Espanol de Osorno Reach the Final as the LNB Conference Finals Go the Distance

Both Conference Finals in Chile's Liga Nacional de Basquetbol Apertura needed a deciding fifth game, and Espanol de Osorno were the first to punch their ticket to the Grand Final, holding off Puerto Varas Basket 69-55 in the South.
The "Diablos Rojos" closed out a 3-2 series win before a packed Gimnasio Monumental Maria Gallardo, riding their standout trio of Barham Amor (185-G-1996), Ja'Heim Hudson (201-F-2001, college: Auburn, agency: Keter Management) and Jahsean Corbett (198-G/F-2002, college: Duquesne) who led the team in points, rebounds and assists respectively. The result extended a remarkable run for the club, a third final in the 2026 calendar year after they won the LNB Super Copa in March (beating Puerto Varas) and finished runners-up at the Copa Chile. The series had been a back-and-forth affair: Osorno took Games 1 and 4 by a single possession (81-75 and 62-61), Puerto Varas struck back with a 63-60 win and an 87-83 victory at home, before the hosts pulled away in the decider.
The Central Conference Final between Universidad de Concepcion and reigning LNB champions Leones de Quilpue was every bit as tight. Leones won the opener 92-88 and edged Game 3 83-78 at home, but U. de Concepcion answered each time, taking Game 2 89-78 and then winning 81-74 in Quilpue in Game 4 to force a decider back at the Casa del Deporte de Concepcion. The "Campanil" had earned their billing as favorites with a perfect 12-0 regular season and a Copa Chile title, while Leones were chasing a third straight LNB final.
The winners advance to the single-game Grand Final of the Liga Apertura, set for Saturday, June 13, at 20:30 at the Polideportivo del Parque Estadio Nacional in Santiago, where Espanol de Osorno await their Central-conference opponent.