In a thriller that had the stands on their feet until the final buzzer, Gimnasia Comodoro stunned defending champions Quimsa on their home floor, escaping with an 80–79 victory in the Argentinian Liga Nacional de Básquetbol. The contest, played on June 9, 2026, at the Estadio Ciudad de Santiago del Estero, was a textbook example of playoff‑intensity basketball, with both teams trading leads deep into the fourth quarter.

Match Overview

Quimsa entered the game riding a four‑game winning streak and looked to solidify their hold on second place in the league standings. Gimnasia Comodoro, meanwhile, arrived as a lower‑seeded team desperate to climb into playoff contention. From the opening tip, it was clear neither side would give an inch. The first half saw Quimsa build a seven‑point advantage behind sharp shooting from beyond the arc, but Gimnasia answered with relentless transition offense to pull within two at the break.

Key Moments in the Second Half

The third quarter belonged to Quimsa’s frontcourt, who dominated the offensive glass and converted second‑chance points to push the lead back to nine. However, Gimnasia Comodoro’s backcourt responded with a 12‑2 run early in the fourth, fueled by a pair of steals that led to fast‑break layups. With 3:12 remaining, a three‑pointer from Gimnasia’s point guard gave the visitors their first lead since the opening minutes.

The final two minutes were a chess match of fouls and timeouts. Quimsa’s star guard tied the game at 79 with a driving floater with 38 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Gimnasia worked the shot clock down and found an open shooter on the wing, whose contested jumper caromed off the rim but was tipped out to the free‑throw line, where a second‑chance put‑back gave Gimnasia an 80‑79 advantage with just 1.8 seconds remaining. Quimsa’s desperation heave from half‑court clanged off the backboard as time expired.

Standout Performers

• Gimnasia Comodoro: The heroics came from their veteran forward, who posted 22 points and 11 rebounds, including the game‑winning put‑back. The point guard added 18 points and 7 assists, controlling the tempo in crunch time.
• Quimsa: Despite the loss, Quimsa’s leading scorer poured in 27 points on 10‑of‑18 shooting, but his five turnovers proved costly in the final minutes. The center contributed 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, anchoring the defensive effort.

Impact on the Standings

The victory lifted Gimnasia Comodoro to 14‑12, tying them with several teams battling for the final playoff spots in the Liga Nacional. Quimsa fell to 17‑9, but remained comfortably in the top four. For Gimnasia, this win on the road against a title contender could be the spark they need for a late‑season surge. Quimsa, meanwhile, will look to regroup after letting a winnable game slip away in front of their own fans.