Class and determination: River Plate win in Don Torcuato and reach the Liga Federal quarter-finals

To all River Plate supporters: it is undeniable that the greatness of our institution extends well beyond the grass of the Estadio Monumental. The club's overall sporting project demands excellence across every discipline, and basketball is no exception. Through the current Liga Federal 2026 season, the team has shown itself equal to the history it represents, competing at a genuinely high level.

The recent win on the evening of Friday 17 July is not simply another result on the calendar. It is a fundamental victory, earned away from home and under absolute pressure, that puts River Plate among the eight best teams in its conference. Below we look at the keys to a hard-fought but thoroughly deserved qualification, and at what lies immediately ahead in this demanding competition.

A series defined by the finest of margins

To properly grasp the importance of the win in Don Torcuato, it is worth revisiting how the round of sixteen unfolded. The tie against Club Caza y Pesca was a maximally complex challenge from the outset, a collision between two solid tactical systems and two squads unwilling to concede an inch.

The first game, played at our own facilities, ended in a narrow 72-70 River Plate win, with Genaro Lorio, Felipe Pais and Juan Pablo Venegas standing out. In the second game, however, Caza y Pesca made home advantage count and, on the back of an excellent performance from Brian Osuna, took it 67-65 in a tight finish. That result forced the tie to a third and decisive game — again on hostile ground, and with no margin for error for either side.

17 July: the Millonario character on full display

The evening of Friday 17 July 2026 will be remembered as a complete demonstration of River Plate's composure. The atmosphere inside the Don Torcuato venue was thoroughly hostile in sporting terms, and the opening exchanges reflected the tension of a decider.

Through the first half, the home side dictated terms. Backed by the offensive efficiency of Leandro Quarroz (who would finish with 19 points), Caza y Pesca went into the interval ahead on the scoreboard, posing serious questions of the side from Núñez. The tactical corrections made in the dressing room, however, bore fruit immediately after the restart.

Over the final two quarters, and especially in the closing stretch, River Plate showed their class. The defence became impenetrable, forcing the opposition into uncomfortable shots, while at the other end the team's mainstays stepped forward. Julián Aprea dominated the paint with an outstanding performance — 19 points and 7 rebounds — establishing himself as the standout figure with an efficiency rating of 25. Felipe Pais contributed another 19 crucial points, controlling the tempo and securing possessions at the most critical moments. The final whistle confirmed 77-69 in River Plate's favour, sealing a deserved passage to the next round.

Next on the horizon: Presidente Derqui

In elite sport, celebrations are brief and focus must be redirected immediately to the next objective. With the playoff bracket now updated, the club knows its quarter-final opponent: Presidente Derqui.

The side from Derqui arrive in excellent confidence, having emphatically seen off Olimpia de Venado Tuerto in their own tie. They are an experienced opponent with considerable attacking volume and a deep roster, and they will demand River Plate's best tactically and physically.

The quarter-final series, again structured as a best of three, begins imminently and will require a rapid physical recovery from our athletes. Whoever comes through this hard contest advances to the semi-finals against the winner of Regatas versus All Boys, one step closer to the long-desired promotion to the Liga Argentina.

The supporters' part

River Plate basketball is going through a period of marked growth and undoubted ambition. The coaching staff and the players have shown a deep commitment to the institution's values. In this decisive phase of the Liga Federal, the backing of the membership and of every supporter is a genuine difference-maker.

We urge all followers to lend their support at home games, turning our arena into an impregnable fortress. The objective is clear and the squad is ready. May the sporting successes continue for our beloved institution.

Cover photo: River Plate's Microestadio. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, CC BY 2.5 ar, via Wikimedia Commons.