POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
J.J. Barea
Group A
Mexico - Argentina 83-56
Mexico was better than Argentina in do-or-die game 83-56. The host of Panamerican Games 2011 advanced to Semifinals as the second ranked team of Group A with 2-1 record. Their rival at the next stage will be USA. Argentina slipped to the last place in this pool and failed to reach the Semis. They will meet Uruguay for position No.7. Jovan Harris (191-G/F-81, college: USF) shined for Mexico with 22 points. Victor Mariscal (198-F-72) had 16 points and Christopher Hernandez (188-G-83, college: Stanford) helped with 11. In Argentina, Luciano Gonzalez (196-F-90) delivered 15 points. Matias Sandes (201-F/G-84) had 12 points and 8 rebs, while Alejandro Alloatti (203-F/C-84) stopped to 7 pts. Quarters: 18-15, 12-10, 25-16, 28-15. Semifinals and classification games will be played today.
Puerto Rico - Canada 80-58
Puerto Rico won the first place in Preliminary Group A of the Panamerican Games 2011. Puerto Ricans handed 80-58 loss to Canada for 2-1 record at this phase. Of course, Puerto Rico advanced to the Semifinals where they will meet Dominican Republic. Canada dropped to 1-2 and finished as No.3 in this pool. They will meet Brazil in the battle for fifth place. Jose Juan Barea (181-PG-84, college: Northeastern) paced Puerto Rico to victory scoring 25 points. Edwin Ubiles (198-G/F-86, college: Siena) had 17 pts and Renaldo Balkman (201-F-84, college: S.Carolina) helped with 9 pts, plus 8 rebounds in this meeting. Canada got 15 points and 5 boards from Warren Ward (196-G-89). Owen Klassen (208-F-91) and Cole Hobin (198-G-89) netted 7 points each. Quarters: 21-19, 21-9, 19-15, 19-15. Competition continues today.
Group B
USA - Uruguay 80-82
First win for Uruguay in Guadalajara, but it came to late. Uruguayans grabbed 80-82 win against USA, who already secured first place in Group B on Thursday. Uruguay improved to 1-2, but it was not enough to avoid the last place in this pool. They will meet Argentina in the battle for the seventh place today. As mention above, USA won Group B with 2-1 record. They will play against Mexico in the Semifinals. Martin Osimani (6'5''-G-81, college: Duquesne) collected 23 points and 6 assists in this victory. Bruno Fitipaldo (6'0''-PG-91) had 17 points and Nicolas Borsellino (6'8''-F-86) added 13 pts, plus 8 boards. Jerome Dyson (6'3''-G-87, college: Connecticut) shined in USA with 19 points. Their second scorers were Blake Ahearn (6'2''-G-84, college: Missouri St.) and Justin Dentmon (6'0''-G-85, college: Washington) with 9 points each. Quarters: 29-20, 24-22, 11-20, 16-20. Championship continues today.
Dominican Republic - Brazil 85-77
Dominican Republic did a great job against Brazil yesterday. Dominicans outplayed their rivals 85-77 for 2-1 record in Group A, what was enough for the second place and a spot in the Semifinals. They will meet Puerto Rico in the Semis today. On the other side, Brazil didn't make it to the next stage. They finished as No.3 with 1-2 record. Brazil will play against Canada for the fifth place at the Panamerican Games. Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81, agency: Paris Global Sports) was a key player in victory with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Victor Liz (188-G/F-88) scored 15 points and Kelvin Pena (193-G-80, college: Southeastern CC) followed him with two less. In the loosing squad, Marcelo Magalhaes (199-F/G-75, agency: Interperformances) had 17 points and 5 assists. Arthur Silva (199-F/G-82) had 15 and Guilherme Giovannoni (202-F-80, agency: Interperformances) scored 11 pts, plus he grabbed 5 boards. Quarters: 20-19, 13-21, 23-29, 29-8.
