Aguada didn’t need perfect offense — it needed poise late. On Feb. 16, 2026, Aguada outlasted Hebraica y Macabi 85-80 at Aguada, tightening its grip near the top of the Liga Uruguaya table.

The home side entered at 14-6 (WWLWW) and played like it early, then had to win the game twice after Hebraica y Macabi (13-7, WWLWL) flipped the script coming out of halftime.

Game flow: Aguada’s hot start, Macabi’s punch, Aguada’s finish

Aguada set the tone immediately, winning the first quarter 27-22 and carrying that edge into a 51-45 halftime lead after taking the second 24-23. The early advantage mattered because the third quarter belonged to Hebraica y Macabi: a 19-14 frame that trimmed the margin to 65-64 and turned the final 10 minutes into a possession-by-possession grind.

That’s where Aguada’s control returned. The home team won the fourth quarter 20-16, creating just enough separation to avoid late-game variance and secure the 85-80 final.

Possession battle: ball movement and late execution

Neither team posted eye-popping assist totals, but Aguada’s slight edge in creation showed up where it counts — in the closing stretch. Aguada finished with 17 assists to Hebraica y Macabi’s 15, a small gap that often reflects cleaner reads and fewer empty possessions when the defense tightens.

With no overtime and a one-point game after three, the story is simple: Aguada generated a bit more organized offense in the fourth, and that was the difference.

Turning point: surviving the third-quarter swing

Hebraica y Macabi’s third-quarter response was the inflection point. Cutting a six-point halftime deficit to one entering the fourth put real pressure on Aguada’s half-court execution. Aguada answered by re-establishing control in the final period, winning the quarter by four and keeping Macabi from completing the comeback.

What it means going forward

For Aguada, this was a standings-type win: protect home court, withstand a momentum shift, and close. The result moves them forward from a 14-6 baseline with another tight win that matches their recent form.

For Hebraica y Macabi, the performance reinforces their ceiling — they proved they can erase deficits against top competition — but the finish will sting. They’ll take the third-quarter blueprint and look for a cleaner closing quarter next time they’re in a one-possession game late.