Batanecas and Santa Tecla won their respective quarterfinal series 2-0 and joined Salvadoreñas and San Salvador, who were already classified for the semifinals due to their position in the table after finishing the regular season of the 2024 Apertura Tournament Copa Tigo Sports de la Major Women’s Basketball League (LMBF).
Yesterday, in a double day at the David Vega Mojica Gymnasium, Batanecas and Santa Tecla sealed their qualification to the next phase by beating Santa Ana and LMMR, respectively. In the semis, the Tecleño team will face San Salvador, while Batanecas will face Salvadoreñas.
The representatives of San Sebastián, debutants in this tournament, beat Santa Ana 54-83 with a spectacular evening by María Montero, who recorded a triple-double of 49 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Batanecas, led by Joel Ismar Lozano, dominated the four quarters of the match and had no problems in making it to the next round. The first round ended with a five-point advantage for the visitors 20-25, the distance widened further at the close of the second episode (10-17) and left Santa Ana with 30 and Batanecas with 42.
In the second half of the game the dynamic did not change. The San Sebastián team’s attack was relentless and they bagged the last two periods 13-20 and 11-21 to close the series 2-0 with a solid victory and the right to fight for a place in the final.
“Thank God the result was achieved, moving to the other round in two games. At first we adapted to their game, but as the minutes passed we began to gain the advantage and thus manage the game in our favor,” declared the Batanecas coach.
In addition, he highlighted the work of his pupils in their first tournament in the LMBF. “It is our first participation in the major league and we have qualified for the semifinals, that fills us with pride for all the courage and determination that our athletes put into each game, we are a young team, but with a clear objective,” said Lozano.
The triple-double that Montero signed put the icing on the cake, according to the coach. “It was an unforgettable game for Montero, there is no doubt that he has come to add along with the other reinforcements, they are all very professional on and off the court. This afternoon he shone with his own light and this will generate confidence for the next stage and also confidence in the entire group,” he noted.
Historically, the LMBF records a triple-double in 2019 by Britney Jones, a Santa Tecla player, who completed a game with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.
Regarding his expectations for the semifinals, Lozano commented that any of the rivals who are in this phase are tough.
“We know perfectly well that it will be a difficult series. We have improved in defense in recent games, but the main thing for our team is to overcome stage fright, as we know that it is essential to achieve our objectives. We are going to fight until the end, the most important thing is that our athletes are gaining experience and, step by step, we are going to transcend to the top of women’s basketball in our country,” she noted.
In the other LMBF quarterfinal series, Santa Tecla won 73-81 in the second game and advanced to the semifinals, where San Salvador awaits. The Tecleño team, led by Ernesto Lahud, did not have an easy time at the David Vega Mojica, the league reacted in the second half of the game and made things difficult for them.
Santa Tecla dominated the first half of the match, taking a 12-point lead before going to halftime (35-47) after having beaten the locals 16-23 and 19-24 in the first rolls.
However, José Hernández’s pupils reacted in the third quarter, winning 20-16 and leaving the visitors with an eight-point lead on aggregate, 55-63.
The fourth period was back and forth, with both teams doing a great job in all their lines and it was reflected in the score, which ended 18-18, sealing the 73-81 victory for the Tecleñas, thanks to the advantage they achieved in the first half of the game.
The semifinal games start on Tuesday, April 23, with the duel between Salvadoreñas and Batanecas, at the Inclusive Sports City, starting at 7:15 pm. The other semi, San Salvador-Santa Tecla, will be played on Wednesday the 24th, at the same time. time and at the same location.
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