FIBA AMERICAS LEAGUE - Halcones UV Xalapa clinch top spot in Group B

XALAPA (FIBA Americas League) - There wasn't any pressure in the battle for Group B supremacy in the FIBA Americas League on Thursday night.

Both the hosts of the pool, Halcones UV Xalapa, and Brazilians Uniceub/BRB, had already booked their places in the second round of the competition with two wins in as many games.

The Mexican outfit, however, gave their fans just that little bit extra cause to believe in the club this season by beating the Liga Sudamericana winners Uniceub, 98-87, to clinch first place in the group.

Jovan Harris had 23 of his game-high 25 points in the second half for Halcones UV, who managed to pulled away in the last couple of minutes of the contest with a 9-2 run.

Alex Garcia, the Brazil international who played at the FIBA World Championship this summer in Turkey, had 25 points for Uniceub.

In the battle for third place, Uruguay outfit Defensor Sporting edged Cañeros de la Romana of the Dominican Republic, 83-80.

Clarence Matthews finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds for Defensor.

The FIBA Americas League resumes on January 11 when the Group C games are played in Ibarra, Ecuador.

Mavort, Flamengo and Quimsa Santiago del Estero are the three known teams in the pool, with the fourth a team from Chile - either Boston College or Español de Talca.

The two sides are competing in the Chilean National League Finals and the winner will be added to the Group C mix.

FIBA