Venezuela needed overtime to defeat the Dominican Republic and continue to lead Group F
VALENCIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) — Perhaps this was not the most elegant game but, without a doubt, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic played a classic that needed more than 40 minutes to reach its conclusion.
In one of the most exciting games of the Americas Qualifiers, Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic in overtime, 79-78, in the duel that took place at Valencia, thus adding their seventh win in the Americas Qualifiers to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. It was the first Americas Qualifiers game that needed extra time.
The South Americans (7-1) are the Group F leaders and await the result of Canada's game in Chile, on Monday (6-1). Venezuela also have a 5-0 record playing as locals in the windows.
José Vargas was Venezuela's constant figure, with 21 points and six rebounds. Heissler Guillent added 16 units and six assists, while Néstor Colmenares added 16 points, and Miguel Ruiz captured 11 rebounds. Venezuela won two of their games this window and seem to be on the right path to achieving their ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
As for the Dominican Republic, Víctor Liz played phenomenally, contributing 25 points; Eulis Báez added 17, Edgar Sosa 10, and Ángel Delgado achieved 10 rebounds — five of them during the first quarter. The Caribbean side — who were in control during a great part of the encounter since the middle of the first quarter — placed their mark at 5-3 and are fourth in their group. The Dominicans have lost three of their past four games after beginning the Qualifiers with 4-0.
Although they won the game, Venezuela were not very effective in their field goal percentages, throwing for 39.1% — in part due to their 6/26 in 3-pointers. In free throws, they barely achieved 50% of their attempts. For their part, the Dominican Republic lost the ball 20 times and only did 20 assists, they failed 11 free throws — many of them in key moments — and although they did dominate the boards, they allowed more offensive rebounds by Venezuela (18-13).
The customary forty minutes extended to 68 and ended evenly. In the overtime, the equal level of both national teams did not change. With the visiting team up by one, Vargas scored a three-pointer to place Venezuela in the lead, 75-73, with 1:55 left to play.
The visit tied with two free throws and Colmenares scored a double to recover the lead, 77-75. Thereafter Báez erred at the distance and a free throw by Luis Bethelmy brought tranquility to the home team, 78-75.
The Dominican Republic could not convert in the next play and the free throw by Vargas seemed to mark the result. However, Liz scored a three-pointer to place the visiting team ahead by one, 79-78, with 3.7 left to play. Venezuela requested time-out and when they set the ball in motion, Vargas avoided that the defense give a foul, thus ending the encounter.
The Dominican Republic entered the last quarter with a minimum advantage. Jhornan Zamora motivated everyone out of their seats with a spectacular slam-dunk that became a three-point play that put Venezuela at the lead, 53-51. Nonetheless, Sosa and Liz responded with consecutive three-pointers and the Dominicans recovered, 57-53.
As was the case in great part of the game, Venezuela reacted with their running game. A lay-up by Vargas put the Venezuelans ahead, 59-58, and this caused the public to chant “¡sí se puede, sí se puede! (yes we can, yes we can!)”
Vargas continued with his great night and a three-pointer placed Venezuela at 62-58. But Báez, with two free throws, a three-pointer and a block in the offensive rebound gave the Dominicans the lead, 65-64.
After a defensive break, the Caribbean team played with the clock so that Delgado could score just as the 24-second possession was ending, placing his side at 67-64 with 25.7 seconds to play.
Guillent achieved two free throws and kept the South Americans alive, 67-66, with 22.4 seconds remaining. In the next possession, Liz received a personal foul and achieved one of the throws. Guillent scored penetratingly and equaled the teams’ hostilities, 68-68. The Dominican Republic had control of the ball to win the match, but Edgar Sosa lost it and the game went to overtime.
Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will face once again on February 21 at the Caribbean island.
FIBA