basketball League (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) finals against the Atenienses of Manatí.
The best-of-seven finals series starts Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Dr. Juan A. Sánchez Acevedo Coliseum in Moca.
In the history of sports in the municipality of Moca, only the Rebeldes -- champions of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League in 2000 -- and the Explosivas (2022) have won titles in Puerto Rico’s higher leagues. Now, the Explosivas will seek to repeat that feat.
Import forward Leigha Brown was the game’s standout player, recording 41 points and 11 rebounds in 40 minutes, and playing a key role in her team’s comeback at Sánchez Acevedo Coliseum. Hillary Martínez added 13 points for Moca. For the Pollitas, Lasha Petree scored 17 points, Quionche Carter had 15 points, Nina de León had 12 points and Anisha George added 10.
Isabela jumped out to a 28-15 lead late in the first quarter, and led 38-33 at halftime as Moca pulled to within striking distance.
The Explosivas rallied in the third quarter led by Brown, who scored seven consecutive points to turn the tide and put the hosts ahead 44-42 with 6:26 remaining in the frame.
Isabela’s Petree responded with two free throws to tie the game at 44, but Brown scored five more unanswered points to put the home team ahead, 49-44, with 2:54 left in the third. Moca led 54-48 at the end of three periods.
It was Brown again in the fourth quarter. Her two free throws extended the Explosivas’ lead to seven points, 63-56, with 3:23 remaining. The Pollitas, led by Carter, put together a 6-0 run to pull within a point, 63-62, with 1:34 left.
Moca responded as Martínez scored four-straight points and Ashley Torres hit a free throw to regain a six-point lead, 68-62, with just 18 seconds on the clock. Although Petree scored six points in just 12 seconds, a free throw by Martínez with eight seconds remaining sealed the victory and the Explosivas’ passage to the final.
In the finals, the Explosivas and Atenienses, who advanced by eliminating the defending champion Cangrejeras of Santurce 82-76 on Friday, will each seek their second championship in franchise history.
