Valdivia edged past Puerto Montt 80-74 in the LNB on Saturday, keeping their fourth-place position intact while the visitors slipped further behind. The hosts had won five straight before this game, matching their recent form with another victory.
Both sides traded baskets throughout, but Valdivia's consistency in the final quarter proved decisive. To be fair, neither team dominated from the start — the score stayed tight until the closing stages where experience told.
Valdivia's shooting numbers tell one story: 27 successful field goals from 64 attempts, with 22 free throws made. Puerto Montt hit 28 field goals but only managed 8 from the line, which cost them in a close game.
The visitors shot better from distance, connecting on 10 three-pointers compared to Valdivia's 4. And here's the thing — that perimeter shooting didn't translate into enough points when it mattered most.
Valdivia pulled down 35 rebounds to Puerto Montt's 33, with 12 offensive boards giving them second chances. The hosts also committed fewer turnovers at 11, compared to 16 for the visitors.
After the match, Valdivia remain fourth with 12 points from 12 games, while Puerto Montt sit fifth with eight points. The gap between them has widened, and by then it was clear this result would shape the rest of the standings.