CARACAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — Venezuela overpowered Brazil and left the team without its undefeated status thanks to a victory of 72-56 in Parque Miranda in Caracas in the first game of the third phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019. With a great second quarter, the team led by Fernando Duró got the win and now shares the same spot on top with Brazil. Both teams have four wins and one loss, which is why it is crucial for them to win their next games against Colombia and Chile, respectively.

It was a different match than the one at the beginning of the Qualifiers, where Brazil won 72-60. This time José Vargas was decisive in the game with 16 points (2/5 two-pointers and 4/7 three-pointers), while also getting 4 defensive rebounds. Meanwhile, Néstor Colmenares supported him with 14 points and 11 rebounds (6 defensive), and Gregory Vargas’s 8 rebounds were also important, thus finishing the game with 8 points.

The visitors, who featured the return of Marcelinho Huertas (3 points, 5 assists, and, 2 rebounds, were not enough for Anderson Varejão 16 points (7/11 two-pointers) and 5 rebounds. Neither were Leo Meindl 14 points and 10 rebounds (9 defensive). Scott Machado made 12 points.

The match started in favor of the local team with a 6-0 quarter and 4 points from Gregory Echenique and 4 more by Néstor Colmenares. But the visiting team didn’t stay behind, and with Anderson Varejão and 3 successful three-pointers against 1 from Venezuela, the first act ended 17-13.

From the start, second quarter favored Fernando Duró’s team thanks to the Colmenares/Echenique team, that only allowed the scoring of 11 points over the 21 points by the local team. A three-pointer by Marcelinho Huertas and a two-pointer from Varejão at the end gave life to the visiting team to go to half time 38-24.

The beginning of the third quarter was once again dominated by Venezuela, that achieved a huge gap by winning the quarter again, 17-10, and ending 55-34 on top. The figure of José Vargas was growing, while Leonardo Meindl and Varejão created pressure in Brazil.

The last act was for Aleksandar Petrović’s team, 22-17, but the difference created by the local team during the whole game did not allow them to get close and the victory stayed in Caracas.

Venezuela captured 47 rebounds (33 defensive), and executed 19 assists, and made 22 of 37 two-point shots (59.46) and 8 of 28 three-pointers (28.57 percent.) Brazil shot 20 percent three-pointers (5/25) and 35.94 % from the court, while capturing 46 rebounds (27 defensive) and only 14 assists. Venezuela summed up to 40, while Brazil did 32.

The team led by Aleksandar Petrović won four of their five games and will close the third phase of the Qualifiers next Monday when they visit Medellín in Colombia. Meanwhile the team led by Fernando Duró, also with four victories and one loss, will visit Chile in the city of Valdivia.

FIBA