Mazatlan wins Mexico CIBACOPA

Nauticos Mazatlan clinched the Mexico CIBACOPA title with a victory over Rayo de Hermosillo in Game 6 of the finals series. The franchise picked up a 4-2 series win off the back of this 80-94 success, wrapping up the title on the road.

It was the second CIBACOPA crown for the Mazatlan, which also won the 2008 titles under the name Lobos UAD. The franchise also stopped Hermosillo from claiming an historic third title which would have made the team the winningest in CIBACOPA history. Rayo must console itself with title wins in 2012 and 2013.

This has been a fitting finals series. Hermosillo was the best franchise in the Regular Season by some margin, but second placed Mazatlan always looked to have the tools to trouble their opponents. And so it proved in Game 6 as the franchise eased to the title.

Hermosillo vs. Mazatlan, 80-94

Rayo started the game in explosive fashion, nailing 29 points in the first quarter. Nauticos struggled to keep pace with 22 points and trailed by seven at the first split. The guests pulled back Hermosillo in the second act and locked the frame 19-19. Through the long break, the hosts had the advantage with the scoreboard reading 48-41. Mazatlan finally clicked in offence during the third act, plundering 26 points and stopping Rayo at 15. It was a game changing run that left the visitors leading 63-67 through thirty minutes. Nauticos completed the win by carrying the momentum into the fourth quarter and easing down the straight.

Marvell Waithe went big with a game high 31 points in the win, while Jeff Ledbetter scored 24 points and laid on 6 assists. Curtis Stinson added 11 points and Kourtney Roberson took a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Michael Craig paced the losing effort with 23 points and 8 assists. Alfonzo McKinnie took 17 points off 7-from-9 shooting from the field, while also adding 7 boards. Emmanuel Little grabbed 16 points for Hermosillo.