BUENOS AIRES (DIRECTV Liga de las Américas 2018) — The wait is finally over. After the break for the FIBA Basketball World Cup China 2019 Qualifiers, Liga de las Américas 2018 is back. And no more and no less than with the Semi-Finals stage. In Buenos Aires, at Polideportivo Roberto Pando in San Lorenzo, Group E will be decided, in which Ferro (Argentina), Feurza Regia (Mexico), Mogi das Cruzes (Brazil) and hosts San Lorenzo (Argentina) will play each other.

Ferro is here as Group A winners, where they ended undefeated, with three victories under their belt. Without a doubt, their game is defined by Franco Balbi’s direction. The point guard is the assists leader of the competition, with an 8.3 average per game. Besides, the team that is returning to the international stage after a 30-year absence, featured a solid performance by Ignacio Alessio, with 19 points per game and a good use of the situations created by Balbi. Two of their foreigners, Aaron Harper (20 points per game) and Djon Thompson, were also key elements in the structure of the squad coached by Ariel Rearte. Ferro, currently, is 16th in the Argentine National League, with 7 wins and 12 losses. There they are going through their lowest point of the season, with a streak of 5 consecutive defeats.

Fuerza Regia were second in Group A, disputed in their city of Monterrey. The Mexican team had in Puerto Rican player Denis Clemente their greatest scorer, with an average of 20 points per game. Other outstanding members of the squad coached by Paco Olmos were Juan Toscano (11.3 points and 5 rebounds per game) and Cristian Cortés, author of a decisive three-point shot against Soles de Mexicali, that gave them the ticket to this Semi-Finals phase. Both Andy Panko and Jorgan Glynn are very important for the side that also added American Ricardo Powell as a reinforcement for this event. Fuerza Regia, champions of the most recent edition of the Mexico Professional Basketball League, are the current leaders, with 25 wins and 15 losses. This year, they are dreaming of qualifying once again to the Liga de las Américas Final Four, and try to improve their position, after reaching the fourth place in the 2017 edition.

San Lorenzo were the undefeated Group D winners and will try to keep their high level, now at home, where they reached the triumph 3 times in the first stage of Liga de las Américas. Boedo's squad has 2 of the best 6 scorers of the tournament: Dar Tucker (19.3 points per game) and Gabriel Deck (18.3). Also, the third best passer, Nicolás Aguirre (7 assists per game). Mathias Calfani, Marcos Mata and Javier Justiz are the others that showcased a high level in the first stage and who inspire hope on their fans. Also, Gonzalo García’s team is currently enjoying an excellent performance in the local arena. The champions of the most recent two seasons of the Argentine National League are the only leaders in the current edition, with 16 triumphs and only 2 defeats. However, the hosts have suffered some setbacks. Matías Sandes, with an injured right elbow, will not be able to play and will be substituted by Canadian player Joel Anthony. Besides, Gabriel Deck had a sprain in his left ankle, and then an ache in his right calf, which limited his participation in the Argentine National Team games and bring him to Liga de las Américas with a certain concern.

Mogi das Cruzes demonstrated their hierarchy on Group B and won second place. After losing against San Lorenzo, they recovered after defeating their Paulistano countrymen in a dramatic encounter, as well as winning against Español de Talca. The experience and quality of their foreign additions Tyrone Curnell (greatest scorer of the competition, with 20.7 points per game) and Shamell Stallworth (18.3) establish the course for this Brazilian team. Guerrinha’s players also count on Larry Taylor's valuable contributions from the point guard position (15.3 points and 3.7 assists per game), Jimmy Oliveira's versatility and Caio Torres’ potency. The standard is very high for Mogi das Cruzes, since in their only participation in the continental tournament, in 2016, they reached the Final Four and took the third place after defeating Flamengo. In the current edition of the NBB, where they won in their two games before traveling to Argentina, they are fourth place with 16 wins and 6 defeats.

Words are coming to an end and the ball will go up in the air to see who will be the first two teams that will make it in the Final Four.

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FIBA