World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers: Argentina Pull Away From Puerto Rico for 89-75 Win

Leandro Bolmaro (198-G-2000) and Gabriel Deck (198-F-1995) combined for 42 points as Argentina shook off a back-and-forth first half and pulled away for an 89-75 win over Puerto Rico on Thursday in a Second Round game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers at Polideportivo Islas Malvinas in Mar del Plata. The hosts led 25-21 after the first quarter but could not shake Puerto Rico before the break, as the visitors erased a 25-18 hole with a 7-0 run to tie the score at 25-25 and the two sides traded the lead deep into the second quarter.
Argentina answered a 34-36 deficit late in the half with its own 7-0 run to go up 41-36, only for Joseph Alvarado (183-PG-1998, college: Georgia Tech) to flip the game back Puerto Rico's way with a three-pointer that made it 42-41 with 19 seconds left before the break. The teams combined for nine lead changes on the night, the last coming with two seconds remaining in the half, before Argentina finally seized control for good in the third quarter, outscoring Puerto Rico 21-12 in the period to open real separation. The hosts' lead swelled to a game-high 15 points at 84-69 with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter, well beyond the eventual 14-point final margin, while Puerto Rico's largest lead all night topped out at three points.
Bolmaro was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, while adding 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks in a complete two-way effort. Deck added 23 points and 6 rebounds in just over 28 minutes, and Facundo Campazzo (181-PG-1991) ran the offense with 13 points, 10 assists and 5 steals against a single turnover. Alvarado led Puerto Rico with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, knocking down three three-pointers in the loss.