Day 5: USA grabs the title and qualifies for Beijing
Olympics - Oct. 1, 2007
Final
USA - Cuba 101:71
USA edged Cuba in the decisive encounter in Valdivia and claimed the Fiba
Americas championship title. It means also that USA team advanced to the 2008
Beijing Olympics directly. While Cuba, together with Brazil and Argentina, will
play in the Pre-Olympic qualifying tournament to win a ticket to Beijing.
United States team looked dominant throughout the competition and completed it
with a perfect 5-0 record. They never allowed Cuban team to even think of
revenge for the starting round loss. USA dictated the pace right from the start
and easily spurred ahead to a 29:13 advantage after the first frame. Cuba tried
to stay in contest in the second quarter but still were outscored by 3 points
and trailed 30:49 at halftime. The things did not change after the intermission
as USA remained more aggressive and the gap widened. North American side entered
the fourth stanza with an insurmountable 34-point lead. Cuba managed to outscore
their opponents 27:23 in the final period but it brought little relief for Cuban
team. United States are the new Americas champions! Tina Thompson (188-F-75, college:
USC)
scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for USA.
Diana Taurasi (180-G-82, college:
Connecticut)
secured 15 points and pulled down 12 boards, while
Katie Smith (180-G-74, college:
Ohio St.)
added 15 points for the winners.
Suchitel Avila (183-F-82) answered with 14 points for Cuba.
Oyanaisis Gelis (171-G-83) had 13 points in defeat.
USA shot solid 50% from the field and 88% from free throw line. Cuba replied
with 33% of field goals and 70% of free throws. USA dominated the boards 41:30
and forced Cuba to 15 turnovers.
Yakelin Plutin was named tournament's MVP as she averaged 17.4 points and 6.6
rebounds per game.
Brazil - Argentina 73:41
Brazilian National team claimed the Bronze medals in Valdivia. They edged
Argentina in yesterday's Bronze medals game and finished the tournament at 4-1
record. Both Argentina and Brazil will now play in Pre-Olympic Qualifying
tournament for the chance to get to Beijing.
Brazil wanted hard to erase bad memories about semifinal clash against Cuba and
complete the action on a high note. Argentina at the same time looked weary
throughout the encounter. They opened the game quite aggressively and enjoyed a
narrow 15:13 lead. However run out of steam early in the second term and Brazil
gradually took control over the tempo. Brazilian team outscored their opponents
15:6 in the second quarter and led by 7 points at halftime 28:21. The advantage
just kept on growing after the break and Brazil entered the final sta
Day 4: Cuba will take on USA in the Final - Sep. 30, 2007 Canada - Mexico 77:38
Canadian National team will play for the fifth place at the Fiba Americas
championship in Chile. Yesterday Canada defeated Mexico and advanced to the game
for the 5th spot. Canada opened the game with a consecutive three pointers from
Jordan Adams (191-C/F-81, college:
N.Mexico)
and Isabelle Grenier (176-G/F-78). They led 9:2 early in the starting frame.
North American side finished the first frame 17:9 ahead. Canada and Mexico
exchanged blows in the second quarter but Canada emerged leading 38:20 at
halftime. Canadian team speeded up in the third stanza and they used another
13:0 run to extend the gap to 62:28. The outcome was pretty clear however Canada
remained contestant and outscored their opponents 15:10 in the final period.
Tamara Tatham (185-F-85, college:
Massachusetts) paced Canada with 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Lizanne Murphy (185-F-84, college:
Hofstra)
added 12 points for the winners.
Fernanda Gutierrez (187-F-84) led Mexico with 9 points and 8 rebounds.
Brisa Silva (168-G-84) had 7 points in a loss.
Canada limited Mexican players to only 27% of field goals and forced them to 25
turnovers. Canada sank 46% from the field and 69% from free throw line. They
also dominated under the boards 45:26.
Canada will face Chile for the 5th spot today. Mexico will clash with Jamaica
for the 7th place later today.
