Barnes, newcomers power Tropics to record-breaking win
Published on November 29, 2006 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Miami Tropics News Release
Newcomers Angelo Reyes, Ray Rose and Pachi Cruz all made a major impact Tuesday night, and veteran guard Marcus Barnes had a game-high 31 points as the host Miami Tropics beat the Orlando Aces, 135-116, at Nova Southeastern University.
The Tropics, who evened their record at 2-2, won their second straight game and set a franchise single-game scoring record.
Barnes, who had his best game of the season, was a major factor, making 9 of 14 shots, including 3 of 6 on three-pointers. He also made 10 of 14 free throws, hitting 7 down the stretch as the Aces kept fouling in a futile effort to rally.
All the strategy did was delay the inevitable, because the Tropics were just too strong. Miami led 31-25 after the first quarter and 63-58 at the half. The Aces rallied to take an 89-87 lead late in the third period.
But that was their last lead.
The Tropics answered with a 31-11 run. When the Tropics were done streaking, they led 118-100 and the Aces never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Credit the newcomers for a lot of the positives in the game. All three came off the bench and provided different ingredients that meshed together like rice and beans.
Rose was a revelation on defense. No Tropics point guard this season has applied pressure quite like Rose, who had 10 points, a game-high 5 steals, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
"Ray gave us tremendous energy," Tropics Coach Ed Auricchio said. "His defense is contagious."
Cruz, the Tropics' other new point guard, struggled a bit with turnovers. And his shot - which looked pure in practice on Monday - was off. Yet, he had 10 assists, which is easily a Tropics record.
Better yet was the way he delivered the assists. These were not cheapies. He repeatedly drove the lane and slipped clever passes to the Tropics post players. In other words, it's great to get 10 legit assists on an "off" night.
Auricchio said Cruz and Rose will get even better as they learn the system and their new teammates.
"They were playing blind," Auricchio said. "But I was very happy with both of them."
The Tropics were also pleased with the addition of Reyes, who made 6 of 7 shots and finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Reyes, who played for Puerto Rico in the World Games this past summer, showed a remarkably soft shooting touch as well as a willingness to mix it up inside.
The Tropics, though, were about more than just Barnes and the newcomers. Guard Carlos Escalera, the team's leading scorer for the season, had 23 points.
Big men Sylbrin Robinson and Terence Shelman were outstanding as usual. Robinson had 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Perhaps more impressively, he got 9 of his boards on the offensive glass, and he also showed his big-man passing skills by getting 4 assists.
Shelman made 8 of 12 shots and finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. In his past two games, he is averaging 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds.
Overall, the Tropics won because of their shooting (55.4 percent from the field) and rebounding (beating the Aces on the boards, 48-27).
"It was a team victory," Tropics owner and president Art "Pilin" Alvarez said. "The new guys gave us an infusion of energy, and the veterans stepped up their games as well."
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from November 29, 2006
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