RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – Boca Juniors will play in their first Basketball Champions League Americas Final after winning the Argentinian duel and outlasting Instituto, 80-73, in the first Final 4 Semi-Final taking place at Estadio Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Buenos Aires squad will now vie for their first crown against the winner of the other Semi-Final between Brazilian powerhouses SESI Franca and hosts Flamengo.
Turning point
José Vildoza made a long three-pointer with 1:12 left in regulation to break the tie and get Boca ahead 74-71. Moments later, Santiago Scala stuck the dagger with another long-range strike to make it 77-71 with just 33 seconds to go. Before that sequence, Instituto had erased a double-digit deficit (57-47) at the beginning of the final period, but the pair of Boca point guards had the last laugh with their hot shooting.
Player of the game
Vildoza and Scala, on top of making big shots, helmed a strong Boca offense. Vildoza finished with 20 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds. Scala had 16 (5-for-10 from downtown) and 6 dimes, while Sebastián Vega added 17 points (14 of them in the third period to help Boca take a 53-47 lead). All 3 players had matching 19-efficiency ratings.
For Instituto, Uruguayan Nicola Pomoli led the way with 18 points and several clutch buckets. Bautista Lugarini (7 rebounds) and Nicolás Copello added 10 points apiece.
Stats don’t lie
Outside shooting was the x-factor for Boca after hitting 16-of-35 from beyond the arc (46 percent). This allowed them to overcome a 34-20 advantage in the paint for Instituto.
Bottom line
Playing in their first-ever Final 4, Boca achieved their first objective and will now compete for their first BCL Americas title. They have never faced SESI Franca, but have a 3-6 record all time against Flamengo, including 1-2 this season. All those games were in group stages.
They said
“We lived up to what this tournament demands. We’re very happy. (Boca and Instituto) are two teams that know each other well after the recent Liga Nacional games. The game got hard for us, but we were able to end it with 2 bombs. I think we deserve this Final,” said Boca forward Sebastián Vega.
FIBA