Universidad de Concepción kept their perfect start intact with a 98-91 victory over Puerto Varas in the LNB on Friday night. The visitors had already won every game they played this season, and they held on despite a spirited home side. By then you know how these tight finishes go — sometimes the margin is just one possession.
The hosts came out fighting, and they stayed in it long enough to make the visitors work for it. Puerto Varas had recently beaten Ancud in a 73-72 thriller, so they knew how to close games out. But Concepción were playing at home, and the table goes out of the window in these games.
We had backed the visitors at 57 per cent confidence before kick-off, and the result confirmed that call. It wasn't a blowout, but Concepción managed to separate themselves when it mattered. To be fair, Puerto Varas kept it close until the final stages, and that is what makes it a proper match.
Concepción's recent form had been impressive — they had beaten Puerto Montt on two occasions, including a 92-87 win on Tuesday, and they had dispatched Puerto Varas themselves 96-76 back in September. That previous meeting showed they could handle this opponent, and they delivered again.
The hosts sit third with seven wins and five losses from twelve games, while Concepción remain unbeaten at the summit. A defeat like this does not sink Puerto Varas, but it does add to the pressure. Three or four moments decide these games, and Concepción got theirs.
