Lobos Puebla elimina a Freseros de Irapuato y avanza en la LNBP 2026

Freseros de Irapuato saw their 2026 Liga Caliente MX/LNBP season come to an end after falling 75-63 to Lobos Puebla in Game 2 of their play-in series at Gimnasio Miguel Hidalgo in Puebla, resulting in a two-game sweep that sends the local side forward to the postseason.

Postseason Elimination in Puebla

The Guanajuato visitors arrived in Puebla needing a victory to force a decisive third game back on their home floor. They had swept Lobos during the regular season, but the play-in series proved a different test entirely. After dropping the opening matchup 105-86, Irapuato faced a steep climb in the second fixture while operating with a severely depleted roster of just seven available players. The team had been up by 11 points during the match before letting the advantage slip. Lobos Puebla finished the regular season in the fifth position of the general classification.

How the Deciding Game Unfolded

Irapuato controlled long stretches of the first half despite the rotation constraints. They trailed just 19-17 after the opening quarter before stringing together a strong defensive sequence in the second period. Quadratín Puebla noted that the opening stanza featured tight defensive battles before Irapuato seized the momentum. In the early minutes, the local pack managed to pull ahead, but the visitors adjusted and leveled the score at 13-13 with 1:42 remaining in the period before the team from Irapuato claimed their first lead at 14-15. During the second quarter, the visiting side encountered difficulties finding offensive continuity, prompting coach Christopher Gutiérrez to call a timeout that successfully slowed down the opponent’s momentum. After multiple lead changes, Irapuato regained the advantage and constructed a 38-31 cushion at halftime.

The tide turned sharply after the intermission. Lobos Puebla, directed by head coach Francisco “Paco” Olmos, adjusted their defensive pressure and exploited open spaces in the paint. Players like Zachary Brown and William Garrett were forced to log the full 40 minutes alongside starters Franger Pirela, Christians Gutiérrez, and Derek Fountain, with Brandon Boyd and Tervell Beck providing the lone relief off the bench.

Quadratín Puebla reported that Lobos clawed back during the third period to lead 59-54 before sealing the 75-63 final score in the fourth quarter, aided by defensive stops including key blocks under the rim by Thomas Scrubb. William Garrett led Irapuato with 17 points, followed by Franger Pirela with 16 and Brandon Boyd with 12, as the Guanajuato squad managed only nine points in the third period due to a lack of accuracy. On the winning side, Quadratín Puebla noted that Shaquille Johnson paced Puebla with 23 points, while Tyran de Lattibeaudiere added 16 and Iván Montano contributed nine.

Quarterfinals Matchup against Panteras de Aguascalientes

With the 2-0 series sweep secured, Lobos Puebla advances to the Zona semifinals to face Panteras de Aguascalientes. Meanwhile, Irapuato exits the championship after concluding a hard-fought campaign under challenging roster conditions.