BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) – Boca Juniors (ARG) was crowned champion of the Basketball Champions League Americas 2025–26 in front of their fans after defeating SESI Franca (BRA) 86-72 in the Grand Final on Saturday at Estadio Obras Sanitarias in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Xeneizes claimed their first title in the continent’s premier club competition and erased the bitter memory of last year’s loss to Flamengo in the championship game. The victory also secured them a place in this year’s FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Turning point
The key for Boca was crisp ball movement and transition offense, which allowed the Argentine side to control the scoreboard for most of the game. Over the final three minutes of the second quarter, Boca went on a 6–1 run and took a 47–38 lead into halftime. From that point on, it stayed in front, with the margin hovering around double digits.
Player of the game
Veteran point guard Santiago Scala delivered an outstanding performance with 18 points (4 three-pointers), 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Center Francisco Cáffaro followed with 15 points (5-for-5 from the field), 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. The big man was named Final Four MVP. Michael Smith (12), Agustín Barreiro (11) and Lucas Faggiano (10) also reached double figures. In fact, all 10 Boca players who stepped on the floor scored at least 2 points. For Franca, the trio of Lucas Dias (17 points, 7 rebounds), David Jackson (16) and Georginho De Paula (15 points, 5 assists) produced, but it was not enough. Dias became the all-time leading scorer in BCL Americas history with 847 points, surpassing Jezreel De Jesús (844), while De Paula reached 200 career assists in the competition, becoming just the third player to hit that mark.
Stats don’t lie
Boca’s strong defense held Franca to just 31 percent shooting from the field (22-of-71), with only three three-pointers in the second half after making seven in the first. Meanwhile, the Xeneizes shot an efficient 51 percent (31-of-61), recorded 19 assists, and dominated transition points 21–7 as well as points in the paint 40–20. Franca stayed competitive thanks to second-chance points, where they led 27–9.
Bottom line
Head coach Nicolás Casalánguida finished with a perfect 6–0 record in BCL Americas after taking over Boca’s bench in February.
Boca is the second Argentine team to win the BCL Americas championship, behind Quimsa who were crowned twice (2019-20 and 2023-24). Franca earned their first silver medal and now owns three total podium finishes in the competition (champion in 2022–23 and third place last year).
FIBA