By Marcelo Solari
It seemed like a game from other times in the League. With a suitable audience, fans of both teams and a true play-off atmosphere. The game did not disappoint, but the adverse result left Peñarol on the edge of the precipice, after being 0-2 down in the quarterfinal series against Boca Juniors.
The “xeneize” prevailed 81 to 80 and was one victory away from accessing the semifinals. The third match will be this Thursday, at 7 pm, at La Bombonerita.
In the “Islas Malvinas” Sports Center there were two illustrious spectators: Sergio Hernández and Leonarrdo Gutiérrez.
Peñarol imposed conditions in the opening quarter. Almost everything went well for the local in that initial segment. He won back and forth. He controlled Eloy Vargas much better, denied Leandro Vildoza’s circuit with his teammates and had Phillip Lockett at a good level, apart from distributing offensive responsibilities well with the alternating leadership of Bruno Sansimoni and Joaquín Valinotti.
The only one who managed to break the mold was “Jay Jay” Avila, one of Boca’s best in that quarter and throughout the first half.
When they resumed after the first short break, the landscape of the game changed drastically. And it was Boca’s turn to take over the process. First gradually, becoming strong defensively, and then, with much greater vigor, to the extent that Peñarol failed to score near the basket. He lost the fluidity of the “milrayitas”, and the anemia of the outside shot was a constant during the 20 minutes of the first half: he barely scored 2/12 triples.
Boca, with its defensive intensity, ensured the rebound, managed to assert itself and from then on, Leandro Vildoza began to become very important. To generate play and also to score. The “xeneize” approached and then went to the front, with very good prospects. A triple by Federico Marín brought some relief, but he could barely hide the poor harvest of 11 points in the entire second quarter.
It was to start over, now with Boca up by 3 points. The furious start of Tomás Monacchi (two triples and a dunk) and Tevin Glass combined gave the locals a slight supremacy, which Boca immediately deactivated with more variants and, above all, a marked advantage in its effectiveness with the three-point shot. In any case, everything was to be resolved, and they entered the decisive quarter with the result tied (58-58).
Although the “milrayitas” had a slight advantage for much of the quarter, it was clear that everything was going to be defined in the final seconds. The excellent duel between the point guards of both teams, occasional appearances by Eloy Vargas, Monacchi’s shots. After a double by Joaquín Valinotti literally “climbing” the 2.11 meters of Vargas, he blew up the stadium (74-69). However, much more was missing. Boca took the lead near the end, but Al Thornton exposed his entire hierarchy for a double that seemed like a winner, 2.5 seconds from the epilogue. Juged thing? Not in this case. On the last play, Leonel Schattmann’s feint cleared the way for the winning shot. And a very favorable outlook for those in blue and yellow.
the synthesis
Penarol 80
B. Sansimoni 19, C. Buemo 6, T. Monacchi 12, T. Glass 15 and P. Lockett 10 (FI). J. Valinotti 6, A. Thornton 8, F. Tolosa 0, F. Marín 4. DT: Leandro Ramella.
Boca Juniors 81
L. Vildoza 21, L. Schattmann 7, JJ Avila 17, F. Aguerre 2 and E. Vargas 10 (FI). K. Hernández 6, CM Buendía 3, T. Cavallero 5, A. Boccia 10. DT: Gonzalo García.
Stadium: Pan-American Sports Center “Islas Malvinas”.
Referees: Alejandro Chiti, Alejandro Zanabone and Raúl Sánchez.
Partial: 25-13, 36-39 and 58-58.
