Deportes Castro vs Las Animas – Chile Liga Nacional Basketball

Date: July 19, 2026 | Final Score: Deportes Castro 87 – Las Animas 76

Deportes Castro reinforced their home-court dominance in the Chile Liga Nacional de Basketball by defeating archrival Las Animas 87–76 in a hotly contested match at Polideportivo de Castro. The host team used a balanced attack and a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away in a game that had playoff implications for both clubs.

First Half Battle

The first half saw both teams trade leads, with Las Animas' perimeter shooting keeping them close. Castro held a narrow 43–40 advantage at the break, fueled by 12 points from forward Pablo Muñoz. Las Animas guard Diego Vargas kept his team in the game with 10 first-half points and four assists.

Second Half Dominance

Castro came out firing after halftime, outscoring Las Animas 26–14 in the third quarter. Their defense clamped down, holding the visitors to just 5-of-18 shooting in the period. The lead ballooned to 69–54 entering the fourth, and Las Animas never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Standout Players

• Deportes Castro: Center Andrés López recorded a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds, controlling the glass. Guard Felipe Torres added 18 points and 7 assists, while Pablo Muñoz finished with 17 points and 8 boards.
• Las Animas: Diego Vargas led the way with 24 points and 5 assists, but received little support from the bench. Forward Marcos Silva contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Key Stats

• Castro outrebounded Las Animas 46–34, including 14 offensive boards that led to 18 second-chance points.
• The home team shot 51% from two-point range but only 28% from beyond the arc.
• Las Animas committed 16 turnovers, leading to 21 Castro points.

Season Context

The win improves Deportes Castro to 12–7, keeping them in third place in the Liga Nacional standings. Las Animas drops to 8–11, currently outside the playoff zone. The two teams will meet again on August 3, and that rematch could be crucial for Las Animas' postseason hopes.