Boca Wins Game 1 of Home Series, 98-95

On the path to defending its back-to-back championship, Boca defeated San Martín de Corrientes 98-95 at home. Game 2 is scheduled for Monday at the Conde de Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

A week after winning the BCLA, Boca continues its winning ways and started strong in its Argentine National League reclassification series.

The team had an excellent start, building an 8-0 lead with good ball movement and shot selection, with Agustín Barreiro running the offense. San Martín responded quickly and tied it up midway through the first quarter, taking a 14-13 lead while trying to control the pace. As he had done in previous games, Boca head coach Nicolás Casalanguida used his second unit and rotated all his starters. The quarter ended evenly, with both teams tied 21-21 at the break.

Despite BCLA MVP Francisco Caffaro being unavailable for Boca, San Martín opened with a 2-3 zone defense. The visiting team found success in transition and made three three-pointers to build a 32-25 lead with 6:50 remaining. Casalanguida called a timeout and his team responded with an 8-0 run in just one minute. San Martín kept it close through García, maintaining parity until the end of the second quarter: 46-44.

With several missed shots from both sides, Boca capitalized and extended its lead to 53-46 in four minutes. San Martín got back into the game through Fernández and Gargallo, cutting it to two points: 53-51. With 1:33 left in the third quarter, Scala hit a three-pointer from 30 feet with minimal time on the shot clock, giving Boca an 11-point advantage: 66-55. Boca controlled the rest of the quarter, extending the lead to 14: 72-58.

In the first half of the fourth quarter, Boca maintained its style of play, keeping a 10-14 point lead throughout. Fernández hit two consecutive three-pointers, and with three-pointers from Aguerre and Méndez, San Martín got back into the game at 89-84 with two minutes remaining.

Boca committed several turnovers that made the final stretch uncertain. San Martín resorted to fouling and used Fernández and García from beyond the arc on offense. But the clock worked in Boca's favor, securing the 98-95 victory.

Boca (98): Scala 14, Barreiro 10, Smith 17, Caffaro 7, Faggiano 6, Cuello 10, Giorgetti 8, Langston 9, Stenta 15, Guerrero 0

San Martín (95): García 15, Fernández 18, Rearte 8, Berra 17, Aguerre 9, Gilletto 6, Gargallo 7, Moreira 5, Ramallo 2, Méndez 8