LA RIOJA (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — The Argentine national team overcame the Mexican side, 85-71, and once again in front of more than 10,000 of their fans, at La Rioja’s Superdomo. Like this, they secured their ticket to the World Cup in China 2019, achieving their goal by way of their ninth success in the Americas Qualifiers’ Group E.

This game gives Argentina the chance of being the first qualified team of their group, followed by the United States (8-2), their rival at the conclusion of the tournament and who also qualified to the World Cup stage. Mexico, meanwhile, are last with a 3-7 record.

Luis Scola was the leader for the Argentine team, with 22 points (3/4 in 3 Pts) and 9 rebounds, Nicolás Laprovittola and Marcos Delía ended with 13 each and Nicolás Brussino did 12 points and 5 rebounds. For the Mexican squad, Gabriel Girón was outstanding with 20 points, being the only one to achieve double digits; while Álex Pérez added 7 points and 9 rebounds.

Sergio Hernández, coach for the Argentines, shared his impressions at the game’s end: “I didn't like how they were playing at first. These games are dangerous, but we recovered our strategy and we were aggressive. I'm satisfied with what we did. Taking Argentina to another World Cup was an enormous objective. I tip my hat for this team. We tried to make points to set out a new objective in the Qualifiers.”

Argentina’s victory, quarter-to-quarter

Argentina left Mexico at 15 points, who lost the ball 7 times and, despite certain irregularities but with a very powerful inside game by Delia (4/4 in field throws), Laprovittola and Scola, who combined 21 of the 24 points of the first quarter, which their side won.  For the visiting team, Jonatan Machado led the Mexican attack, with 6 points.

The 12 turnovers by Argentina allowed Mexico to close in on the score difference. The locals based their game on the inside, but then in the second quarter decreased their intensity and their game strategy. The second quarter ended in a 15-point tie (39-30).

The third quarter was determining for the result. Mexico lost the ball 10 times, which helped the locals establish a very wide advantage, arriving at the last quarter with a 28-point difference, 71-43 (32-13). The visiting team won the last quarter, 28-14, but the result was already clear (85-71).

The team coached by Sergio Hernández captured 36 rebounds (25 defensive), achieved 32 of 67 two-pointers (57.5%) and 9 of 27 in three pointers (33.33%) and 12 of 17 in free throws. They also scored 47.76% in field goals. The side led by Iván Déniz threw 41.18% from the three-point area (7 of 17) and 41.67% from the field (25/60). As for two-pointers, they managed 18 of 43 and in free throws, 14 of 17. They also captured 37 rebounds (26 defensive).

An emotional moment took place during the half-time when the whole stadium paid tribute to Roberto Vartanian, the Argentine’s team equipment manager for more than a decade.

Now Argentina will head on to their fourteenth participation in a World Cup since 1950. But first, they will face their last two games as visitors in the conclusion of the Americas Qualifiers in February against Puerto Rico and the United States. Meanwhile, Mexico will close their participation playing as locals against Uruguay and Panama. 

FIBA