Real Esteli holds on to force Game 3 against Quimsa
SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO (Argentina) – In yet another breathtaking Basketball Champions League Americas Quarterfinals game ending, Real Estelí defeated Quimsa 95-94 Sunday night to stay alive in the competition and force a Game 3.
The teams will meet again Monday night at Estadio Ciudad to determine who advances to the Final 4.
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Turning point: On a game that had 16 lead changes, Real Estelí led during most of the second half and looked comfortably on their way to victory before Quimsa went on a 17-4 run to take a 94-90 advantage that should’ve been definitive from a momentum standpoint.
What came later is exactly why the Nicaraguans are one of the competition’s most storied franchises. They showed their pedigree and experience, first with an and-1 by Ismael Romero and then with a tough bucket from Jared Ruiz with just 0.2 seconds left.
REAL ESTELI SOBREVIVE!!!! 😱😱#BCLAmericas Quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/rFVM89S4q4
— #BCLAmericas (@BCLAmericas) March 11, 2024
Player of the Game: Like in so many previous BCLA nights, Romero was at his best when his team needed him the most.
The Cuban-born big man poured 27 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal, shooting 12/15 from the field and finishing with a game-high 35 efficiency rating.
🚀 ISMAEL ROMERO 🚀 @TheCubanazo #BCLAmericas Quarterfinals x @RealEsteliB pic.twitter.com/JWx4pTd89P
— #BCLAmericas (@BCLAmericas) March 11, 2024
Terrell Holloway (19 points and 4 assists), Emmitt Williams (14) and Ruiz (10) also scored in double digits for David Rosario’s club in the dramatic victory.
Quimsa was led by Brandon Robinson, who scored 27 points on 7/16 from the field, including 6/12 from long distance.
Tayavek Gallizzi and Federico Zezular also scored 12 apiece for the Argentinian giants.
Quimsa no se cansa! 💪#BCLAmericas Quarterfinals @AAQuimsa pic.twitter.com/QoF8wfzrP6
— #BCLAmericas (@BCLAmericas) March 11, 2024
Stats don’t lie: Real Estelí shot a torrid 57.8 percent from the field, assisting on 22 of 37 made baskets.
With Romero wreaking havoc inside, they had a 54-40 edge in points in the paint. That was enough to counterbalance a Quimsa offense that shot 10/25 from long distance and went to the line 33 times.
Bottom line: Both teams have a lot at stake on Monday’s rubber match. Quimsa is looking to reach their 4th Final 4 in 5 participations – as they try to become the first club to win multiple editions of BCLA.
Meanwhile. Real Estelí is looking for their second Final 4 berth after finishing 2nd in 2021.
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