SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO (Argentina) – Minas Tenis Clube started their 2024-25 Basketball Champions League Americas campaign with a strong victory, 73-60, over Biguá Friday night at Estadio Ciudad in Santiago del Estero. The Brazilian team got some separation in the second quarter and cruised the rest of the way behind some strong perimeter defense and timely scores from their bucket-getters.
Turning point
With the game tied at 22 early in the second quarter, Minas unleashed a 15-5 run to take a 10-point lead into intermission. Leonardo Costa’s guys then broke the game open in the third, reaching their biggest lead (18 points) shortly before the end of the quarter.
Player of the game
Luis Montero led the way with 17 points on 7-for-10 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. The Dominican guard added 8 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block for a game-high 23 efficiency.
Alexander Paranhos produced an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Scott Machado (12 points and 4 assists) and Danilo Fuzaro (11 points and 5 rebounds) also scored in double digits for the winning side. Argentinian Leandro Cerminato (12 points on 5-for-7 from the field) was Biguá’s only double-digit scorer. Team captain Federico Bavosi scored 8 points in the opening period but was held scoreless the rest of the way. Maique Tavares and Juan Ducasse produced 9 points apiece.
Stats don’t lie
While both teams shot similarly in the high thirties from the field, Minas held Biguá to a frigid 2-for-22 from three-point territory.
The Brazilians got outscored 38-30 in points in the paint but evened the scales with a 13-5 edge in points off turnovers. Their 17 offensive rebounds were also instrumental in getting extra possessions and never allowing their opponents to get back in the game.
Bottom line
With the victory, the Brazilians started on the right foot in Group C, arguably the toughest of the competition. They’ll now face hosts Quimsa (0-1) on Saturday.
Biguá finished this first window with a 1-1 after upsetting Quimsa on Thursday.
FIBA