ARG - Van Lacke celebrates title with Santa Fe

SANTA FE (Campeonato Argentino) - Santa Fe have been crowned the Campeonato Argentino champions after beating Capital Federal 85-79 in the final.

It is the side's 13th-ever title and their first since 2004, but it was a close game right to the buzzer, Fabio Demti's men eventually taking the decisive lead on free-throws.

Shooting guard Federico van Lacke poured in 18 points to help clinch the trophy he had set his heart on winning before moving back to Spain to join Ciudad de Huelva.

He said: "To be champions at home is a dream came true. I cannot believe it but I am very happy."

Sante Fe beat Buenos Aires in the semi-final on Saturday in a thrilling 75-74 victory which saw both teams fail to score in the last minute-and-a-half.
Juan Manuel Rivero joint-top-scored in that game with 20 points, including six of 10 three-pointers, while Juan Cangelosi added 20 for Buenos Aires.
Capital Federal earned their spot in the final with a 76-71 win over Entre Rios in the last four, Fernando Calvi greatly contributing to victory with 15 points, while Alejandro Pappalardi added 13 points and six rebounds.

In the third-place play-off Buenos Aires were victorious over Entre Rios, winning 86-82 after out-shooting them 26-13 in a final quarter in which Entre failed to score for five-and-a-half minutes.

Juan de Dios Cancina, who netted 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the winners, said: "We really didn't expected to finish third, but we won't complain at all.

"This victory is a credit to us all.

"Entre Rios defeated us in the group stage but we managed to strengthen our defence and we didn't let the game escape us."

Finally, La Rioja became the third team to be relegated to the second level of the Campeonato Argentino, after losing their relegation play-off 73-72 to Misiones.

Matias Greco
FIBA