Motilones takes the upper hand in the first game of the Basketball final | Storm Coffee, news of the day

The BetPlay Basketball League Grand Finals got heated up, with Motilones taking the first game with an 87-82 victory over Storm Coffee at the Coliseo del Café. The second match will take place this Friday at 8:00 p.m.

From the kick-off, Storm displayed their domination. Desmond Holloway took the reins, scoring several points from mid-range and propelling his team to an early score of 12-2. However, Motilones coach Tomás Díaz reacted immediately. His powerful statement — “if you don’t defend, you don’t play” — injected new impetus into his players, inspiring them to adjust their defense and exploit every offensive opportunity.

From that point on, Motilones took control of the match. Players such as Héctor Díaz and Jhery Matos played a key role, displaying dynamic and effective play. Thanks to offensive variations, outside shots and quick transitions, they neutralized the Storm defense, which was struggling to find solutions to stop the opposing attack.

The second quarter ended on a more positive note for Storm thanks to Kyree Elder, who scored 5 consecutive points, closing the gap to 43-38 at the break.

Things got complicated for Storm when two-time League MVP Juan Rosario had to leave the game due to injury. His absence, coupled with that of Valdez, left the team weakened. Nonetheless, Motilones capitalized on the opportunity, extending their lead thanks to performances from Michael Jackson and Jeremy Smith, the latter finishing with 23 points to Jackson’s 15.

In the last quarter, Motilones even had a lead of up to 17 points, heading towards a comfortable victory. Storm attempted a comeback in the final four minutes with a series of points, injecting suspense into the end of the match. However, it was not enough, and the final score was 87-82 in favor of Motilones.

Jhery Matos shone during this first meeting, scoring 23 points, grabbing 9 rebounds and delivering 2 assists, leading his team to the advantage in this grand final.

With this victory, Motilones leads the series 1-0 and prepares for the second duel, where Storm will try to equalize and keep their title ambitions alive.

Point of view

As a passionate basketball athlete, I believe that the outcomes of a series like this reveal not only the skill of the teams, but also the critical importance of resilience and adaptability. Motilones has clearly demonstrated an effective tactical approach, but the real challenge for Storm will be regaining their cohesion and exploiting the depth of their bench. The absence of certain key players can be devastating, but it also gives the chance for other players to emerge and prove their worth in critical moments. Every match is a new opportunity and teams must remain focused, adaptable and ready to seize every opportunity.