VIPERS DROP SEASON OPENER IN MEXICO CITY

Mexico City, Mexico (Nov. 6, 2022) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (0-1) fell 120-84 to the Mexico City Capitanes (1-0) in the 2022-23 season opener at Mexico City Arena. 

With four minutes into the game the Vipers led 13-3 over the Capitanes. Louis King contributed seven of the 13 points scored. Mexico City then went on a hot streak and tied the game 20-20 with 2:22 left in the quarter. The home team pulled away and were able to grasp a 26-23 lead at the end of the first.

Two minutes into the second quarter Houston Rockets Two-Way player, Trevor Hudgins, tied the game 28-28, but the Capitanes put up a fight and pulled away with a 58-46 lead going into the half. Mason Jones led Mexico with 20 points. Shabazz Napier also hit double digits in scoring with 16. King led the Vipers with 13 points.

The third quarter was a hot one for the Capitanes as they went on to score 27 points, but the Vipers were not far behind as the team scored 20 points. The home team sent the game into the fourth quarter with a 85-66 lead over the Vipers. 

Despite the hustle of the Vipers, Mexico City pulled away with a 120-84 victory. Jones led Mexico and the game with 32 points and eight assists. Also hitting double digits in scoring for the Capitanes were Napier (19), Jahlil Okafor (14) and Justin Minaya (10). Hitting a double-double were Gary Clark with 14 points and 14 rebounds and Bruno Caboclo with 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

King paved the way with the first double-double (23 points and 10 rebounds) of the season for the Vipers. Cassius Stanley hit 18 points and seven rebounds. Houston Rockets Two-Way player, Darius Days, was one rebound short of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.  

The Vipers tip-off at home on Friday, Nov.11 at 7:30 p.m. against the Birmingham Squadron at Bert Ogden Arena. RGV will celebrate its 2021-22 Championship with a ring presentation and banner unveiling. The first 1,000 fans will receive a championship replica ring presented by Lone Star National Bank. To purchase tickets, visit www.rgvipers.com.