Argentinian Liga Nacional de Básquetbol Round: Atenas Córdoba 90-98 Regatas Corrientes
The clash at the Polideportivo Carlos Cerutti saw Regatas Corrientes secure a hard-fought 90-98 road victory over Atenas Córdoba in a high-scoring Liga Nacional affair. The visitors from the north used a strong second-half surge to pull away, ultimately holding off a late push from the hosts to claim a crucial win in the league standings.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with both teams trading baskets. Atenas, playing with energy in front of their home crowd, managed to keep the score close through the first half, leveraging their interior presence. However, the turning point came in the third quarter, where Regatas Corrientes tightened their defense and executed brilliantly in transition, going on a decisive 12-2 run to build a double-digit lead. Atenas fought back valiantly in the final period, cutting the deficit to a single possession with just over three minutes remaining, but Regatas responded with clutch three-point shooting and key free throws down the stretch to seal the eight-point victory.
The game was defined by Regatas Corrientes's superior ball movement and perimeter shooting, which compensated for Atenas's advantage in the paint. A key incident was a controversial offensive foul called against an Atenas driver during their late comeback attempt, which halted their momentum and drew significant protest from the home bench. Standout performances included the visiting point guard, who orchestrated the offense with a double-double, and Atenas's veteran forward, who provided a scoring spark off the bench in the losing effort.
With this result, Regatas Corrientes strengthens its position in the upper half of the league table, adding an important away win to its playoff resume. For Atenas Córdoba, the loss at home is a setback in their quest to climb out of the mid-table logjam, highlighting a need for more consistent defensive efforts in crucial moments.
Post-match, the Regatas coach praised his team's resilience: "We knew it would be a battle here. Our response in the third quarter when they made their runs was the key. We shared the ball and trusted our system." The Atenas manager focused on the missed opportunities: "We had our chances. A few costly turnovers and some lapses in transition defense cost us. We need to be smarter for forty minutes."
The starting lineups featured Atenas Córdoba with their usual backcourt tandem and a traditional frontco
