Red Devils secured a narrow 86-83 victory over El Calor de Cancún in the LNBP on Tuesday evening, completing a remarkable turnaround after losing the same fixture just two days earlier. The hosts had dominated that previous meeting 86-73, but the visitors responded with composure in the closing moments to claim the win.
El Calor started brightly, using their home advantage to build momentum early on. By then, however, the visitors had settled into their rhythm, moving the ball with purpose and finding openings in the defence. They took the lead in the second period and never looked back, despite the hosts' relentless pressure throughout.
We had given: away win, confidence 54 per cent, and the forecast held true. The visitors' experience in tight games showed through when it mattered most, converting crucial free throws while holding their nerve under pressure. To be fair, El Calor had chances to level the score, but missed opportunities cost them dearly.
The statistics tell an interesting story. El Calor attempted 24 three-pointers compared to the visitors' 25, but the hosts were more efficient from deep, hitting 7 versus 6. Yet the visitors' superiority from the free-throw line—18 successful attempts against 12—proved decisive in a match decided by three points.
El Calor dominated the boards with 29 rebounds to 37, yet the visitors converted their advantages more effectively. The hosts committed 23 personal fouls while the visitors managed just 18, a difference that translated into extra scoring opportunities at the line. Turnovers were relatively even at 14 for El Calor and 19 for the visitors.
This result extends Red Devils' recent form with two wins from three games, including a comfortable 107-79 victory over Correicanos UAT Victoria last weekend. El Calor dropped to 1-3 in their last four, having lost to Dorados on both 17th and 16th of September. The gap between them is growing, and the visitors are proving they can match the league leaders when it counts.
