SANTIAGO (Chile) - Ecuador, Argentina and Uruguay earned wins on the first day of the South American U17 Championship 2019.

The team from Ecuador stunned the host and celebrated a 69-60 win in Group B action.

A steal and a lay-up from Janer Asilah, with 21 seconds left gave the Ecuadorian team a 66-65 lead. With an offensive rebound and a basket from Michael Jordan Torres, Ecuador sealed the important win.

Ecuador played a great physical game to dominate the rebound battle 52-40 and defeat the defending champions of the South American U17 Championship.

Arcila and Mateo Moncayo scored 20 points each, while Abraham Barahona contributed a 12-point and 17-rebound “double-double”.

For Chile, Felipe Incayo was the leader of the offense with 17 points. Nicolás Rebolledo and Ty Jones followed, with 15 points each.

In Group A, Argentina was blunt and broadly deafeated Colombia with a score of 102-51.

From the tip-off, the team coached by Daniel Farabello did not give any truce and won the first 10 minutes of the game 27-11. Argentina maintained high intensity and kept adding to the diference on the scoreboard.

Argentina fluently executed its offense, shooting for a 50 percent from the field (72-36), including 11 three-pointers. Federico Copes, with 20 points, was the top scorer of the team, followed by Mateo Pérez and Tomás Allende, who added 13 points each.

In the other game of Group A, Uruguay came from behind to defeat Venezuela 79-76.

Venezuela won the first half 36-24, but the Charrúas adjusted in defense and by the end of the third quarter took the command of the scoreboard 50-48. The last 10 minutes of the game were even; nevertheless, Uruguay showed greater game in the final moments of the game to take the win.

Rodríguez and Ubal (12 rebounds) were the great figures for Uruguay with 25 points each.

On the second day of the regional championship, Colombia will face Venezuela, Ecuador will face Brazil and Uruguay will face Argentina.

The top three teams from the South American U17 Championship 2019 will qualify to the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2020.

FIBA