Marinos de Anzoaegui 79 – 77 Gaiteros de Zulia
Liga Profesional de Baloncesto | 5 June 2026

Match Overview

In a tightly contested Liga Profesional de Baloncesto fixture on 5 June 2026, Marinos de Anzoaegui edged past Gaiteros de Zulia 79–77 in a game that went down to the final possession. The home crowd at the Gimnasio Luis Ramos was treated to a defensive battle that saw neither team lead by more than seven points at any stage.

Key Moments

• First quarter: Gaiteros started strong, jumping to a 22–18 lead behind efficient shooting from beyond the arc.
• Second quarter: Marinos tightened their defence and used a 10–2 run to take a 40–38 halftime advantage.
• Third quarter: The game remained neck‑and‑neck, with both sides exchanging baskets. Marinos held a narrow 60–58 edge entering the final period.
• Final minute: With the score tied at 77, Marinos guard Jhonatan Araujo drove the lane and drew a foul with 4.3 seconds left. He calmly sank both free throws to seal the victory. Gaiteros’ final heave from half‑court missed the mark.

Tactical Story

Marinos’ ability to control the paint proved decisive. They outrebounded Gaiteros 42–36 and converted 12 second‑chance points. Meanwhile, Gaiteros relied heavily on perimeter shooting, hitting 11 triples but struggling to generate easy looks inside. Turnovers were nearly even (14 for Marinos, 13 for Gaiteros), but the home side committed fewer fouls in the closing stages, allowing them to stay aggressive on defence.

Standout Players

• Jhonatan Araujo (Marinos): Finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and the game‑winning free throws.
• Luis Betancourt (Gaiteros): Led his team with 19 points and 8 assists, but his late turnover set up Araujo’s heroics.
• Carlos Rivas (Marinos): Contributed a double‑double – 14 points and 11 rebounds – anchoring the interior defence.

Season Impact

The victory lifts Marinos to a 12–8 record, keeping them firmly in playoff contention in the LPB standings. Gaiteros fall to 10–10, missing a chance to move above .500. With the regular season entering its final stretch, every win carries extra weight in the race for postseason positioning.