Vaqueros demolish Criollos, lead BSN Conference A Finals 3-2

Jassel Pérez scores two of his 32 points for Bayamón during the Vaqueros’ 122-79 drubbing of the Criollos of Caguas on Saturday night in Game 5 of the BSN Conference A Finals.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Vaqueros of Bayamón trounced the Criollos of Caguas 122-79 on Saturday night at Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) Conference A Finals.

Bayamón dominated from the opening minute and led throughout. The Vaqueros held the lead for 39 minutes and 20 seconds, leading by more than 40 points in the second half and effectively deciding the outcome early in the night.

As a team, Bayamón was overwhelming in every facet of the game. The Vaqueros shot 66.7% from the field, connected on 16 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc, and generated 34 fast-break points along with 60 points from the bench.

The Criollos, meanwhile, shot 44.4% and never found the defensive rhythm needed to halt the host team’s attack.

Stephen Thompson Jr. led the Vaqueros with 37 points, shooting a red-hot 70.6% from the field off the bench. He sank six three-pointers and 12 free throws in just 20 minutes of play. Jassel Pérez scored 32 points -- posting a jaw-dropping 76.9% accuracy rate -- and handed out six assists, while Chris McCullough added 10 points. Javier Ezquerra dished out seven assists in 20-plus minutes off the bench.

Travis Trice led the Criollos, who will look to even the series tonight at home, with 16 points and five assists, Christian López Santiago scored 14 points, Louis King had 10 points and Michael O’Connell contributed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

On Friday night, the Santeros of Aguada beat the Leones of Ponce 96-89 to take a 3-1 lead in the Conference B Finals.