MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — Brazil seamlessly overpowered Colombia, 98-71, at the end of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers’ Group B at the Iván de Bedout Arena in Medellin and ended with 5 wins and only one loss. Colombia were eliminated after 5 defeats and only one win against the Chileans, 71-67.

In the first game between the two teams —which took place at Goiania Arena— Brazil had one by a wide margin of 84-49. This time, Vitor Benite was determining with his contribution of 28 points (6 3PTs), followed by the good executions of Marcelinho Huertas, with 19 (5/6 in 2PTs and 3/4 in 3PTs) and 5 rebounds; and Rafael Hettsheimeir with the same amount of points (5 3PTs). Scott Machado, in his second game with the Brazilian jersey, contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds; while Anderson Varejão concluded his participation in the game with 7 and 5 rebounds. For the locals, the contributions by Stalin Ortiz were not enough (14 points, 4 rebounds), nor were those made by Luis Almanza, with 13 and 5. Meanwhile, Ansel Atencia ended with 12 and 4 assists, and Michaell Jackson with 10 points.

Now, in Medellin and as visitors, the team led by Croatian coach Aleksandar Petrović must recover from their slip against Venezuela to move on to the next phase with a better score.  At the eighth minute, Brazilian center Huertas made the first points of the encounter and ended with six for the quarter, with a good efficiency in 2PTs (5/8) and a determining role in the long-distance throws by Hettsheimeir, with 11 points (3/5 in 3PTs); thus winning the quarter, 21-14. Ortiz was the only one who could collaborate with 7 points and 2 defensive rebounds.

Two three-pointers by Atencia brought the locals closer. The rival’s losses helped the team coached by Guillermo Moreno to move in on the marker, but Benite and his 3-pointers alongside Hettsheimeir —who also made another 3-pointer— and his free throws, gave a greater advantage to the team led by Petrović. They went to half time with a 3-pointer by Huertas at the end, remaining at 45 points against the locals’ 34 (24-20), with 20 rebounds (13 defensive).

Coming back, the rotation of the Brazilian bench was an important factor. Huertas once again became the leading figure and his 3-pointers, followed by Anderson Varejão’s and Hettsheimeir’s 2-pointers created the greatest distance in the encounter, with 28 points (76-48). Colombia finally started to find their shots in the end, but they were too erratic at the beginning and only scored 14 —while Brazil scored 31.

In the end, the locals pressured with contributions by Jackson and Almanza, but the difference was just too much: more than 30 points despite a close end of 23-22.

The Brazilians captured 45 rebounds (29 defensive) and handed out 15 assists. They also scored 20 of 37 2-pointers (54.05) and 16 of 34 in 3-pointers (47.06%). The Colombian side threw a 36.84% from the 3-point area (7 of 19) and 43.75 in field goals, while capturing 37 rebounds (24 defensive) and only assisting 10 times.

The squad coached by Petrović will go on to the next phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers to face the best three teams of Group C: Canada, Dominican Republic and Virgin Islands. This stage will begin in the month of September 2018, and will continue on November 2018 and February 2019.

Brazil's head coach, Aleksandar Petrović, analyzed the win and their current situation: “We came in a little banged up from the Venezuela game, but at the end of the third quarter we were relaxed and we had a better game. I ham happy for the two points gained. It was difficult because we played without rhythm against Venezuela. Now the opponents elevate their quality and we have to prepare Brazil better to face the games in September.”

 The points from this round —as was as the ones from the first— will be important because they will be added until the end of the qualifying process, in February 2019, when the seven best teams of the hemisphere will get their ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup China 2019 in September of the same year.

FIBA