As a local, the Sagrado from Catamarca achieved its first joy in the Cuyo Division of the Federal League, 71-70, against the Puntanos who arrived as leaders and undefeated.
In a heart-stopping ending, Agustín Mirolo with two consecutive three-pointers in the last 30 seconds led Hindú BBC to victory, on his “José Antonio Russo” court, in a display of character and heart of those led by Rodrigo Soria, who had come from a complicated start in the Federal League. In a very close match, they beat Gimnasia y Esgrima Pedernera Unidos (GEPU) of San Luis, who had won their first four games in the Cuyo Division, undefeated.
In the initial minutes of the game, Sagrado scored a 5-0 run, taking advantage of the inaccuracies of the visit. Led by Lisandro Gómez Quinteros, who scored the first eight goals for GEPU, the actions evened out. The first quarter was for the puntanos by 18-20. In the second 10 minutes, both teams suffered from a lack of aim. El Lobo did not know how to take advantage of his quick counterattacks, when Hindú had a few minutes without being able to score, until he broke the drought with two triples (Oscar Varela and Mauro Girón) to cut the differences to just one point. In closing, Gimnasia prevailed by five but, with a triple by Mirolo and a double by Exequiel Rubio, the host managed to tie at 35 at the end of the first half.
The third quarter showed the best version of those led by Gustavo Morla, very effective in attacking rebounds. Taking advantage of the inaccuracies of the Sagrado, the partial was secured by 16-23, to start the last 10 minutes 7 points up (51-58). The start of the final quarter stretched the differences for GEPU, reaching 11 points but thanks to the triples of Girón and Jonathan Struciat, and with a 9-0 run, the locals got to two with 3 minutes remaining. Gustavo Acosta’s double (scorer of the match with 22 points) and Gómez’s free kick left the score 65-70 for the visit with only 40 seconds left. There, Mirolo’s aim to hit two triples turned history upside down and unleashed the long-awaited celebration for Hindú BBC before his people.
SYNTHESIS
Hindu (71): Exequiel Rubio (7), Diego Sequeira (8), Ignacio Solohaga (7), Agustín Mirolo (18), Oscar Varela (8) (FI); Jonathan Struciat (11), Mauro Girón (8), Enzo Galván (4), Gonzalo Chacón (-). DT: Rodrigo Soria.
GEPU (70): Bruno Pérez (-), Facundo Ferrer (-), Lisandro Gómez Quinteros (11), Gustavo Acosta (22), Santiago Costa (-) (FI); Santiago Ferrer (6), Agustín Maldonado (2), Federico Alaniz (12), Juan Menna (17). DT: Gustavo Manuel Morla
PARTIALS: 18-20 / 17-15 / 16-23 / 20-12
JUDGES: Carlos Carrizo – Francisco Paz
TECHNICAL COMMISSIONER: Roque Juárez
STADIUM: José Antonio Russo (Hindu BBC of Catamarca)
Source: BBC Hindu Press
Text: Vir Meyer
Photos: Steven Arroyo
