BRA/CAN - Brazil goes for the Gold after winning over Canada

SAN JUAN (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - Brazil beat Canada 73-65 in another low scoring game at the semifinals in the FIBA Americas Championship. The Brazilians will play the winner of the game between Argentina and Puerto Rico on Sunday at 9:00 pm local time.

Leandro Barbosa came back after a day of rest and scored 22 points while Anderson Varejao netted 16 and Marcelinho Machado 15. Marcelo Huertas didn't score but dished out 8 assists.

Barbosa led Brazil in the first quarter with 6 points to finish tied at 17. Joel Anthony led Canada with 6 points and Levon Kendall 4.

The game stayed close in the second quarter and Machado tied the game at 25 with 2:22 left and scored another basket with 1:48 to give Brazil a two point lead. At halftime the score was 28-27 in favor of Brazil.

In the third quarter Brazil pulled away led by Barbosa, Varejao and Alex Garcia and finished up 54-40.

Canada came back and were down by just six points (69-63) after a three pointer by Jermaine Bucknor with 25 seconds, but Marcelinho Machado secured the lead with four free throws.

"It was a close game in the first half, at the beggining of the fourth quarter we kept our defensive effort but Canada is always playing hard and were close to us," said Anderson Varejao after the game.

About their next opponent, which could be Argentina or Puerto Rico, Varejao said they need to focus to get the Gold medal.

"They are two great teams which we obtained different results, we won over Argentina and lost to Puerto Rico. We have to come out focused in order to win the Gold," added the Cleveland Cavaliers forward.

Joel Anthony led Canada with 17 points, Andy Rautins 12 and Jermaine Bucknor 10. Carl English left the tournament to resolve some personal issues. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Luis Modestti
FIBA Americas

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