POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
We already know the finalsists of the Panamerican Games 2007. Host Brazil will face Puerto Rico in a grand final tomorrow evening.
In the semifinals Brazil had easy game against Uruguay 85-73, while Puerto Rico upset Argentina 89-80. Brazil was lead by duo Valter Silva (22 points) and Murilo Da Rosa (20). The top player for Uruguay was again their captain Nicolas Mazzarino (181-G-75, agency: Players Group), who had 19 points. In the other semifinal game where Puerto Rico shocked Argentina, the winning team tokok the lead at the very beginning and kept it for the rest of the game. Despite Argentina tried to storm Puerto Rican basket in the last minutes, it was way too late to reverse the result. Puerto Rican top scorers were their captain Jose Juan Barea (181-G-84, agency: KMG Sports Management, college: Northeastern) (25 points and 9 assists), Carmelo Lee (200-F-77, agency: Paris Global Sports, college: Long Beach St.) (15), Alejandro Carmona (194-G/F-83, agency: Edge Sports) (13) and Angelo Reyes (12 points and 12 assists). Ramon Gonzalez was the top player in Argentina with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Brazilians look like the main favorite in the final game as they will be heavily supported by local fans. However Puerto Rico can be really unpredictable...
Argentina lost last two games and very badly needs to secure bronze against Uruguay. Argentina is still higher ranked and seems having a better team. However they last two loses, especially the one against weak U.S. team do not leave too high expectations.
In the 5-8 places qualifications Canada keep loosing everything they can, while this time they were edged by 1 point (68-67) by Panama. Panama will face USA in the 5th place game. USA beat Virgin Islands 84-68. Despite Americans lost to Panama in the Preliminaries, they are on the raising mode and are considered favorites in the 5th place game. Everything can happen in the game between Virgin Islands and Canada. Canada has nothing to lose after they were not able to win any game so far, including Preliminary Round loss to Virgin Islands.
