BARQUISIMETO (DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana) – It went down to the wire, but with a basket by Bethelmy over the final buzzer, Guaros de Lara defeated Estudiantes de Concordia 77-74 and celebrated the win, and took the first game of the DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana 2017 Final.

The game as expected started evenly. After the first 20 minutes, the score was tied at 38. Estudiantes fell into a slump and Guaros took a 7-point lead, during the third quarter. Estudiantes climbed back into the lead with great ball movement, and good three-point shooting. Cesar Garcia scored a fantastic shot and Guaros de Lara went into the last ten minutes of the game with a one-point lead. Guaros began the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run, as Estudiantes struggled to add points. Estudiantes reacted on time and cut the difference to five points after 7 straight points. Estudiantes kept cutting from the difference and with 10 seconds to go, there was a 1-point difference on the scoreboard. Bethelmy scored a basket over the buzzer and Guaros celebrated the win.

Diego Garcia was the top scorer for Guaros with 14 points. Meanwhile, Doblas and Bolivar led the scoring for the Argentinian club with 14 points each.

The second game of the best-of-five series will be played tomorrow Thursday, December 7 in the Domo Bolivariano de Barquisimeto.

FIBA