BEIJING (China) - Americas are enjoying the view from the top at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, as Puerto Rico and Venezuela stole the show on Wednesday, winning the two tickets from Group A and C to the Second Round.

Venezuela stunned the hosts, not even a packed Wukesong Sports Arena could help China against the stellar defense of the South Americans. Heissler Guillent scored 15 points with 8 assists, Dwight Lewis had 13, Gregory Vargas helped out with 12 and Nestor Colmenares was right next to them with 11, helping Venezuela to a 72-59 win.

Fang Shou scored 13 for the Chinese side, which will now move to the Classification Round 17-32, along with Cote d'Ivoire from Group A. Still a lot to play for, for both of those teams, who are fighting for tickets to the 2020 Summer Olympics and the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Meanwhile, a 3-0 Polish team and a 2-1 Venezuela are creating a new group, next to 3-0 Argentina and 2-1 Russia. The two battled in a fun, fast flowing game of runs in Wuhan, with Facundo Campazzo proving to be the hero for Argentina, finishing with 21 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds en route to a 69-61 win.

In Group C, Spain were already sure of making the Second Round, but had a late scare against Iran, who tied the game at 65-all late in the fourth quarter. However, an 8-0 run fueled by Marc Gasol, Sergio Llull, Victor Claver and Ricky Rubio saw Spain win it 73-65.

Similar to Spain's late run, Puerto Rico also went on an 8-0 closing sequence to erase a 5-point deficit, and turn it into a 67-64 win against Tunisia. Gary Browne knocked down a step-back three-pointer with 5.1 to go, and Tunisia could not find the shot to send the game to overtime.

Tunisia will have to feel bad about missing a huge chance. If they had protected their lead, they would've already been confirmed for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but now they have to fight for their ticket through the Classification Round.

With no teams from Asia and Africa in the Second Round, the one best-ranked team from each of the regions team after the Classification Games will earn direct qualification for the Olympics.

Puerto Rico and Spain are now a part of a group that has Serbia (3-0) and Italy (2-1) also flying to Wuhan. Bogdan Bogdanovic went mad, scoring 31 points on 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc, while also having 5 assists and 5 steals, becoming the first player to ever have such numbers in a single FIBA Basketball World Cup game. It was way too much for Italy to handle, a 92-77 win for Serbia keeps them as the favorites to reach the Quarter-Finals.

The last two tickets to the Second Round will be given out on Thursday, when Groups E, F, G and H are back in action.

FIBA