A giant of Argentine basketball returned to the top category. Athens of Córdoba defeated 80-57 Chivilcoy Racing in the fifth game of the final series of the Argentine League and the most winning club in the history of the National League He returned to the elite after a season fighting for promotion.
In a packed stadium Carlos Cerutti Sports Centeras in his glory days in the National League, Athens won the decisive match and became champion for the relief of his people, players and coaching staff, who had suffered his first descent in history in last season.
He Greek He was one of the entertainers of the competition and finished the regular phase with the second best record in the Argentine League, with 24 wins and 6 losses, being behind San Isidro de San Francisco, Córdoba. In the playoffs, Athens He overcame the different stages to reach the final and achieve the only promotion that the competition grants. That was his ultimate goal and he achieved it..
The path of the team led by Gustavo Peirone was winding, since in the final series they lost the second game in Córdoba against Racing and had to go to Chivilcoy with a home field disadvantage. Atenas recovered in Buenos Aires and regained home advantage. With two games won by both teams, the title and promotion were defined in Cerutti and the Greek was better, thanks to the performances of Lucas Arn (MVP of the finals with 21 points), Christopher Ware (12 and Carlos Buemo (eleven).
“It was so mystical and seeing the Cerutti full. We had all the lights on and they didn’t have the best night. It is perhaps an injustice that everything is resolved in a single game, but I am happy with the game we played. I think it was the best of the season. “This is a dream and we are working for this during the season.”summarized Lucas Arnthe most valuable player of the series, in dialogue with Basketball Pass.
To reach the title and the goal of promotion, Athens beat 3-2 in the quarterfinal series against Jump Basket. Then, in the semifinals, they beat 3-0 Rivadavia de Mendoza and in the conference final they beat 3-2 Sportivo Suardi. The same result occurred after five games against Chivilcoy Racing in the very final for promotion.
ALL CHAMPIONS OF THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE:
– Atenas (Córdoba): 9 titles
– Peñarol (Mar del Plata) and San Lorenzo de Almagro: 5
– Boca Juniors and Ferro Carril Oeste: 3
– Quimsa (Santiago del Estero), GEPU (San Luis), Estudiantes (Olavarría): 2
– Independiente (General Pico), Libertad (Sunchales), Regatas (Corrientes), Olimpia (Venado Tuerto), Gimnasia (Comodoro Rivadavia), Instituto (Córdoba) and Ben Hur (Rafaela): 1
