Atenas Faces LNB Relegation Threat After Defeat to Argentino de Junín
Atenas stands just one loss away from relegation in Argentina’s Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB) following a 61-53 defeat against Argentino de Junín at el Fortín de las Morochas, according to sports reports. The setback puts the league’s most decorated club in immediate danger of dropping to the second tier for the second time in three seasons.
Argentino de Junín holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five play-out series. The teams return to the floor on Tuesday for Game 4, where a home victory would secure Argentino’s survival in the top flight for another year.
How Argentino Built Series Control Against Atenas
Argentino’s path to the brink of safety follows a familiar template from the previous season, when the Junín side finished last in the regular season before defeating Zárate Basket in the relegation series. This year, Argentino again played a 36-game regular-season schedule before shifting momentum in the head-to-head survival matches.
The series dynamics shifted early during the opening games in Córdoba. Atenas claimed a 96-93 victory in Game 1 courtesy of a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Game 3 solidified that upward trend for “El Turco” and downward spiral for “El Griego.” Holding Atenas to just 53 points, Argentino clamped down defensively on its home court to push the Córdoba club to the edge.
What Lies Ahead in the LNB Relegation Series
Tuesday’s upcoming matchup at el Fortín de las Morochas marks the next confirmed checkpoint in the LNB calendar. If Argentino de Junín wins, the club escapes relegation in extremis for the second year. For Atenas, a loss would confirm a return to La Liga Argentina just two seasons after previously experiencing relegation.
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