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-Editorial
In a thrilling match at the PSF Auditorium, Soles de Mexicali secured a dramatic 71-70 victory over El Calor de Cancún in the 17th round of the 2024 Liga Caliente. Mx LNBP season. Key defensive plays in the final moments, including two steals and a crucial block by Erik Thomas, sealed the victory for the home team.
Soles took to the court with a lineup featuring Erik Thomas, Joshua Webster, Ryan Pearson, and newcomers Kenneth Faried and Daniel Hamilton. Meanwhile, El Calor opened the game with Archie Goodwin III, Martín Fernández, Haissler Guillent, Arinze Chidom, and Egidijus Mockevicius.
The first quarter belonged to Soles, who sank seven three-pointers, giving them a 25-13 lead. Despite this, Cancún showed signs of improvement by the second quarter, outscoring Mexicali 20-17.
The visitors’ momentum continued into the third quarter, where they tied the game at 57 points, largely due to the scoring efforts of Chidom, who led his team with a 24-15 run.
The fourth quarter was intense, with the crowd on their feet as the lead shifted back and forth. With just under two and a half minutes left, El Calor held a narrow 68-64 lead, thanks to key shots by Raúl Delgado and Chidom. Faried, known as “Manimal,” cut the deficit to 66-68, but Delgado responded to push Cancún’s lead back to 70-66.
With 1:35 remaining, Jordan Swing drew a foul from Mockevicius and converted two free throws, narrowing Soles’ deficit to 70-68. After both teams missed crucial shots, Swing stole the ball from Guillent and, after two missed attempts, tapped in a layup to tie the game at 70 with just 16 seconds remaining.
Cancún attempted a final offensive push, but Webster stole the ball and drew a foul, hitting one of two free throws to give Soles a 71-70 lead. With just 5.1 seconds left, Goodwin III tried to drive to the basket, but Erik Thomas blocked his shot, securing the victory for Mexicali.
Kenneth Faried led Soles with 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Lucas Martínez added 13 points, shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Thomas contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and the game-saving block, while Swing tallied 13 points and 9 rebounds.
For El Calor, Chidom led with 18 points and 7 rebounds, Goodwin III had 14 points, Guillent contributed 11 points, and Fernández chipped in with 10 points.
Soles and El Calor will face off again on Friday, September 6, at 8:00 PM in the PSF Auditorium in Baja California.