Obras notches first ever BCLA win

 MIAMI (United States) - After losing their first 4 games of the 2021-22 Basketball Champions League Americas, Obras Sanitarias delighted the home crowd with an 80-73 victory over Minas Monday night in Buenos Aires -- their first ever in the competition.

The Argentinians led most of the way behind their powerful interior attack, outscoring the Brazilians 42-12 in points in the paint.

Power forward Keith Stone paced them with 21 points, 9 rebounds and a pair of blocks on 7/15 from the field.

 

On a night where the outside shot wasn’t falling (just 4 of 19 from long distance), Gregorio Martínez’s squad just kept punishing Minas inside the arc.

Fellow big man Pedro Barral added 20 points on just six shots attemps, displaying his versatility by also dishing a game-high seven assists and converting on a pair of three-pointers.

 

The visiting team found themselves trailing for most of the game, except for a brief moment in the second quarter when they managed to turn the tables.

Shaquille Jackson and Facundo Corvalán had their outside shots going but the squad never found a way to stop Obras’ dribble penetration and efficient finishing.

Jackson had 18 points on 4/6 from downtown but his five turnovers proved costly in a game where the Argentinians scored 17 points off Minas’ miscues.

Corvalán added 16 points and six assists while 19-year-old Gui Santos poured in 11 off the bench.

 

In the end, Obras (1-4) had an answer every time Minas got too close and even pushed their lead to double-digits in the final minutes of the game to stop their winless streak and earn their first win in Group C play.

Minas (3-2), who already qualified for the Final 8, will now face Uruguay’s Biguá (3-1) as they look to finish first in the group.

 

FIBA