For the second consecutive year, three of the four Basketball Champions League Americas quarterfinals will go to a decisive third game after Real Estelí defeated Boca Juniors 97-89 Friday night in Managua.
The game featured 20 lead changes, as the biggest lead of the game was only 10 points, and that wasn’t until the fourth quarter when Estelí took an 86-76 lead with 3:47 to play. The hosts led after the first quarter 24-21, but Boca took the lead into the half at 48-46.
It looked momentarily like Estelí were going to take control in the third quarter, but three three-pointers from Facundo Piñero gave Boca a brief 67-65 lead late in the frame. El Tren del Norte would answer, and take a 69-68 lead into the final stanza.
Again it appeared as if Estelí would start to pull away, opening up a 6-point lead at 74-68, but again Piñero would hit a triple to get Boca back to within 2 at 76-74.
Estelí led 86-79 when Glen Rice, Jr., made the defensive play of the game with 2:44 to play. Boca had a 2-on-1 fast break when Rice anticipated and then intercepted the last pass on the break and prevented what would have been an easy layup and only a 5-point lead. After Rice’s outlet pass, Jared Ruiz hit a bomb that gave Estelí a 10-point cushion.
Andres Ibarguen, playing on a bum knee, made a three-point play to cut the lead to 93-88 with :49.5 to play, but Boca would get no closer.
Jezreel de Jesus led all scorers with 23 points; he also dished out 7 assists. Rice finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Joao Franca had 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Ruiz added 14 points.
Sebastian Vega had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for Boca. Ibarguen also had 19 points; he added 8 rebounds. Piñero finished with 12 points, and Santiago Scala had 11 points and 10 assists.
The final game of the series will be Saturday night in Managua. The winner will join Flamengo, Franca, and Instituto in the semi-finals.
