Backed by a packed crowd at the Mario Ortega Pavilion, Gigantes Basketball Club defeated Metros de Santiago 95-83 on Wednesday to take a 3-1 advantage in the La Súper Liga championship series, where the teams are competing for the Copa Banreservas.
The victory gives the franchise an opportunity to capture its third championship in the Dominican Republic’s top professional basketball league when the series resumes later this week.
Balanced Offensive Effort Powers Gigantes
Luismal Ferreiras led the winners with 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Charles Brown Jr. added 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Francis King Fitzgerald also scored 15.
Marquis Wright contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Stephen Zimmerman finished with 11 points and four blocks, and Juan Miguel Suero added 10 points. Juan Jr. Rosario chipped in nine points as Gigantes showcased balanced scoring throughout the game.
For the Metros, Omar Silverio scored a team-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Oliver García added 11 points, Florent Thamba contributed 10, while Jhery Matos recorded eight points, five rebounds and six assists. Juan Guerrero finished with eight points and six rebounds.
Gigantes Control the Game Early
Gigantes established control in the opening quarter, taking a 26-17 lead behind Ferreiras, who scored eight points while grabbing four rebounds. Brown Jr. added five points, while Thamba paced the Metros with six.
The home team widened the gap before halftime thanks to an aggressive defensive effort and efficient shooting. Brown Jr. and Zimmerman sparked a 12-2 run that stretched the lead to 55-35, helping Gigantes enter the break ahead 56-41.
Ferreiras and Brown Jr. each had 12 first-half points, while Zimmerman added 11. Thamba led the Metros with eight points before intermission, and both Silverio and Michael Cracknell scored seven.
Late Push Falls Short
Gigantes extended their advantage to 21 points early in the third quarter after a layup by Wright made it 62-41. Although the visitors responded with a strong run fueled by Matos and Adris De León, trimming the deficit to nine points late in the period, the home team answered by scoring eight of the next 12 points to carry a 75-62 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Metros made one final attempt to rally when Guerrero’s jumper cut the margin to 85-79 with just over three minutes remaining. However, Gigantes responded with key defensive stops and efficient scoring inside from Ferreiras, Brown Jr. and Suero to restore a double-digit advantage and seal the victory.
Gigantes shot 47% from the field and capitalized on 19 turnovers committed by the Metros. Santiago also struggled from beyond the arc, making just 6 of 23 three-point attempts (26%).
Championship Opportunity Awaits
The LNB Finals continue on Friday at the Gran Arena del Cibao Oscar Gobaira in Santiago, where the Metros will attempt to keep the series alive. Gigantes, meanwhile, need just one more victory to secure the championship and complete a remarkable run with three consecutive wins in the series.