POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Ricardo Marecos
Group A
Venezuela - Bolivia 103-47
Venezuela victoriously opened their U17 South American Championship campaign. They knocked down Bolivia in Group A action. Jose Sojo nailed 17 points to lead the winners. Venezuela unloaded 25 points in the first period to gain a 15-point lead. They added 27 points in the second stanza as their lead grew at 31-point mark 52:21. Venezuela stayed red hot offensively in the third term. They poured in 29 points and accumulated a 44-point lead at the final break. Venezuela never looked back afterwards cruising to the victory. Jose Medina delivered 16 points, while Alejandro Bernal added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Luis Mercado answered with 16 points and 16 boards for Bolivia. Ricardo Montana chipped in 10 points in the loss.
Brazil - Ecuador 84-37
Brazil got to the winning start of their U17 South American Championship campaign. They fired past Ecuador in Group A. Tulio Da Silva (195-F/C) came up with 15 points and 8 rebounds to lead the winners. Ecuador surprised Brazil in the opening quarter. Ecuador grabbed a 22:14 lead after ten minutes. Brazil stopped the rot in the second frame. They went on a 26:10 run to surge ahead. Brazil followed with a 29:3 rally in the third period to clear off for good. Ecuador managed just two points in the fourth frame and had to surrender at the end. Lucas Colimerio (207-C-96) had 13 points and 11 boards, while Junio dos Santos added 12 points for the winners. Erick Cobena responded with 11 points for Ecuador. Pedro Auquilla chipped in 8 points in the loss.
Group B
Uruguay - Paraguay 87-64
Uruguay claimed the first win at the South American U17 Championship. The hosts knocked down Paraguay in Group B opener. Octavio Medina nailed 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the winners. Paraguay eked out a 15:14 lead after ten minutes. Uruguay surged ahead in the second frame. The home team snatched a 36:33 halftime lead. Uruguay increased the tempo in the third period. They unloaded 27 points in the quarter and raced to a 13-point lead at the final break. Uruguay maintained the tempo in the fourth period and cruised to the victory at the end. Facundo Grolla (193-C-97) accounted for 19 points and 19 rebounds for Uruguay. Martin Counago had 15 points in the win. Ricardo Marecos chipped in 17 points for Paraguay. Renato Yaluk had 16 points in the losing effort.
