ARG - Big win for Regatas Corrientes ahead of Argentina play-offs

CORRIENTES (Liga Nacional) - Regatas Corrientes clinched fifth place and the best qualifying spot in the final round of Liga Nacional action with a narrow 85-81 victory over Juventud Sionista to secure home advantage for the first knock-out stage of the competition.

With Penarol, Libertad, Boca Juniors and Quilmes already clinching their places in the quarter-finals, the fight in Sunday’s 30th round action was for the the eight-team play-offs.

After trailing 64-59 at the end of the third quarter, the hosts stormed back to claim an all important win and a home tie against Gimnasia y Esgrima, who finished in the last qualifying spot after losing 86-79 to Deportivo Madryn.

The Comodoro Rivadavia based Depor will host Juventud.

Elsewhere, Atenas and Quimsa will again play each other in the best-of-five play-offs, after their game on Sunday ended with a 92-81 victory for the latter.

Julio Mazzaro’s 26 points led the visitors in their final league game, but home advantage will be reversed for the knock-out stage.

Ben Hur will play Estudiantes in the next round after losing 80-72 at home to Libertad.

Cleotis Brown led the visitors with 27 points, while Eduardo Villares’ 22-point effort was in vain for the hosts.

Estu will head into the tie full of confidence after a morale-boosting 86-79 victory over league leaders Penarol.

At the bottom of the table, Ciclista Juninense failed to avoid relegation after losing 100-86 at Boca.

Ciclista will join Belgrano in next year’s TNA competition in the second division, despite finishing with as many points as Obras Sanitarias (51.5).

Both teams had even league records, but points difference in their head-to-head ties, favoured Obras.

The Sanitarias team though managed to pull together for a final day performance that proved decisive.

Tyler Field led the way with 24 points to help his team seal a nailbiting 73-72 victory over qualified team Quilmes, who had 22 points and seven rebounds from Clarence Robinson.

In the weekend’s final game, Belgrano were handed a 22nd defeat in their final game in Argentina’s top-flight, going down 101-70 to Central Entrerriano.
Gabriel Diaz (24 points and eight rebounds) led the way for the hosts, who finished 13th and in no mans land in the league.

Fixtures for the next round:

Quarter-final qualifiers: Penarol, Libertad, Boca Juniors and Quilmes.

Play-offs for quarter-finals (Best-of-five): Regatas Corrientes v Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) – QUIMSA v Atenas – Ben Hur v Estudiantes – Deportivo Madryn v Juventud Sionista.

Relegated Ciclista Juninense and Belgrano.

FIBA