POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
FINAL
Mexico - Puerto Rico 72-74
Jose Juan Barea (181-PG-84, college: Northeastern) hit the go ahead shot with less than three seconds to play as Puerto Rico beat host Mexico 74-72 to win the men's basketball gold medal at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara.
Barea's pull-up jumper near the foul line put Puerto Rico up for good, the final basket in a hard-fought game that was marked by multiple lead changes.
Mexico had one more chance, but a last second shot fell short as the buzzer sounded.
The win made it a clean sweep for Puerto Rican basketball. The island women's team beat Mexico exactly a week ago to win its first ever Pan American gold medal.
It was the third Pan American Games gold medal for Puerto Rico on the men's side, coming 20 years after the island last won it all in 1993 in Havana. The team previously won in Sao Paolo in 1963. (*Courtesy of www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com)
Renaldo Balkman (201-F-84, college: S.Carolina) shined for Puerto Rico with double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds. Hero Jose Juan Barea had 18 points and 8 assists, while big guy Daniel Santiago (216-C-76, agency: Priority Sports, college: N.Mexico) added 14 pts and 6 boards for his country. For the host of Panamerican Games 2011, Jovan Harris (191-G/F-81, college: USF) netted 18 points. Paul Stoll (178-G-85) scored 14 and Hector Hernandez (206-F-85, agency: Duran International, college: Fresno St.) added 9 pts, plus 6 rebs. Quarters: 21-19, 14-16, 16-15, 21-24. USA won the Bronze in Guadalajara.
Mexico: Jovan Harris 18, Paul Stoll 14, Hector Hernandez 9+6 boards
Puerto Rico: Renaldo Balkman 28+12 boards, Jose Juan Barea 18+8 as, Daniel Santiago 14+6 boards
Third place
USA - Dominican Republic 94-92
With the bronze medal secured, the players rushed to mid court to celebrate.
There, the United States men's basketball team joined the players from the Dominican Republic, dancing together and hugging each other as the Mexican crowd cheered.
'I overcame tears, because that was a special moment,' U.S. coach Nate Tibbetts said after his team beat the Dominicans 94-92 for bronze at the Pan American Games. 'It's brotherhood. It's fellowship.'
Lance Thomas (6'8''-F-88, college: Duke) scored a team-high 14 points Sunday to give the Americans their best finish at the games since a silver in Winnipeg in 1999.
The bronze was a disappointing result for a U.S. team trying to win the Pan American gold for the first time since 1983, but the players who were put together just a few weeks before the tournament said they are leaving Guadalajara glad to have learned from the experience.
'We enjoyed it and it's going to be something that we will remember for the rest of our lives,' U.S. guard Justin Dentmon said.
Thomas said the mutual celebration at the end of the match showed how much the Americans embraced the spirit of the Pan Am Games.
'It was amazing, was special to be able to celebrate together afterwards,' he said. 'They started and we just got in there together. The fans appreciated us being there.' (*Courtesy of www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
Lance Thomas led the winners in scoring with 14 points. Marcus Lewis (6'8''-F/C-86, college: ORU) (7 rebs) and Justin Dentmon (6'0''-G-85, college: Washington) (5 as) helped USA with 12 points each. On the other side, Dominicans got 25 points and 9 rebounds from Elys Manuel Guzman (6'9''-F/C-82, college: Bemidji St.). Their second scorer was Jack Michael Martinez (6'8''-F/C-81, agency: Paris Global Sports) with 21 pts (9 rebs) and Juan Coronado (6'5''-G-83) stopped to 13 pts in this meeting (5 rebs). Quarters: 30-28, 21-17, 17-23, 26-24. Puerto Rico won the Gold in Guadalajara.
USA: Lance Thomas 14, Marcus Lewis 12+7 boards, Justin Dentmon 12+5 as
Dominican Republic: Elys Manuel Guzman 25+9 boards, Jack Michael Martinez 21+9 boards, Juan Coronado 13+5 boards
