Aguada vs. Bayamon
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (Interstat) — The red-hot Bayamon Vaqueros, owners of the best record in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, will host the Aguada Santeros in a rematch Tuesday at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. AST. The Vaqueros (7-1) have won seven straight games and are coming off an 86-79 victory over Mayaguez on Saturday. They dominated the Santeros (2-1) just five days ago, securing a 96-79 road win on April 2.
Bayamon’s success has been fueled by balance and veteran leadership. Forward Renaldo Balkman, a former NBA player and BSN champion, has been a consistent force. He is averaging 11 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during the win streak and nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds against Mayaguez.
Aguada will look to guard Antonio Ralat to spark an upset. Ralat was a bright spot in the previous loss to Bayamon, scoring a team-high 16 points. He is averaging 8.3 points per game this season.
The Santeros started their season with a narrow road win over Arecibo and a home victory against Mayaguez before the loss to Bayamon. Rebounding and containing Bayamon’s offensive depth will be critical. In the April 2 meeting, Bayamon had five players score in double figures.
The Vaqueros have not lost since their season opener. Their lineup, featuring Balkman and former NBA forward Jae Crowder, presents a significant matchup problem for most opponents. Center Jamarion Sharp adds a formidable rim-protecting presence, blocking four shots in the recent win over Mayaguez.
This game is the second of a regular-season series between the teams. Following Tuesday’s contest, Bayamon visits Manati on Thursday, while Aguada hosts Ponce on Friday.