The tricolor beat San José at home 78 to 74 in a great game that ended up breaking on closing. Carlos Benítez Gavilán with 24 and Matías Novello with 18 were the top scorers in Neptunia.
At the start of the game, San José was the one who imposed conditions, moved the ball well and with Ortíz and Quarroz as the main scorers, he was able to get the first clear difference of the match (12-4) that forced the minute requested by Risso. Neptunia tried to react from the hand of Benítez Gavilán (10) but the visit always found answers with Ravina and Ortíz to close the first boy up 22 to 16.
In the second quarter the tone of the game continued in the same way, Neptunia was not comfortable in attack, took the wrong paths and abused individualities. San José was able to capitalize on the bad moment of the Tricolor and found its best moment in the match to get an eleven-point lead (34-23) with Laurido making the difference in the internal game. But Risso’s men reacted at the right time, they settled down collectively and scored an impressive 20-0 run that left San José without mitigating factors. With Lado, Benítez Gavilán and Pérez as the main attacking weapons, they closed the first half up 45-36.
In the third period, Neptunia was almost five minutes without being able to convert and San José with two triples, one by Ravina and another by Ortíz, narrowed the difference. However, Risso’s team was able to find answers with Lado and Novello to maintain the difference and close the quarter 64-56 with a Novello double over the clock.
The locals had a good start in the last quarter because they were able to go deeper in attack with Benítez Gavilán and Acevedo who hurt with breaks towards the basket to be able to get an eleven (72-61). Neptunia had control of the game with two minutes to go but two triples from San José put the visit back on the line (74-71) and forced Risso’s timeout request with 1:28 to go. But Novello’s experience appeared to close it from the line and he was left with a great game 78 to 74. With this result, plus the defeat of La Unión de Colón, Neptunia was left as the only leader of the Entre Ríos Division of the Federal League.
SYNTHESIS
Neptunia (78): C. Pérez 11, M. Lado 11, J. Acevedo 12, C. Benítez Gavilán 24, M. Novello 18 (FI); E. Repetto 2, F. Dorregaray. Coach: Aldo Risso
San José (74): F. Ortíz 23, L. Quarroz 15, F. Rebecchi 2, S. Ravina 9, F. Barreto 5 (FI); V. Cot 4, M. Laurido 10, L. Manrique, E. Denis, A. De la Rua 6. Coach: Martín Amden
Partials: 16/22 – 45/36
Referees: Daniel Ortiz – Cristian Caceres
Marangatu Stadium
Text: Martin Rebagliati
Photo: Mauricio Rios
