In a José María Bértora like in the best times, Central Entrerriano achieved one of the best triumphs in recent times and swept the series against the millionaire. Now and for the first time in the play offs, the red and black will find themselves at a disadvantage as they will face El Talar from Capital Federal, a team that serves as the home team for Argentinos Jrs. First game in Gualeguaychú, possibly Thursday the 20th and second and eventual third game at the Bicho Colorado stadium Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd.
First minutes of inaccuracies and low scoring, Central with points from Cristian Pérez took the lead on the scoreboard, but River remained within striking distance and with a double from Pedro Lorusso with 3:07 to go they took the lead on the scoreboard 11 to 13 But the red and black had Cristian Pérez on fire and with a triple he once again overtook Central. Tomás Jurgensen responded in the same way and with a double from Carlos Benítez Gavilan the first quarter ended tied at 16.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Francisco Di Meo appeared in the first moments when River tried to take advantage with a triple from Lorio.
But with a triple by Julián Arejula and a single by Héctor Martirena, the millionaire for the first time in the game was able to make a difference of four, 20 to 24. That led Martín Pascal to call a timeout.
After one minute, Leandro Quarroz scored a triple, Valentín Maruri with a steal and subsequent assist, the red-and-black went back to the front and with another triple from Quarroz, the one from Gualeguaychú was four ahead.
Two minutes from the end of the second quarter, and with two singles from Benítez Gavilán, the red-and-black took the maximum of the game up to that moment 33 to 27 and that is why the millionaire coach had to call a timeout.
“Millo” reduced the score with a double and a foul by “Cholo” Martirena to close the Central quarter with two singles from Benítez Gavilan to go into the long break up 37 to 30.
At the start of the third quarter, River scores a 10-2 run to take the lead again, 39-40.
The red and black reacted and with the help of Francisco Di Meo with a triple and a double he once again took the lead 51 to 47, which led the River coach to call a timeout.
Central maintained the difference and when the visit left him he moved away, at the end with a couple of scores from Benítez Gavilán he managed to get a 9 difference, Jurgensen reduced it with a single and with a triple on Quarroz’s buzzer he went to the last break up 63 to 52.
At the beginning of the last quarter the visitors came closer with a 9-0 run to get within four, 63-59.
But captain Benítez Gavilan appeared to once again take a seven lead, but Núñez’s men with Jurgensen and Martirena continued to fight.
The red and black with the contribution of Benítez Gavilán and Di Meo from Formosa continued to keep them up by five. But with 1’37” left, Cristian Pérez hits a fundamental triple so that Central is ahead 78 to 70.
Time was running out for River and Central, thanks to the figures of Francisco Di Meo and Carlos Benítez Gavilán, they closed the game so that the red and black team could celebrate a new victory at the José María Bértora. Central won 85 to 73 and was among the best eight in the tournament.
Synthesis:
ENTRERRIANO CENTRAL 85
Cristian Pérez 18, Mauricio Pane 3, Nicolás Nieto, Leandro Quarroz 13, Carlos Benítez Gavilán 25(FI), Francisco Di Meo 20, Valentino Maruri 6, Juan Siboldi, Franco Sánchez, Tomás Caballero, Benjamín Lado, Nahir Martínez.
Coach: Martín Pascal.
RIVER PLATE 73
Santiago Ibarra 8, Tomás Jurgensen 19, Héctor Martirena 23, Genaro Lorio 6, Pedro Lorusso 11 (FI). José Torrens 1, Julián Arejula 3, Joaquín Ortiz 2, Franco Porto, Thiago Gómez Colloca.
Coach: Daniel Rau.
Basketball court: José María Bértora
Judges: Ramiro Barón and Maximiliano Robles
Progression: 16 – 16, 37 – 30, 63 – 52, 85 – 73
