3x3_WT-3254
24/09/2012
News
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3x3 - San Juan double revenge for World Tour title

MIAMI (FIBA 3x3 World Tour) - Puerto Ricans San Juan gained revenge over both Denver and Split on their way to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour crown on yet another rain affected day.

Falling to Split in their last pool B game, San Juan would be drawn against Americans Denver for a playoff to meet Canadians Edmonton in the Semi-Final.

The game was a rematch of the New York stop Final, played just over a month previously.

On that day, Denver had prevailed against a San Juan team playing a without William Orozco.

In this game however, the roles were reversed both in terms of injury (Patrick Hannaway sustained a nasty knee injury on Friday) and in terms of result.

A fit-again Orozco as well as an inspirational Ortiz led San Juan against their tenacious opponents.

Narrowly ahead for almost the entire game, the Puerto Ricans surrendered their advantage in the dying seconds.

Overtime was frantic.

Orozco opened with a massive dunk before Derek Griffin made a couple of near impossible attempts at a game winning double. But Orozco it was again, tearing through the defense for a game winning 20-18 layup.

The Semi against Edmonton was again a rematch that remained tight until a scoring run a couple of minutes from time. A succession of Edmonton turnovers gave San Juan a three point lead.

With a two-point gap, the otherwise excellent Jordan Baker failed in his attempt to level from beyond the arc.

With only a second to play, Dominyc Coward was fouled on a desperation two, giving him and Edmonton two free-throws to even scores.

But the first failed to drop and the second purposefully missed for the final scoreboard to remain at 19-17

Jose Lopez's crazy aeroplane celebration will be remembered for a long time by those present.

To the final and another rematch, this time against Split to whom San Juan had fallen only a couple of hours earlier.

Split entered their final with charismatic captain Duje Kaliterna sporting a nasty ankle sprain.

He played all the same.

With a good early start, the game belonged to San Juan throughout.

But a brief flurry with just under two minutes to play, aided by slight injuries to both Ortiz and Orozco - brought scores level.

Step up small guard Johnatan Garcia.

Two long range efforts - the second coming hard off the glass - carried San Juan to a 20-16 victory and scenes of wild celebration.

San Juan were handed the USD 30,000 cheque to become the winners of the first ever FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

FIBA