SAO PAULO (Brazil) - Paulistano (Brazil) and Capitanes (Mexico) earned their spot at the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2019 Final4 after emerging victorious during the last day of the first Semi-Final group in Franca, Brazil.

In the first match of the day, Evan Roquemore tstepped into the spotlight and with over two minutes left in the match scored 11 of the last 13 points of his team, to Paulistano defeat Franca 87-82.

The escort scored a three-pointer to put the slate 77-72, in favor of his team with 2:09 minutes on the clock, and then scored the two free throws that put the definitive advantage with only 3.9 seconds left.

 Roquemore finished with 30 points, six rebounds and five assists to dress as superhero and guide the Brazilian champion to the Final4 with a 3-0 mark in this first Semi-Final group. The forward George De Paula followed with 13 points, while Renan Lenz contributed 10.

"This is historic for us. During the three games we scored very well. This team changed a lot with respect to the previous year, many people came out and other players arrived, but we have been building. The defense and the fast attack have been the best of our game," Renan said after the game.

In the last game of the Semi-Final group, Capitanes (2-1) did not have any kind of complications and surpassed Atenas de Córdoba (0-3) by 93-74, to win the second place of the group and the other ticket to the last stage of the continental league.

 The Mexicans started with a first quarter of 28-14 and went into half-time with a 43-28 advantage. In the second half they continued with the domain and opened the gap to crown a tremendous performance that started from the day before when they surprised Franca, who started as a favorite.

The Dominican Rigoberto Mendoza was the top scorer with 26 points, the Panamanian pivot Ernesto Oglivie contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, while Cuban Ismael Romero captured a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The second Semi-Final group of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2019 will be played between the March 15-17 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the participation of Guaros de Lara (Venezuela), Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico), CD Las Ánimas (Chile) and the host San Lorenzo of Almagro.

 FIBA