ARG/DOM - Argentina gets overtime win and second place in group B

SAN JUAN (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - In their best performance so far, Argentina defeated the Dominican Republic 89-87 in overtime at the FIBA Americas Championship played in Coliseo Roberto
Clemente.

With this win Argentina will finish in second place in Group B with a 2-2 record after a slow start (0-2). This also gave Panama the chance to qualify to the next round and Venezuela is officially eliminated from the
competition.

Luis Scola finished with 30 points, Paolo Quinteros 14 and Pablo Prigioni 11 with 5 assists for Argentina.

Al Horford led the Dominicans with 24 points and 11 rebounds, Francisco Garcia 20, Luis Flores 16 and Jack Michael Martinez 13. Charlie Villanueva had a bad day with 9 points by shooting 3-13 from the field but he helped on the boards with 10 rebounds.

Argentina won the first quarter 19-18 but the Dominicans reacted led by Al Horford and won at halftime 43-37. Horford led with 13 points and Jack Michael Martinez followed with 9. Argentina had Luis Scola with 10.

The third quarter was well fought by both teams and with 30.4 seconds Leo Gutierrez made an important three pointer to tie it at 59. At the end of the first quarter the Dominicans had a 60-59 lead after a free throw by Garcia.

Argentina stayed in the game and the big baskets came, especially from long distance where Andres Pelussi tied it at 74 with 43.6 seconds left.

In the overtime period the Dominicans had an 81-76 lead after a three point play by Al Horford, but Argentina reacted with a 7-0 run to take an 83-81 advantage. At the end Argentina controlled the ball and secured the win with free throws by Prigioni and Juan Pablo Cantero.

Luis Modestti
FIBA Americas