ARG – Regatas Corrientes Win Liga Sudamericana title

CORRIENTES (Liga Sudamericana) – Another club in Argentina is celebrating a major honor in international basketball after Regatas Corrientes beat Brazil’s Flamengo on Wednesday to clinch the Liga Sudamericana.

Silvio Santander’s team won 73-65 to win the deciding fifth game in the finals.

Brazil international Marcelinho Machado led all scorers with 32 points in defeat.

Regatas Corrientes only played in the tournament after Penarol of Mar del Plata decided not to take part, and they made the most of the opportunity.

Penarol, led by Argentina’s national team coach Sergio Hernandez, captured this year’s inaugural FIBA Americas League crown.

Argentina clubs have been dominating South American basketball.

While this triumph was the first continental crown for Regatas Corrientes, Argentina powerhourses Libertad and Ben Hur captured the Liga Sudamericana titles the previous two years.

Point guard Alejandro Montecchia, one of the leading players on the Argentina side that captured the gold medal at the Athens Olympics, returned from a long injury lay-off in midseason to play for Corrientes.

After the win, he said: "The team played at 110% and overcame a lot of obstacles.

“It's a very special triumph for me because I was injured during long time and now I'm back."

Home court advantage proved to be decisive in this series.

Regatas were convincing winners in the opening two games in front of their home fans with 95-72 and 86-79 victories.

Flamengo hit back to win the third and fourth games, 98-79 and 86-79, and leveled the series.

FIBA