Argentino secured an 81-76 victory over El Nacional on Tuesday to complete the 10th and penultimate round of the Liga Bahiense de Básquetbol Plata, “Carlos Spaccesi,” shifting the playoff picture as the regular season reaches its final slate, La Nueva Provincia reported. The fixture had been postponed due to roof leaks affecting the Delfo and Pacífico Ciccioli venue, forcing a relocation to Pacífico’s William Harding Green court.
How Argentino Overcame El Nacional Behind Deep Shooting
Juan Pedro Paronetto led the winning effort with 26 points, shooting 6-7 from beyond the arc alongside a 1-2 mark on two-point attempts and a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 3 assists and 3 rebotes. Genaro Parrotta added 20 points, hitting 3-4 on three-pointers, 4-6 on two-pointers, and 3-6 on free throws, while grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists. Argentino converted 11 of 22 total attempts from three-point range under coach Andrés Iannamico.
El Nacional countered with 21 points and 12 rebounds from Valentín Ruibal, who shot 1-5 on three-pointers, 6-9 on two-pointers, and 6-7 from the line. Agustín Catalán paced the scoring for El Nacional with 22 points, including 3-11 from deep, 5-7 inside the arc, and 3-4 on free throws. Albano Schneider chipped in 14 points, going 8-14 on free throws, and secured 10 rebounds under coach Juan Cruz Santini.
Referees Alejandro Vizcaíno, Juan Agustín Matías, and Jerónimo Javier Ocampo officiated the contest.
Standings Implications and Playoff Scenarios Heading Into the Final Round
With this victory, Argentino holds a direct qualification spot for the tournament’s quarterfinals, temporarily pushing El Nacional down into the play-in zone. Teams entered the second phase carrying forward 50% of the points accumulated during the first stage of the competition.
San Lorenzo leads the league table with 29 points from an 18-3 record. Altense sits second with 26.5 points (15-6), followed by 9 de Julio in third with 26 points (15-6). Comercial occupies fourth with 25.5 points (14-7), and Sportivo stands fifth with 24.5 points (13-8). Argentino holds sixth place with 24 points (11-10), while El Nacional sits seventh with 23.5 points (10-11).
Ateneo and Bahía Basket share eighth place with 22.5 points apiece, holding records of 9-12 and 8-13 respectively. Velocidad rounds out the upper tier with 20.5 points (8-13), followed by La Falda with 17.5 points (3-18), and Espora at the bottom with 17 points (2-19).
To secure a top-six finish and avoid the play-in bracket, El Nacional must win its final fixture and hope for a loss by either Sportivo or Argentino. The final two direct quarterfinal berths will be decided among Argentino, Sportivo, and El Nacional.
Friday Matchups Complete the Regular Season Schedule
The final round of the regular season is scheduled for this coming Friday. The slate features Argentino facing Altense, Ateneo meeting El Nacional, Bahía Basket playing 9 de Julio, Sportivo matching up against Velocidad, Comercial hosting La Falda, and San Lorenzo playing Espora.
