The 2026–27 season of La Liga Argentina de Básquetbol tips off its opening weekend with a slate of four fixtures across the Southern and Northern conferences, bringing regional competition back to gymnasiums nationwide. The action opens following River Plate’s narrow 79–78 victory over Quilmes in Mar del Plata on Thursday, October 15, 2026, setting an intense tone for the league’s initial rounds as clubs across both conferences launch their autumn campaigns.
Provincial de Rosario Hosts La Unión de Colón to Open Southern Conference Play
Provincial de Rosario begins its season campaign at home on Saturday evening, welcoming La Unión de Colón to the Salvador Bonilla stadium at 20:30 local time (UTC-3), with live television coverage provided by Basket TV. Referees Alejandro Zanabone and Gustavo D’Anna will officiate the Southern Conference matchup. Provincial enters the 26/27 campaign under head coach Esteban Gatti after finishing with the top record in the regular season last year, though their run ended prematurely in the eighth-finals against Deportivo Viedma, as reported by laliganacional.com.ar. The club retained veteran pivot Gonzalo Torres alongside Gastón Gerbaudo and Tomás Gómez Platia, while adding new pieces including Bautista Fernández and Mariano Fierro to bolster the roster.
La Unión de Colón arrives in Rosario following a semifinal run last season under head coach Martín Guastavino, whose squad relies on an aggressive defensive identity. The Entre Ríos club maintained key contributors Lucio Longoni, Matías Caire, and Guido Cabrera while adding point guard Joaquín Sanchez and interior presence Gian Franco Sinconi. El Ciudadano reported that Provincial adjusted its budget for the new term, pairing club-developed youngsters like Bautista Gobetti and Martín Torriani with experienced arrivals to navigate a competitive Southern Conference featuring 17 teams.
Unión de Mar del Plata Takes on River Plate at Estadio José Martínez
Unión de Mar del Plata hosts River Plate on Saturday night at 21:00 local time (UTC-3) at the José Martínez stadium of Club Atlético Quilmes, broadcast on Basket TV with referees Maximiliano Cáceres and Martín Pietromónaco. Unión enters its fourth season in the division under head coach Juan Aquino, having achieved its survival objective last term. The roster features new signings Juan Esteban De la Fuente, Patricio Piñero, and Congolese international Eric Kibi, alongside pending arrival Guillermo Navarro from the Chilean league.
River Plate travels across Mar del Plata seeking its second win of the week after defeating Quilmes 79–78 in a dramatic opener on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the same venue. Coached by Agustín Bajz, the Núñez side returned to the second tier after 22 years away, retaining core players Juan Pablo Venegas, Julián Aprea, Felipe Pais, and Alejo Digón while adding US collegiate product Máximo Milovich and former champion Juan Cruz Conte Grand. Diario La Capital de Mar del Plata noted that Venegas led River with 21 points in the opening thriller, which also featured the pre-match dedication of the Rubén “Ruso” Muñoz press box.
Santa Paula de Gálvez Meets Bochas Sport Club in Northern Conference Action
Santa Paula de Gálvez hosts Bochas Sport Club on Saturday at 21:30 local time (UTC-3) at the Víctor Comelli stadium, with Basket TV broadcasting the Northern Conference encounter under referees Alberto Ponzo and Matías Sotelo. Santa Paula enjoyed a strong return to the category last season, finishing fifth in the North and reaching the quarterfinals before falling to La Unión, according to league records. Head coach Francisco “Pancho” Blanc returns alongside Joseph Caicedo, Jerónimo Díaz Müller, and Juan Manuel Rivero, supported by fresh additions Juan Cruz Frontera, Matías Pikaluk, and foreign signings.
Bochas Sport Club plays its second match of the opening week after dropping a 96–87 decision to Unión de Santa Fe in its season debut. Led by Jeremías Musina, the Colonia Caroya club added playmaker Nicolás Zurschmitten from Atenas de Córdoba alongside Miguel Bazán and Alejo García, combining seasoned leadership with developing youth prospects.
Comunicaciones de Mercedes Debuts Against El Ceibo de San Francisco
Comunicaciones de Mercedes welcomes El Ceibo de San Francisco to El Plateado stadium on Saturday at 21:30 local time (UTC-3), televised on Basket TV and whistled by referees Silvio Guzmán and Alejandro Costa. Comunicaciones overhauled its roster under head coach Ignacio Barsanti, retaining only guard Agustín Bruner, shooting guard Facundo Wolinsky, and small forward Tomás Allende from last season while bringing in seven new players, including Tobías Franchela from the Liga Nacional (LNB) and local returnee Marcos Panozzo.
El Ceibo makes its absolute debut in Argentina’s second national category following a successful Liga Federal campaign that reached the semifinal stage. Eduardo Blengini remains at the helm of the sporting project, retaining Gabriel Rojas, Santiago Andrione, and Pablo Grosso while incorporating Julián Eydallín, Tobías Cravero, Ecuadorian player Carlos Hurtado, and Esteban Cáffaro for the club’s maiden campaign at this level.
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