FRANCA (Brazil) – The second day of the first Semi-Final group of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2019 handed wins to the Capitanes and Paulistano.

Atenas, Capitanes, Franca and Paulistano will arrive at the last day of the group with qualifying opportunities, as the top two teams of the group will qualify to the Final4.

Capitanes leveled its Semi-Final Phase record at 1-1 following a 79-74 win over the hosts. Led offensively by a decisive and impressive 22-point performance from Rigoberto Mendoza, the team from Mexico City escaped to an early lead following a 26-22 first quarter. Capitanes kept-up the production and headed to half-time with a 6-point lead.

 
With 54% shooting from the field and 46 points from the bench, the team coached by Ramon Diaz maintained the slight lead for the victory.

Rigoberto Mendoza led the proceedings with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Ismael Romero added 15 for the team of Mexico. Meanwhile, Lucas Dias added 26 points for the hosts.

On the other game of the night, Paulistano extended its Semi-Final Phase record to 2-0 following a 90-68 win over Atenas e Cordoba. Paulistano captured the advantage on the scoreboard from the get-go and never let go.

 
Yago was the top performer for Paulistano with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.

Tomorrow the last day of the first Semi-Final group will determine the two teams who will qualify to the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas Final4 when Capitanes faces Atenas de Cordoba and SESI/Franca faces Paulistano.

FIBA