Almafuerte Varillas 85 – 71 Almagro de Esperanza
Argentina Liga B – 29 May 2026

Almafuerte Varillas powered to a convincing 85-71 victory over Almagro de Esperanza in Liga B action on Thursday, May 29, 2026. Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, Varillas controlled the tempo from the opening tip and never trailed by more than a single possession, using a balanced scoring attack and stifling second-half defense to pull away.

Match Overview

The contest marked an important mid‑season clash for both sides, with Varillas looking to solidify their playoff positioning and Almagro seeking to climb out of the lower half of the standings. From the outset, Almafuerte’s frontcourt dominance set the tone, out‑rebounding Almagro and converting second‑chance opportunities into a steady stream of points. By halftime, Varillas held a slender 42‑38 lead, but the game remained tight.

The turning point came early in the third quarter. Varillas unleashed a 14‑2 run, fueled by aggressive transition play and three consecutive steals that led to easy layups. Almagro’s offense, which had relied heavily on outside shooting in the first half, went cold from beyond the arc, hitting just two of their 13 three‑point attempts in the second half.

Key Moments

• First quarter surge: Almafuerte opened with a 10‑2 run, establishing an interior presence that forced Almagro to play catch‑up.
• Third‑quarter knockout: A 14‑2 burst early in the third period stretched the lead to 18 points, effectively deciding the outcome.
• Free‑throw clinic: Varillas converted 20 of 24 attempts from the stripe in the final quarter, sealing the win and preventing any late Almagro rally.

Standout Players

For Almafuerte Varillas, power forward Lautaro Díaz was instrumental, finishing with a game‑high 24 points and 11 rebounds. His pick‑and‑roll chemistry with point guard Juan Pablo Sosa (8 assists) kept the Almagro defense off balance all night. On the wing, Federico Molina added 18 points, including four three‑pointers that stretched the floor.

Almagro de Esperanza was led by shooting guard Matías Roldán, who scored 19 points and dished 5 assists. Center Lucas Gómez contributed a double‑double (12 points, 13 rebounds) but struggled with foul trouble in the second half, limiting his impact on both ends.

Table and Season Impact

The victory improves Almafuerte Varillas to 13‑7 on the season, keeping them firmly in the top four of the Liga B standings. Almagro de Esperanza, now 8‑12, faces an uphill battle to reach the postseason. With a balanced schedule ahead, Varillas will aim to build on this momentum when they travel to face Deportivo Santa María next week, while Almagro will look to regroup ahead of a home stand against Unión Progresista.

For more Argentina Liga B standings and latest basketball results, stay updated throughout the season.