PONCE (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas) – San Lorenzo hosted Group C of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas and advanced to the Semi-Final Phase of the competition after winning the group with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Argentine champion sentenced its condition as one of the favorites of the continental league with wins over Bucaneros (Venezuela), Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico) and fellow Semi-Final bound team, Hebraica Macabi (Uruguay).

San Lorenzo was pure dominion during Group C. Their weekend started with a dominant 76-51 win over Bucaneros de La Guaira (Venezuela) led by Gabriel Deck, who used this weekend to demonstrate his growth as a player and the extensive offensive skills he possesses at the international level. The forward scored 23 points, with 6 rebounds in the win.

The Argentine club did the same to close the group against Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico) with an impressive defensive performance that limited the Puerto Rican club to only 12 points in the first quarter, against Marcos Mata who scored 13 in the first 10 minutes of the game. At the end of the first half, the advantage was 54-25 for San Lorenzo on the way to a comfortable victory that qualified the team to the Semi-Final Phase and with top honors in Group C. The host won 82-63 and Deck shined with 24 points and 6 rebounds.

The most difficult match was against the other qualified team of the group, Hebraica y Macabi (Uruguay). It was an emotional 40 minutes in which the Uruguayan club imposed its veteran style led by Michael Hicks (23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists) and Leandro García Morales (18 points, 6 three-pointers) along with a great showing from point guard Luciano Parodi. However, the host remained disciplined behind a great game from its point guard Nicolas "Penka" Aguirre (14 points and 9 assists) and once again Deck (29 points and 6 rebounds). San Lorenzo defeated Hebraica y Macabo by a score of 85-72.

San Lorenzo will travel to Ponce, Puerto Rico to be part of the second Semi-Final Group of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas along with Hebraica Macabi (Uruguay), Bahia Basket (Argentina) and the host Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico).

With two Final4 tickets on the line, the top two teams from the Semi-Final Group in Ponce will join Fuerza Regia (Mexico) and Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) in the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas Final4.

The DIRECTV Liga de las Americas is broadcast through DIRECTV (Americas), Punto2 (Puerto Rico) and through the web at livebasketball.tv (subscription required).

For the best coverage of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017, visit ligamericas.com and our social networks @ligamericas.

FIBA