Moca overcomes 3-1 deficit to win BSNF title

Moca’s Leigha Brown finished with 13 points and six assists and was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Explosivas of Moca completed an against-the-odds comeback from a 3-games-to-1 deficit on Sunday night to become champions of the Women’s National Superior Basketball (BSNF by its initials in Spanish) League, defeating the Atenienses of Manatí 78-69 in Game 7 of the finals at Dr. Juan Sánchez Acevedo Coliseum in Moca.

The Explosivas, led by Samantha Fuehring on offense, established an 18-10 lead in the first quarter. India Pagán scored Manatí’s first seven points to keep the Atenienses (Athenians) within striking distance.

Moca led 29-19 with 5:02 remaining in the second quarter, then went on a run capped by a three-pointer by Fuehring and a tip-in by Leigha Brown to extend the lead to 39-23 with 1:16 left. Veteran Pamela Rosado responded with a drive to the basket and Jessica Jackson hit a jumper after a pair of Moca free throws to make it 41-27, but a layup by Brown with 23 seconds left extended the Explosivas’ lead back to 16, 43-27, heading into intermission.

In the first half, Moca benefited greatly from the contributions of Gabriela Ortega, who sank three three-pointers coming off the bench. Fuehring led the Explosivas with 11 points, while Pagán led the way for Manatí with nine points, followed by Rosado with eight.

Moca turned up the intensity early in the third quarter, and two three-pointers from Taya Corosdale extended the hosts’ lead to 52-33 with 5:06 remaining. A little over three minutes later a three-point play by Brown gave the Explosivas their largest lead, 61-37. The Atenienses scored nine points in the final 1:37 of the period to trail by 17, 63-46.

Manatí maintained its momentum in the fourth quarter and made significant progress. The rally was spearheaded by two baskets from Pagán, along with a three-pointer by Jackson that pulled the Atenienses to within 12 points, 65-53, with 8:26 left in the game.

Fuehring again stepped up, however, sinking two three-pointers to extend the Explosivas’ lead back to 16, 71-55, with 5:44 remaining. But Rosado again responded with a fast-break layup that triggered a 10-1 run as Manatí pulled to within seven points, 72-65, with 1:03 left in the game.

It was too little too late. The Atenienses were forced to foul, and Moca scored its final six points on free throws to seal the victory.

Fuehring led the Explosivas with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Hillary Martínez had 17 points. Rosado led all scorers with 27 points for the Atenienses, and Pagán added 20.

Brown, who finished with 13 points and six assists, was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals.