FIBA AMERICAS LEAGUE - Bravo! Sergio Hernandez's Penarol numero uno

MEXICALI (FIBA Americas League) - Penarol didn't beat hosts Soles de Mexicali on Saturday but they did enough to win the inaugural FIBA Americas League title.

Soles prevailed 84-79, and the Miami Tropics also won their game against Minas Tenis Clube 67-65 - results that left Penarol, Soles and Miami with 2-1 records.

But Penarol, who are coached by Argentina's national team boss Sergio Hernandez, clinched the title with a superior goal differential in the games between the three teams, and they have been celebrating ever since.

Penarol captain Tato Rodriguez said: "Had Miami not won, we would have played differently.

"There were times when we could have run but we held the ball just looking at the clock.

"In the afternoon, none of us had a siesta."

Basketball in Argentina has been flying high ever since the country won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.

Now the nation has a club side to be immensely proud of.

"This is historic for the club," Rodriguez added.

"When the years pass, we will acknowledge what this has meant," Rodriguez said.

"It's not an easy tournament to win, it's very hard and to be first to have won it, no-one can take that away from us."

In the title win, Quincy Wadley had 28 points for Penarol.

Greg Lewis led Soles with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

In Miami's 67-65 triumph, Jermaine Watson led Miami with 15 points while Marcus Barnes had 12.

FIBA