Félix Pérez Cardoso secured a 24:21 victory over Deportivo Amambay in the LNB in Paraguay on 24 September. The home side held their nerve in a match that came down to the final possessions. Both teams finished level on field goal attempts, but execution at the crucial moments separated them.
And here's the thing — the visitors were running out of games to make up ground. Deportivo Amambay had already dropped eight of fourteen, while the hosts were sitting fourth with six losses. The table gap at this stage is negligible, but momentum matters when you're chasing a top-three finish.
By then, the away side had opened up on the perimeter. They converted ten of twenty-eight three-point attempts compared to four of twenty-eight for the hosts. The shooting disparity was stark, yet it wasn't enough to carry them away. The home team kept their side in it through efficient field goal conversion and capitalising on free throws when it counted.
The rebound battle told a different story. Deportivo Amambay pulled down fifty-one boards to thirty-seven, including thirteen offensive rebounds. They camped in the final third and created second-chance opportunities, but the home defence held firm when it mattered. The high line was picked apart in the closing stages, and that's where the match was decided.
We had given Deportivo Amambay the edge with fifty-three percent confidence, but the game refused to follow the script. The away team's shooting from distance was impressive, yet the home side kept their composure under pressure. It wasn't a spectacle, but it was close enough to keep everyone on edge until the final buzzer.
The result keeps Félix Pérez Cardoso within touching distance of the top four. They now have eight wins from fourteen games and sit two points clear of the visitors. Deportivo Amambay remain fifth, but they've opened talks with themselves about whether consistency will come in time.