Ferro Takes Game 1 at Home Against Peñarol de MdP, 97-91

In the opening game of the Argentine National League reclassification playoff series, Ferro secured a 97-91 victory in an entertaining and physical contest. Jonathan Torresi led the way with 30 points.

Ferro takes a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-five matchup and will face off again on Sunday at 8 p.m. Argentina time.

The visiting team started strong. With scoring distributed among four of the five starters, Peñarol jumped out to an 11-5 lead. The home team absorbed the blow and responded with a 10-2 run in two minutes to make it 15-13 with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter, prompting a timeout from Peñarol's coach. With a couple of free throws and a layup from Thornton, Peñarol temporarily regained the lead 21-19.

But Lezcano answered with a three-pointer to neutralize Peñarol's response. Both coaches opted to make substitutions—Hernández for Ferro and Acuña for the Mar del Plata team—creating an interesting defensive battle with very physical play. The first quarter ended in a back-and-forth affair, with Peñarol leading 30-29.

With an early foul from Acuña, his third of the game, he had to leave the court for Basualdo. Gallegos quickly found the basket and with two consecutive three-pointers, gave the home team a 5-point advantage: 35-30 with 8:41 remaining. Hernández dominated the paint in the first half of the second quarter.
Basualdo began playing cautiously due to his foul trouble. Ferro maintained the lead with penetrations and passes to Hernández near the basket. Peñarol struggled to stay in the game and with the referees. Early in the period they were in foul trouble, while Ferro didn't reach their fourth foul until 1:40 before halftime. The home team managed to build a 10-point lead thanks to several turnovers by Agustín Pérez Tapia, with Ferro closing the half 53-43.

Looking to cut into the deficit, Peñarol sought quick points and narrowed the gap to 6. Torresi converted a three-pointer almost immediately to extend it back to 9: 56-47. The game became more physical, with a heated exchange between Bettiga and Thornton that sparked tension. So much so that the former NBA player got the referees to call Bettiga's fourth foul and nearly a fifth for a technical after the Ferro player's protest.

Thornton, with the entire home crowd against him, missed 2 of 3 free throws, making it 66-60 for the home team with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Then Vázquez also missed his free throws, unable to cut the deficit below 6. With a layup from Guerra for Peñarol, the home team closed the quarter 74-68.
The final quarter was very intense. The home crowd played their part trying to prevent a Peñarol comeback. But Peñarol, with Thornton leading the way, got within 3, 78-75, with a three-pointer from Armand with 6 minutes remaining.

There were several minutes of back-and-forth play, with only some free throws from Lezcano after Basualdo's fifth foul, Ferro pulled away 86-79 with 2:53 left. Torresi with a corner three-pointer and a fast-break layup, Ferro took a 9-point cushion with 33 seconds on the clock, sealing the game. Only Armand added a few more points to soften the final score of Ferro's 97-91 victory.

Ferro (97): Torresi 30, Lezcano 14, Martínez 11, Bettiga 2, Peacock 4; Gallegos 6, Rodríguez F. 6, Hernandez 21, Defilippo 3, Rodríguez C 0

Peñarol MDP (91): Vázquez 11, Pérez Tapia 11, Carreras 5, Basualdo 10, Thornton 17; Guerra 16, Córdoba 0, Acuña 6, Armand 15, Chiaraviglio 0