CORDOBA (Argentina) – SESI Franca notched a big road win in their 2024-25 Basketball Champions League Americas debut, defeating Instituto (75-69) Saturday night at Estadio Angel Sandrin in Cordoba, Argentina. The Brazilians, who found themselves down 10 points in the first quarter, showed a lot of poise before pouncing in the second half. The home team made very, very interesting in the final minute but Helinho Rubens’ guys managed to hang on for the victory.
Turning point
Despite both teams going blow-for-blow throughout the first half, Instituto led at the end of the first and second quarters. That changed in a hurry early in the third, when Franca uncorked a massive 18-3 run to turn an 8-point deficit into a 7-point lead – eventually stretching it to double digits. Instituto cut the deficit to a point with 11 seconds to go and had a chance to tie in the final moments, but Nicolas Copello’s forced three-pointer was short as he tried to draw a foul.
Player of the game
Didi Louzada scored 16 of his 24 points in the third quarter as Franca grabbed control of the game. The former NBA player shot 8-for-12 from the field, including 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, and added 5 rebounds and a steal for a 25-efficiency rating.
Georginho De Paula flirted with a triple-double and finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists (plus a steal and 2 blocks), while David Jackson (13) and Facundo Corvalán (12) also scored in double digits. Copello led the way for Instituto with 17 points on 5-for-11 from the field. Bautista Lugarini had 15 but was held to just 3 in the second half. Leandro Vildoza contributed 12 points and 4 dimes, while Javier Saiz scored 13 points.
Stats don’t lie
On a game where both teams shot 49 percent from the field, Franca going 13-for-29 from long distance was the key to their victory. This allowed them to survive a 38-24 deficit in the paint on a night where they were also outrebounded (32-28) and Instituto held a 17-10 edge in assists.
Bottom line
Winning at the home of Instituto, their main opponent in Group D, establishes Franca as the on-paper favorites to finish in first place. They’ll now play Leones de Quilpué (Chile) on Sunday. Meanwhile, Instituto now faces a key matchup against the Chilean squad on Monday.
FIBA