Chilean team rebounded after the sour loss against Argentina and edged Jamaica
in classification round. The victory allowed Chile to advance to the 5th spot
game against Canada. Both teams entered the game quickly enough and played
aggressive high-scoring basketball. Chile managed to grab a narrow lead 25:20 in
the first frame. The hosts enlarged their advantage by 3 points by halftime
40:32. Jamaica tried hard to come back into the contest and looked competitive
enough. However Chile cheered up by the fans secured the winning outcome at the
dying stages of the game. Valentina Aragonese (170-F-79) returned to her high-scoring attitude and
topscored for the home side with 18 points.
Tatiana Gomez (190-F/C-81) contributed 15 points for the winners.
Simone Edwards (193-C-73, college:
Iowa)
was the usual contributor for Jamaica with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
Oberon Pitterson
Day 3: Brazil and USA enter semifinal stage unbeaten
- Sep. 29, 2007 Argentina - Chile 66:63 (OT) Argentinean team dramatically overcame hosting Chile in the last round
of the preliminary action at the Fiba Americas Championship. Both teams needed
to win in order to advance to the semifinal stage and gave out everything to
succeed. However Argentina turned out to be a little bit better at the end and
qualified to the next stage of the tournament.
Tatiana Gomez (190-F/C-81) nailed 6 straight points for the home side to
give Chile a 56:55 lead with 5 seconds remaining in regulation. But Argentina
delivered the ball to
Marcela Paoletta (170-G-79) who got fouled with 2 seconds on the clock. She
drained one of two free throws and sent the game into overtime. Paola Naranjo (182-F/C-78) and
Javiera Novion (168-G-87) sank five points for Chile early in the extra time
to give the hosts a 61:58 lead. But Argentina first closed the gap and then 4
points from
Florencia Fernandez (190-C-86) saw them grab a 64:61 advantage.
Ziomara Morrison (193-C-89) responded with a jump shot to cut the deficit to
a single point 63:64 with 52 seconds left. Argentina then scored two free throws
at the dying stages and managed to keep their opponents scoreless. The final
buzzer marked Argentinean victory and they will face USA in the semifinal. Florencia Fernandez paced Argentina with 23 points and 8 rebounds.
Marcela Paoletta added 13 points for the winners.
Ziomara Morrison answered with 14 points and 9 rebounds for Chile.
Tatiana Gomez secured another 14 points in a losing clause.
Chile will now play against Jamaica in classification round today.
Brazil - Mexico 119:44
Brazil completed the Group A action with style. They dismantled Mexico and
finished the preliminary action with a perfect 3-0 record. It allowed Brazilian
squad occupy the top spot in the Group and advance to the semifinal. Mexico
meanwhile remained winless and will face Canada in classification round.
Brazil set the tone early in the game as they outscored Mexican players 31:9 in
the first frame. The second term became a real nightmare for Mexico as they
managed just a single point conceding 32 in return. Brazil eased the pressure in
the second half but still did not allow their opponents to overcome them in any
of the remaining quarters. Jucimara Dantas (188-C-78) led the action with 22 points and 7 rebounds for
Brazil.
Iziane Castro (185-G/F-82) contributed 20 poi
Day 2: Brazil and USA guarantee their semifinal
birth - Sep. 28, 2007 USA - Jamaica 115:47 United States team recorded their second win in a row. This time they
beat ailing Jamaica and climbed to 2-0 record. Jamaica remained winless at the
bottom of Group B. United States did not allow Jamaican side any chance for
success in this one. USA started the game aggressively and established a 22:11
lead after the opening frame. Jamaica scored 17 points in the second quarter but
it was never enough to outscore their opponents as those responded with 26
points of their own. Jamaican players looked distressed and hopeless after the
break. USA easliy cruised to a 35:13 dominance in the third stanza. And finally
sealed a comprehensive victory at the end. Tina Thompson (188-F-75, college:
USC)
led USA with 18 points.
