paul
Years ago

FIBA Americas

This is an understrength tourny this year but it has turned out to be a cracker. Brazil has already been eliminated and Argentina must win their last two games or will likely head home early too.

Venezuela surprised Canada 64-59 today, Jamaica incredibly beat Argentina 81-75 and then the Dominican Republic stunned the undefeated Puerto Ricans 99-84, so with two games left before the SFs the standings look like this:

Puerto Rico 4-1
Mexico 3-2
Canada 3-2
Venezuela 3-2
Domincan Republic 3-2
Argentina 2-3
Jamaica 1-4
Uruguay 1-4
---
Brazil
Paraguay

Should be a brilliant final two days and if results go as predicted (as if!) Argentina will have to beat Canada on the last day to have any chance of going to the SFs and getting an automatic spot at next year's World Cup.

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paul
Years ago

Oh yeah, for former South Dragons fans Donta Smith is playing for Venezuela and has had a pretty good tournament, averaging 12p, 7r and 3a.

Other standouts in the tournament have been Renaldo Balkman (Puerto Rico), Cory Joseph (Canada), Gustavo Ayon (Mexico), Luis Scola (Argentina), Esteban Batista (Uruguay), Carlos Arroyo (Puerto Rico), Facundo Campazzo (Argentina) and Tristan Thompson (Canada).

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paul
Years ago

Argentina came from 7 down late in the third quarter, riding Luis Scola (28p, 7r) on offence and some world class flopping on defence to beat Canada 73-67 and qualify for the World Cup and knock the Canucks out.

Canada just cant get their act together internationally, and Jay Triano did not coach well today, but the positive for them is they blooded some good young players who will know more about international hoops for the future.

Argentina showed they just keep getting it done when it matters by playing their roles and high IQ basketball. Their team was pretty much the one our WUG team beat at the Stankovic Cup plus superstar Scola.

The Dominican Republic's earlier wins over Uruguay and Canada the previous day meant Argentina, DR, Puerto Rico and Mexico qualify for the Final Four and the WC.

PR then 'eased' their way through their final game against Mexico to make sure (by my calculations) they avoid Argentina in the SFs by finishing third.

So it looks like Mexico v Argentina and PR v DR in the SFs, with both game Weds morning our time.

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paul
Years ago

Mexico and Puerto Rico will battle it out tomorrow for gold at the FIBA Americas Champs.

The Mexicans held tough as Argentina threatened to pull away time and again, and then made the big plays down the stretch to win 76-70.

Gustavo Ayon played 37mins and looked like a zombie at times, but his 24p, 12r, 3a and 2s were huge, his best game of the tourny. Scola (18p, 8r, 5a, 2b) and Campazzo (14p) were once again Argentina's best.

The Dominican Republic fought hard but they were always behind the eight ball and Puerto Rico won 79-67.

Carlos Arroyo (20p, 5r, 4s, 3a), JJ Barea (16p, 8a, 5r), Renaldo Balkman (13p, 14r, 4s) and Ricardo Sanchez (12p, 7r, 2s) were all very good for PR, who really are the only truly world class team at the tourny.

Neither Mexico nor PR played their full hand when they met in the last game of the prelim rounds so will be interesting to see what cards the coaches play tomorrow.

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Anonymous
Years ago

Ricky Sanchez had his rights traded from Memphis to Miami during last season and even though he was drafted 8 years ago would be good to see how he would go in the NBA.

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Anonymous
Years ago

Mexico beat Puerto Rico in the final 91-89, Gustavo Ayon capped off a great tournament being named tournament MVP and had 20 & 16 in the championship game.

Ayon averaged 17 & 8 for the tournament the Atlanta Hawks got a steal claiming him off waivers from the Milwaukee Bucks.

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