BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Women’s AmeriCup) - It's usually difficult to fulfill predictions. Stress plays mind tricks and even the favorite team to win can play a weak game. Canada arrived at Buenos Aires with the label of favorite team to take home the AmeriCup once again. They confidently marched forward up to the Final, where Argentina obstructed their every move until the South American team’s defeat. In the end, the Canadians —not without any struggle— were the best at the last quarter of the game and were proclaimed champions for their second time in a row, after winning the title at the FIBA AmeriCup 2015.

Canada didn't have it easy. In fact, they were almost always neutralized by the home defense. Five lucid minutes during the third quarter sufficed for the Canadian team to score 24-4, thus showing off their ranking and get in the game. All of the sudden, they went from losing 41-32 to advantaging 56-45. However, they had to wait until the last seconds of the game to grasp the victory, since Argentina reacted with 13 uninterrupted points that gave them a small advantage, 65-64. At the end, Kia Nurse and Nirra Fields —the championship’s MVP— moved the scale into their national team's favor.

“Argentina did not make it easy for us, but we knew that we're playing on their home soil. It was a great game and it just came down to pushing the last extra little rebound, the last extra little thing on the floor and it turned out in our favor,” explained Ayim, who scored 10 points, six rebounds and two assists, and was one of the key players during the third quarter recovery.

“We feel great, that has been our goal all summer; to come here and to win. Not just qualify for the World Cup but to win the championship, and we achieved that goal so that feels great. As for the World Cup, we have a whole year to prepare for that, so that'll come next summer,” the power forward added.

“For us to really make a mark on the international scene we have to continually push for a solid performance at every level, and just because we have a new team it doesn't mean that our expectations drop any. It just shows a lot of talent in Canada right now and a lot of talent at the younger age groups. It's exciting to see where we're going to be in a few years. Even this team here, our average age is 23-years old so for a national team it is pretty young and so there's still lots of room for growth,” commented Coach Lisa Thomaidis.

Argentina went through another night of mixed feelings. The Argentines’ great game —in which they cornered a team that's sixth in the FIBA ranking and have played in World Cups and Olympic Games — was overshadowed by another injury. This time it was Débora González’s turn, with an injury to her right knee just two minutes before the game ended. During the AmeriCup, the team had already lost Sofía Aispurúa, and before it even started, Diana Cabrera and Victoria Llorente.

“For the team it’s a positive overall participation, but being at victory's door and having another injured teammate kills you. We can't believe it. The guy upstairs didn’t help us... I don't know what else to say. Sometimes we try to find an explanation for things, but we can’t find it. It was Canada’s turn. We fought ‘till we could,” stated Macarena Rosset (18 points, five rebounds and three assists), an essential element to close the gap during the last quarter.

Melisa Gretter had a great night with 23 points, four and four assists as part of the game’s Best Five, but left the court saddened by the accumulation of teammates’ injuries and failing to score a last resource three-pointer. But, at the same time, she was satisfied with the team's drive. “I think that we really showed what we can accomplish. The team improved a lot, we achieved good chemistry and we didn't rely on only one player. We feel as though we can face any opponent,” she stated. In relation to the unexpected turn of events, she added: “Many of us are playing outside and have no rest. That could also be a factor. I don't know why we've had so many knee injuries. I have no answer to that. It’s sad for all of us.”

Coach Cristian Santander seemed disgruntled: “It seems like God didn't stop by Buenos Aires this week. He moved on. In my 24-year career, I've never seen a team that has lost one soldier after another like we have. Three players were left out of the tournament. Three or four were literally broken. I don't know why this happened. Yet, I think we should value even more how we played at the Final. Our silver medal will be remembered throughout history. It seems as though right now we have no right to celebrate, but I'm certain that as days go by, everything will fall into place,” he reflected.

In relation to their participation at the World Cup, he said: “It's difficult to focus on that because everything that happened was too hard. Today I was reflecting on the fact that Russia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Cuba and Brazil will not be at the World Cup —which additionally will feature only 16 countries, not 32. We must realize that being there is something really important.”

Santander believes that this should serve to promote the sport’s development in Argentina. “A message must be sent: women's basketball should come together and put certain egos aside in order to thrive. Not only should the national team grow, but everyone in their respective places. We must do it together, because this is a victory for all of the people that work in women's basketball, all of the clubs that work and save little by little to hold day-to-day activities,” he concluded.

The Canadians are the champions and the Argentines are satisfied with their great participation at the AmeriCup, despite their concern due to the serious injuries. These are the two sides to this FIBA Women’s AmeriCup Final.

FIBA