Uniceub, Quilmes march into Liga Sudamericana Semi-Final Round
SANTIAGO (2015 DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana) - Teams from Brazil and Argentina have dominated South American basketball over the years so it comes as no surprise that Uniceub BRB and first-timers Quilmes Mar del Plata have claimed the top two spots in Group C of the 2015 DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana.
Each side has progressed to the Semi-Final Round of the competition and joined Argentina clubs San Martin de Corrientes and Obras Sanitarias, Brazilians Mogi das Cruzes and Uruguayans Malvin, teams that advanced in the first two weeks of the competition.
Uniceub wasted no time in establishing themselves as contenders by opening the group action with a 93-76 triumph over Quilmes.
Brazil international Guilherme Giovannoni led the way with 19 points and four of his Uniceub teammates also hit double digits in scoring.
The winners, who stretched a 46-39 lead at half-time to 73-57 by the end of the third quarter, hit 27 of their 36 free-throws (75 percent) compared to just 19 of 33 (58 percent) for Quilmes.
19 pontos!! Foi assim que @giovannoni12 ajudou na vitória do @UniCEUB_BRB na #LSB2015: http://t.co/Iv8LKAr04C pic.twitter.com/ejOTjduhtL
— CBB (@CBB_basquete) October 14, 2015
Uniceub then used a strong fourth quarter to break open a close game and defeat Colo Colo, 79-64, to seal a spot in the Semi-Final Round.
The Brazilian outfit outscored their Chilean opponents 30-18 in the last frame.
Quilmes rebounded from their opening night setback against Uniceub by winning 103-73 over Atenas of Uruguay.
The Argentinians were on top 56-40 by half-time and put the result beyond doubt with a strong third quarter.
Luis Cequeira, who played for Argentina at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, had 20 points and 13 assists for Quilmes in Wednesday's victory.
On Thursday night, Quilmes defeated Colo Colo, 96-73, to finish runners-up in the group and advance.
Walter Clay Baxley made seven of 12 shots from long range and finished with a game-high 36 points for Quilmes.
Quilmes superó a Colo Colo por 96 a 73 y avanzó a la siguiente instancia de la #LSB2015 http://t.co/WjBtddO6vO pic.twitter.com/Ad2Qsk771O
— Club A. Quilmes (@Club_Quilmes) October 16, 2015
Atenas upset Uniceub in Thursday's first game, 101-91, one that had no ramifications.
Uniceub clinched first place on a head-to-head tie-breaker over second-place Quilmes while Colo Colo were third and Atenas fourth.
Colo Colo had won their opening game over Atenas, 92-89.
Go to www.fibaamericas.com for full coverage of the 2015 DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana.
FIBA
