SAN JUAN (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - Uruguay opened the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship with a comfortable win over US Virgin Islands by the score of 88-62 at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Uruguayans dominated the whole game with a better offensive attack inside and also more defensive intensity, forcing the USVI team to shoot more from outside where they were not effective, shooting just 5-22 for the game.

Two baskets by Esteban Batista and a three pointer by Martin Osimani gave Uruguay a 7-0 lead with 8:34 left. Batista along with Leandro Garcia Morales and Osimani kept them with a good lead. Virgin Islands could not make the long shot but they had some opportunities in attack to go down 22-14 at the end of the first ten minutes. At that point Batista led Uruguay with 8 points and for USVI Cuthbert Victor and Kitwana Rhymer had 4 each.

Garcia Morales led Uruguay with 13 points in the second quarter as they opened the lead and finished up 49-29. Reque Newsome helped with 7 points and Mauricio Aguiar had 9. Kevin Sheppard led US Virgin Islands with 9 points while Reggie Freeman had 7.

US Virgin Islands made a rally in the third quarter led by Hodge, Victor and Calvert White but Uruguay kept them out of range with more depth and effective scoring.

Leandro Garcia Morales led Uruguay with 28 points while Esteban Batista followed with 23 and 13 rebounds. In a losing effort Kevin Sheppard had 17 points.

Luis Modestti
FIBA Americas

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