FIBA AMERICAS LEAGUE - Capitanes, Halcones Rojos join the second-round party

ARECIBO (FIBA Americas League) - Halcones Rojos de Veracruz and Capitanes de Arecibo booked their places in the second round of the FIBA Americas League with wins in Puerto Rico on Thursday.

On a thrilling night of action, Cocodrilos de Caracas clinched their first win in Group D with a 73-68 triumph over Argentinians Juventud Sionista.

The margin of victory wasn't enough, though, to keep alive their chances of advancing.

It allowed Halcones Rojos and Capitanes to seal their progression before finishing Group D play on Thursday night.

In the Cocodrilos win, the Venezuelans got 20 points from Carl Elliott while Jack Martinez added 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Sionista led 62-58 early in the fourth quarter but Cocodrilos then used a 10-0 as a platform for victory.

Both sides finished 1-2.

Halcones Rojos, winners of their first two games, took on a Capitanes side that was 1-1 and still smarting from a one-point defeat to Sionista.

Looking to win in front of the home fans, Capitanes got 23 points from Bobby Joe Hatton (pictured) and 18 from Daniel Santiago.

The victory clinched first place in Group D for the Arecibo outfit.

Capitanes and Halcones Rojos joined Argentina's Regatas Corrientes, Peñarol Mar del Plata and Quimsa Santiago del Estero, Mexicans Halcones UV Xalapa and Brazilians Uniceub/BRB and Flamengo in the second round.

The next stage of the competition will have two groups of four teams and will be played February 3-5 in the North region and February 11-13 in the South.

The two best teams in the group will then move on to the Final Four, which is scheduled to be played from March 4-6.

FIBA