FIBA Americas league – Universo beat Halcones Xalapa to FIBA Americas League glory

XALAPA (FIBA Americas League) - Brazilian basketball is back on top in South America after Universo/BRB edged Halcones Xalapa to clinch the FIBA Americas League title.

Universo made a remarkable comeback from an 18-point deficit on Sunday to stun the Final Four hosts 86-83.

Alex Garcia, the Brazilian international who has returned home after last season's spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv, had 19 points, six rebounds and six assists.

The explosive shooting guard/small forward was voted MVP of the Final Four.

Valtinho had a team-high 21 points for the winners.

Universo are the second team to capture the FIBA Americas League championship after Penarol of Argentina won last year’s inaugural competition.

Both teams had won their opening two games to create an all-or-nothing clash and for most of the first half, it looked as if Mexicans Halcones would romp to the crown.

They led by as many as 12 in the first quarter after hitting 11 of their 16 shots from the field, including four made three-balls from eight attempts.

The home side then threatened to blow the game wide open midway through the second quarter when they surged into a 43-25 advantage with a three-pointer from Victor Mariscal.

If Universo had anything, though, it was experience and self belief with three of their players possessing an abundance of each - Valtinho, Alex and Rafael Mineiro.

That trio led the Brazilians back.

As part of the fight-back, Universo had a 9-0 run and ended up going to half-time still trailing 49-43 but with all the momentum.

Halcones regrouped and a pair of threes from Abdul Mills and Victor Avila helped them go on top 59-47.

Universo, though, with the gods of three-point shooting smiling down on them, then struck four times from behind the arc to knot the contest at 59-59 and silence the partisan Xalapa crowd.

They eventually went to the fourth leading 70-67.

The lead exchanged hands several times over the last 10 minutes but with Halcones struggling to finish off scoring opportunities and Universo making their free throws, the Brazilians prevailed.

The three-point shooting of Universo was the deciding factor in the game.

They hit a scintillating 46% (13 of 28) compared to 31% (nine of 29) for Halcones.

Alex drilled five of 11 (45%) from long range, with Valtinho three of five (60%) and Arthur Luiz three of six (50%).

Mills led Halcones with 21 points while Samuel Bowie weighed in with 15.

Bigua of Uruguay, meanwhile, finished third after beating Minas Tenis Clube 84-77 in what proved to be the consolation game.

Leandro Garcia Morales hit five three-balls and finished with a game-high 29 points for Bigua, who prevailed for the first time at the Final Four.

Minas got 24 points from Joe Shipp but slumped to their third successive defeat.

FIBA