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Mar del Plata, Argentina.– Defending champion Brazil finished in first place with a 6-1 record after stopping Puerto Rico 72-94 with Marcelinho Huertas of FC Regal Barcelona once again running the show for the winners. Now Brazil will face Dominican Republic in Saturday’s semifinals.
Argentina finished second after thrashing Dominican Republic 84-58 to
also post a 6-1 group record. Brazil’s win over Argentina broke their
tie for first place.
Argentina faces Puerto Rico in Saturday’s other semifinal. The
winners of those semifinals advance to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The losers go to the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, from
which three of 12 teams will advance to London.
One team already ticketed for that qualifying tournament next summer is Venezuela, which topped Uruguay 92-80 on Thursday to finish in fifth place. In the other Thursday result, Panama got its first win of the round, 91-89 over Canada.
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Brazil 83
September 10, 2011
1 2 3 4 T
DOM 17 19 19 21 76
BRA 18 21 23 21 83
Brazil, Argentina claim Olympic berths
A P
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Brazil and Argentina picked up victories Saturday to claim berths in next year's London Olympics.
Brazil beat the Dominican Republic 83-76, and Argentina edged Puerto Rico 81-79 in the semifinals of the Olympic men's basketball qualifying for the Americas.
The two finalists meet Sunday and qualify automatically for London. The third through fifth-place teams earn spots in a qualifying tournament just before the games, which will award several more berths for London. Venezuela claimed the fifth-place spot.
The United States won the world championship last year and was the first team to qualify for London. Britain, Australia and Tunisia have since gained spots.
"We have realized a dream," Machado said. "We have worked hard for this, and this is a prize for effort and talen
Who does this kind of reporting?
I could probably do a better job and never went to journalism school!
Aaaarrrgh!! Coñoooo!
"Mission accomplished," Ginobili said. "But we really suffered. It was one of the toughest games of my life."
Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets led Argentina with 27 points and the Spurs' Ginobili added 23. Barea had 20 and Daniel Santiago scored 16 for Puerto Rico, which led 44-40 at halftime.
"Today it was all or nothing," Argentina coach Julio Lamas said. "I feel very emotional about qualifying."
Marcelo Machado led Brazil with 20 points in the semifinal victory with 19 for teammate Marcelo Huerta.
Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks and Jack Martinez scored 18 for the Dominican Republic in a game that was close throughout.