LNBP· Season 2026-2027
Soles 89-86 El Calor de Cancun: Soles erased a five-point fourth-quarter deficit with a dominant defensive period to stay perfect at home in the LNBP.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Soles opened the sharper side, taking the first quarter 26-22 behind aggressive inside scoring. Cancun answered in the second period, matching Soles' first-quarter output with 26 points of their own to level the game at 48-48 by half-time.
The visitors carried that momentum into the third quarter. Cancun outscored Soles 26-21 to build a 74-69 lead entering the final 10 minutes — their largest advantage of the night.
Then the game flipped. Soles locked in defensively, limiting Cancun to 12 points in the fourth quarter, their lowest output in any period. The home side scored 20 in response, completing the 89-86 turnaround.
The turning point
Soles' defensive adjustment at the start of the fourth quarter. After allowing 26 points in both the second and third quarters, Soles switched to a more aggressive perimeter scheme that disrupted Cancun's ball movement. Cancun managed just four field goals in the final period, and Soles turned defensive stops into transition baskets to complete the comeback.
Key performers
Connor Zinaich was named player of the match after posting 19 points on 8 field goals, adding 2 rebounds. He led the fourth-quarter charge and was the catalyst for Soles' scoring when the game tightened.
Francis King stood out for El Calor de Cancun with 19 points and 9 rebounds, a double-double threat who kept Cancun in control through the third quarter.
Geronimo chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds for the visitors, while Saeed Nelson added 15 points in a losing effort.
Multiple Soles players finished in double figures, reflecting the balanced scoring that has defined their season.
By the numbers
The quarter-by-quarter splits tell the story better than any aggregate. Soles scored 26 in Q1, 22 in Q2 and 21 in Q3 — steady but unspectacular — before finding 20 in Q4 when it mattered. Cancun's production collapsed from 26 in Q3 to 12 in Q4, a 54% drop that cost them a road win they had largely controlled for two quarters.
Soles' undefeated home record (13 wins from 13 games at Auditorio PSF this season) has been built on defence in closing stages. Holding opponents to 12 points or fewer in a quarter is becoming a trademark.
What it means
Soles extended their perfect home record to 13-0 and strengthened their position atop the LNBP standings. Next up is the Copa Value tournament in Zacatecas on 3 September, where they will face Lobos de Puebla. For El Calor de Cancun, the loss snapped a positive run from the road trip and leaves them looking to regroup before their next fixture.
Verdict
A game that was slipping away for three quarters was rescued by one dominant defensive period. Soles remain a different proposition at home, where their ability to lock down in crunch time has become the defining characteristic of their league-leading campaign. Cancun will regret letting a five-point lead evaporate against a team that simply does not lose in Mexicali.
Rivalry since 2024
Soles vs El Calor de Cancun Head to Head Results· 3
Soles and El Calor de Cancun have met 3 times — Soles won 3, El Calor de Cancun won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2024. Soles leads the head-to-head with 3 victories from 3 meetings. A combined 452 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 150.67 per match (241 for the home side, 211 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 3 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 3 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Soles are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 102–75 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 31 Aug 2026