With all the weight of responsibility, as in the entire campaign and more, Athens will go out to play at the Delmi stadium in the capital of Salta. It is not just one more game, nor one more series, for Athens it is the entire season. It is the maximum bet, the one that began on October 15 of last year, when the winding path of the Argentine Basketball League began. And it started before, with the relegation of the National League, almost a year ago.
It is true that the squad and the coaching staff headed by Gustavo Peirone have nothing to do with Atenas having lost its place in the elite of Argentine basketball, if they assumed a big, heavy commitment, loaded with pressure, when they agreed to wear the green shirt in the second category.
One more year playing for promotion will be a hard blow for all of Athens, sportingly and economically.
The General Bustos neighborhood team loses 1-2 to Salta Basket in the quarterfinal series of the Northern Conference. Nothing is lost for the people of Córdoba, but they do have the noose around their necks after three very tough, physical games. Nothing makes it seem that this Saturday at Delmi will be different. Quite the opposite. It will surely have even more tension than the last match, on Thursday and only decided in overtime. in favor of the Infernales by 92-90, after equaling at 83.
Athens played with the dedication, the heart and even the intelligence that are needed in these commitments, but it was not enough. after winning with just the first game of the series, at Cerutti by 94 to 91, fell without mitigation in the second, also in Córdoba, 92-82. It was the match that changed everything in a key that looked even before the initial jump.
There is a key aspect that the Verde must improve, no matter what, if they intend to equalize the series and force the fifth and decisive match, scheduled for Tuesday, May 7 at the Cerutti. It’s about defense. It was a theme throughout much of the regular series, and it was very noticeable in the three meetings with the Salteños in the playoffs. And he suffered like never before from the absence of Juan Cruz Oberto.
The Infernales were hell for Atenas and their brand, scoring an average of 91 points, even more than in overtime in the last one. If Peirone’s team does not manage to lower the score to 70-75 against the Salteños (it was clear that they did not reach 83 in the 40 minutes on Thursday either), it will be difficult for them to win in the capital of Salta.
Beyond the collective solidarity he showed, he will need some more scorers to help Lucas Arn (they double and triple mark him in the painted area) and José Montero on offense. Carlos Buemo, effective in the triples (4/7 in the last game) has to lend a hand, and mainly the American Chris Ware. In the first game of the series, the pivot was key in the scoring and Athens will need it like water on Saturday.
With the noose around their neck, the Green must appeal to the quality of their players, the self-love that they have already shown, and the intelligence, to overcome this complicated moment and continue dreaming of fighting for promotion, to return to “their” place, the National League.
This Saturday, at 9 p.m., the fourth point of the series will be played and if Salta Basket wins, it will advance to the semifinals. If not, there will be a fifth and final game in Córdoba on Tuesday, May 7.
