TR
Years ago
Crocs 5-0... big win over the host nation
FIBA U21 Day 5 - Argentina strong come back not enough
CORDOBA (FIBA U21 World Championship) - Argentina made a disastrous start in this last game of the preliminary round of the FIBA U21 world Championship before engaging a real war against the Australian side to overcome a 28 points disadvantage missing to clinch the second place of Group A in the very last seconds of the game.
After this win 82-76, Australia is leading Group A and will face Slovenia on Friday 12 August in the Quarter Finals of the FIBA U21 World Champions. Argentina will face the strong Lithuania side in attempt to go a stage further.
So we are happy to finish where we are in our group. We've learned many lessons from the game and I wish Argentina good luck in the next round", expressed Guy Molloy, Australian Head Coach.
The South American side could not have think of a worst start, as they were very quickly out passed by Australia who was recording a 22 advantage at half time.
"In the first half we had very bad percentages and they scored many points," said Matias Sandes.
Lead by their best scorer of the night, Steven Markovic (20 points), Australia was unstoppable. Markovic who scored 4 out 7 attempts from the 3 point line and was well supported by this season NBL rookie of the year, Brad Newley (19) who was always answering back Argentina's attempt to come back.
In second half Argentina showed up with a complete different face. Sandes (18 points) who was inexistent until yet because of the great defense the Crocs places on him started to found its way to the basket with some very impressive moves inside the paint.
This was the start of one of the greatest come back of this championship. Argentina got back on their feet and played much better offense and defense to be back 48-62 in fifth minute of the third quarter.
"Argentina played excellent pressing defense in the second half. We became negative and this young man here started to create us little problems," said Molloy.
They continued their progression in the 4th quarter while Axel Weigand had a massive dunk on the Australian defense to lift up the 5200 spectators out of their seats.
"It was a very exciting game right from the start with the crowd cheering the Argentinean players," said Aaron Bruce from Australia.
Everyone at that time would thought that Argentina was on their way to clinch the second place of the Group A as the team was only 4 points behind the Aussies with a little more than 2 minutes to go and looked like nothing could stopped them anymore.
Unfortunately for Argentina, these thoughts flew away as they failed to grab three offensive rebounds in the last minute and a half, costing them 40 precious seconds which would have been enough time to out score their opponents.
"It is evident that the game was divided into two parts. What we didn't do in the first half and what we did in the second," stated Head Coach of Argentina, Gonzalo Garcia.
"We didn't have offensive or defensive answers to cope with this great team which has shown why they stands as some of the favorites.
"It is good that we left the floor with the image we gave in the second half. This will help us to face the following round differently," explained García.
_____________________________
On another note, given Markovic's performance in the World Champs, and given that he nominated for the 2005 NBA draft to increase his profile does anyone give him a chance to one day get drafted and play in the Big Show????
