Quimsa Grinds Out 83-77 Win Over Atenas Córdoba in Liga Nacional de Básquetbol

Quimsa protected its home court with a hard-earned 83-77 victory over Atenas Córdoba in Argentina’s Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (LNB) on October 6, 2026. The win lifts Quimsa further up the league standings, while Atenas returns to Córdoba with a frustrating road loss in a game that was tight until the final minutes.

Match Overview

Played at the Estadio Ciudad de Santiago del Estero, the contest featured two teams with contrasting styles: Quimsa’s disciplined half-court execution against Atenas’s up-tempo, three-point-heavy attack. The hosts led for most of the night, but never by more than nine points, as Atenas repeatedly clawed back behind timely perimeter shooting.

Quarter-by-quarter, the scoring unfolded as follows:

• First quarter: Quimsa 22 – 18 Atenas
• Second quarter: Quimsa 19 – 20 Atenas
• Third quarter: Quimsa 21 – 17 Atenas
• Fourth quarter: Quimsa 21 – 22 Atenas
• Final score: Quimsa 83 – 77 Atenas

Quimsa’s balanced scoring and defensive rebounding proved decisive, especially in the third quarter when they built a 62-55 lead heading into the final frame. Atenas made a late push, but the home side’s composure at the free-throw line sealed the result.

Key Moments

The game’s turning point came midway through the third quarter. With Quimsa clinging to a 48-46 lead, shooting guard Facundo Corvalán sparked a 10-2 run with a steal-and-layup followed by a deep three from the wing. That burst pushed the advantage to 58-48, forcing Atenas coach Lucas Gutiérrez to call timeout.

Atenas responded early in the fourth. Veteran point guard Nicolás Zurschmitten knocked down back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to 68-66 with 6:12 remaining. But Quimsa’s interior defense, anchored by center Tomás Allende, denied easy looks inside, and clutch free throws from Juan Ignacio Marcos in the final minute kept Atenas at arm’s length.

Tactical Breakdown

Quimsa’s game plan was clear: attack the paint, crash the offensive glass, and force Atenas into contested jumpers. The hosts finished with a 38-30 rebounding edge, including 12 offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points. Their inside-out offense also generated open corner threes when Atenas collapsed on drives.

Atenas, meanwhile, lived and died by the three-pointer. They attempted 34 shots from beyond the arc, making 12 (35.3%), but struggled to score consistently in the paint. Quimsa’s switching defense limited Atenas’s pick-and-roll efficiency, and the visitors’ 14 turnovers often came at critical moments.

Both teams shot poorly from the free-throw line in the first half, but Quimsa improved down the stretch, hitting 9 of 11 in the fourth quarter. That free-throw disparity (Quimsa 18/24 vs. Atenas 11/16) proved to be a quiet but decisive factor.

Standout Performers

Quimsa:

• Facundo Corvalán – 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. The guard was the game’s leading scorer and hit the biggest shot of the night.
• Tomás Allende – 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks. A double-double anchor in the paint.
• Juan Ignacio Marcos – 14 points, 6 assists, and 4/4 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
• Bruno Berra – 10 points, 7 rebounds, providing energy off the bench.

Atenas Córdoba:

• Nicolás Zurschmitten – 19 points, 5 assists, 4 three-pointers. Kept Atenas within striking distance.
• Matías Bortolín – 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks. Battled hard inside but was limited by foul trouble.
• Franco Alorda – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Active on both ends.
• Lautaro Rivata – 11 points, 5 rebounds, but shot just 4/12 from the field.

Season Impact and LNB Standings

With the win, Quimsa improves its record in the Liga Nacional de Básquetbol and strengthens its grip on a top-four seed. The team has now won three of its last four games, with its defense allowing just 75.3 points per contest during that stretch. Quimsa remains one of the league’s most consistent programs and a perennial title contender.

Atenas Córdoba, meanwhile, drops a valuable road game in the crowded playoff race. The loss leaves them hovering around the middle of the table, where every victory matters for postseason seeding. Atenas has shown flashes of elite shooting bu