SAN JUAN (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2019) - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) for the Americas confirmed that the Gimnasio Pedrocao in Franca, Sao Pablo will host the first Semi-Final of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2019.

The first Semi-Final will take place on March 8-10 and will feature Atenas (Argentina), Capitanes (Mexico), Paulistano (Brazil) and the host SESI/Franca (Brazil).

Paulistano qualified to the Semi-Final Phase of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas, after hosting Group A and finishing the preliminary group with a 3-0 record. Yago Matheus, Evan Roquemore and George de Paula will be key figures for the team that currently seats at the fifth position of the Brazil’s NBB.

Atenas earned a spot at the Semi-Finals after capturing the second spot of Group A. Walter Hermann, Nicolas Romano and Juan Fernandez will lead the team in the next phase of the continental competition.

Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico, host of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas Group B secured a spot in the Semi-Final Phase following an impressive showing that ended with a 2-1 record. Head Coach Ramon Diaz will rely heavily in his team’s offensive powerhouses Ismael Romero, Pery Meza, Rigoberto Mendoza, Hector Hernandez and Gabriel Girón.

Franca finished the first phase of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas with the top of Group B with a 3-0 record. Just as they did during the preliminary phase, Lucas Cipolini, Elio Neto, Lucas Dias and David Jackson will be key figures for the team that leads the league in points per game, total points (285), field goal shooting (50.8%) and efficiency.

Following three days of competitions, where the teams will play in round-robin format, the top two teams will continue to the Final 4 of the DIRECTV Liga de las Américas 2019.

The first Semi-Final of the DIRECTV Liga de las Américas will be broadcast by DIRECTV (South America), SporTV (Brazil), SKY (Mexico) and around the world through livebasketball.tv (subscription required).

For up-to-date information on DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2019, visit ligamericas.basketball, as well as @ligamericas in social media.

FIBA