Pueblo Arriba Crowned Champion in Santiago Rodríguez
The Club Pueblo Arriba won the championship of the XXIV Superior Basketball Tournament with reinforcements from Santiago Rodríguez, after defeating La Joya with a score of 76-61 in an exciting match played to a full house at the José “Chachito” Rodríguez sports center.
This triumph marks the ninth title in the club’s history, solidifying its position as one of the most outstanding franchises in local superior basketball.
The road to victory was not easy. Pueblo Arriba demonstrated a remarkable ability to react in the final series, achieving four consecutive victories after starting with a 0-2 disadvantage, under the technical direction of Alan Saint-Hilaire and Víctor Peña.
The match began with La Joya taking the lead, establishing an initial 10-0 advantage that forced Pueblo Arriba to call a timeout. However, Pueblo Arriba’s response was immediate, managing to reduce the difference and balance the game in the first quarter.
The first half was a constant exchange of the lead, with high intensity on the court. La Joya managed to go into halftime with a 41-38 lead, thanks to their dominance in rebounds and taking advantage of their opponent’s personal foul problems.
In the second half, the game completely changed. Pueblo Arriba imposed its strength in the painted area, with the work of Marlon Saint-Hilaire and Luis Morel, dominating the third quarter with a score of 21-13, which allowed them to take a 59-54 lead before the final period.
The collective performance was fundamental in securing the championship, highlighting the depth of the squad, which surpassed its opponent in points from the bench (23-5), and its teamwork, reflected in 19 assists.
At the individual level, Marlon Saint-Hilaire led Pueblo Arriba with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Luis Morel, who contributed 19 units and eight rebounds. Odalis Rosario also had an outstanding performance with 15 points and seven rebounds.
For La Joya, Luis Peña was the top scorer with 24 points and eight rebounds, Darlin Susaña added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Luis Durán recorded 11 rebounds and seven points.
The victory reaffirms the tradition and prominence of Pueblo Arriba in the superior basketball of Santiago Rodríguez.
