The two-time champion, San Lorenzo, number one in the regular phase, could not achieve a brilliant performance, but it was enough to dominate Peñarol, ranked sixteenth, whom they defeated 91-82 in the first game of the series that both teams played tonight for the playoffs of the National Basketball League (LNB).
In Roberto Pando stadium, in Boedo, the home team won with the following progression: 29-10, 49-37, 68-62 and 91-82.
The Santiago-born forward Gabriel Deck was the outstanding figure of the match, with a scorecard of 33 points (16 in the first quarter). The promising Argentine basketball player made 5-7 in two-pointers, 5-9 in three-pointers, and 8-8 in free throws, in addition to capturing 8 rebounds and distributing 2 assists.
There were also notable performances from American shooting guard Dar Tucker (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Cuban center Javier Justiz Ferrer (16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks).
In the Mar del Plata team, the best contributions came from experienced players Diego García and Diego Guaita, who each added 15 points off the bench.
In another eighth-finals series, Obras Basket (with 17 points from Dominican player Víctor Liz) defeated Bahía Basket (with 16 points from Uruguayan player Luciano Parodi), 89-80 in Núñez.
Meanwhile, in Santiago del Estero, the local team Quimsa defeated Estudiantes de Concordia 80-74, with the Cuban Jasiel Rivero from the Entre Ríos team being the top scorer of the night with 24 points.
In the other five matches corresponding to the first round of the playoffs, the following results were recorded, all with victories for the home teams:
- Instituto de Córdoba 81-79 Regatas Corrientes.
- Atenas de Córdoba 103-92 Olímpico de La Banda (Santiago del Estero).
- Gimnasia y Esgrima de Comodoro Rivadavia 89-55 Argentino de Junín.
- La Unión de Formosa 88-65 Hispano Americano de Río Gallegos.
- San Martín de Corrientes 85-70 Boca Juniors.