Vaqueros capture 18th BSN title with Game 7 win over Aguada

The Vaqueros of Bayamón won their 18th BSN championship on Sunday night with an 81-74 Game 7 victory over the Santeros of Aguada at Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Vaqueros of Bayamón won their 18th National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) championship on Sunday night with an 81-74 victory over the Santeros of Aguada in Game 7 of the finals at Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón.

After a close first half that ended with Bayamón leading 33-31, a three-pointer by Manny Camper gave Aguada its first lead of the game, 36-35, in the early going of the third quarter, sparking an exchange of baskets and lead changes. The teams played to a tie in the quarter as Bayamón entered the final 10 minutes with a 57-55 advantage.

With five minutes left to play, the score was tied at 65.

A minute later, the Vaqueros held a narrow 67-66 lead.

Then the champions stepped up.

Stephen Thompson Jr. and Renaldo Balkman hit consecutive three-pointers to give Bayamón some breathing room, making the score 73-68 with 2:43 remaining.

Aguada still had an answer. Jacob Wiley scored four straight points to cut the deficit to a single point, 73-72, keeping the Santeros’ hopes alive. With 56 seconds on the clock, Gary Browne answered with a mid-range basket that restored a three-point lead for Bayamón, 75-72.

On the ensuing possession, one of the night’s biggest plays unfolded.

Balkman once again put his veteran experience to use, blocking a shot attempt in the lane by Joel Soriano and handing possession back to the Vaqueros. Browne was fouled and sank both free throws, extending the lead to 77-72 with 28.3 seconds remaining.

Soriano kept Aguada’s hopes alive with a put-back dunk following an offensive rebound, but Bayamón’s Javier Mojica answered from the free-throw line, bringing the score to 79-74 with 19.7 seconds left.

The Santeros were unable to narrow the gap any further.

Jassel Pérez scored the Vaqueros’ final two points from the line, and as the clock hit zero, “El Rancho” celebrated yet another BSN championship.

Pérez finished with 25 points to lead all scorers, while Mojica and Chris McCollough added 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Bayamón. Damion Jones grabbed 10 rebounds.

Soriano led Aguada with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Wiley scored 14 points, Camper and Rigoberto Mendoza had 12 points each, and Iván Gandía added 11 points for Aguada.