Simona Augustus (186-G-84, college:
LSU)
contributed 15 points for the winners.
Simone Edwards (193-C-73, college:
Iowa)
had 18 points for Jamaica.
Nicole Louden (172-G-83, college:
Auburn)
added 14 points in a loss.
United States players sank solid 60% from the field and 87% from free throw
line. They also held Jamaica to just 27% of field goals and outrebounded them
33:30. Jamaica committed as many as 30 turnovers.
USA will next face Canada in the last preliminary round. Jamaica will play
against Cuba today.
Brazil - Chile 104:60
Brazil raced past the hosting Chile in the second round of action in Valdivia.
The loss put Chile in a difficult situation as they now must win their last
round battle against Argentina to advance to the semis. Brazil meawnhile
guaranteed their semifinal birth as they improved to 2-0 record. Brazil found
the key to the success against Chilean team and used it to the full. They held
Chilean leaders
Valentina Aragonese (170-F-79) and
Tatiana Gomez (190-F/C-81) to just 10 combined points and Chilean offense
looked poor.
Iziane Castro (185-G/F-82) at the same time shone brightly and led her
teammates to a confident victory. She topscored for Brazil with 22 points and
topped the tournament's scoring list with 22 points per game.
Brazil dominated every aspect of game and deservedly posted another victory in
Group A. They converted 55% of field goals and 85.7% of free throws. Chile
replied with only 41% from the field and 75% from charity stripe. The hosts also
lost the battle under the rims as Brazilian players outrebounded their oppone
Day 1: The hosts send strong message at the start - Sep.
27, 2007 Chile - Mexico 85:54
Chilean National team recorded their first win at home Fiba America
championship. They dismatled Mexico in Group A encounter yesterday and topped
the ladder. A perfect team effort allowed the hosts to dominate from early on.
Mexico tried to stay close only in the first frame as they trailed by 5 points
16:21. However further on Chile grabbed the full control over the game and
widened the gap to 19 points at halftime 43:24. Brisa Silva's heroics was not
enough to turn momentum Mexican way. Chile just kept on piling up the advantage
and it reached a 67:43 mark at the start of the fourth quarter. Chile easily
ensured the winning outcome at the dying stages of the encounter and enjoyed
well-deserved success. Tatiana Gomez (190-F/C-81) nailed 18 points, grabbed 5 boards and dished out
3 assists for Chile.
Valentina Aragonese (170-F-79) secured another 16 points for the winners.
Brisa Silva (168-G-84) topscored for Mexico with game-high 21 points.
Zazil Salman (-C-86) posted 7 points and 6 boards in a losing clause.
Mexico dominated on the glass outrebounding the home side 37:31. However they
lacked accuracy from the field shooting just 33%, while Chile responded with
47%. Mexico committed 25 turnovers and 24 personal fouls.
Mexico will next face Argentina today. Chile plays against Brazil.
Brazil - Argentina 72:62
Brazilian team edged Argentina in the first round of Fiba Americas championship
in Chile. The game opened action in Group A and allowed Brazil to occupy the top
spot in the ladder. Argentina were not able to challenge Brazilian dominance
throughout the game and had little chances yesterday's night. Seattle Storm
skipper
Iziane Castro (185-G/F-82) was unstoppable during the game and led Brazil to
a confident victory in Valdivia. Brazil outscored their classic rivals 15:12 in
the first quarter. The gap kept on growing in the second term as Brazilian
players took advantage 23:16 and led 38:28 at halfitme. The game did not change
complexion after the break as
Iziane Castro and
Micaela Jacintho (180-F-79) continued to post points and Argentina could not
match the tempo. The teams enetered the final part of the encounter with
Argentinean team trailing by as many as 17 points 45:72. Brazil finally slowed
down allowing their opponents to succeed in the fourth stanza yet with little
impact on the scoreline. Iziane Castro paced Brazil with 22 points.
Micaela Jacintho had 15 points, while
Franciele Nascimien
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