FIBA Americas - What happens if...

LAS VEGAS (2007 FIBA Americas Championship) - Unbeaten USA and Argentina have already booked their tickets for the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Americas Championship, and who will finish first and second in Group X will be decided in tonight’s clash of both teams.

But for the remainder of the teams, there is still a big question mark, which teams will be able to reach the Semi-Finals and a lot of scenarios are possible.

According to FIBA rules, if there are more than two teams with the same number of wins and losses, only the results of the games between those teams decide for the final placing in the group.

The decisive games for position 3 and 4 are between Brazil and Uruguay and Puerto Rico and Canada. Mexico and Venezuela will have no chance to reach the Semi-Finals anymore. Here are all possible scenarios for today’s games:

Scenario 1 – Brazil and Canada win

Brazil would claim 3rd place and Canada 4th place, as BRA beat Canada 75 – 67 in the first round


Scenario 2 – Brazil and Puerto Rico win

Brazil would claim 3rd place, Puerto Rico would finish 4th

 
Scenario 3 – Uruguay and Canada win

Canada would claim 3rd place and Uruguay 4th as Uruguay would have same W-L record than Brazil but has beaten Brazil in the direct comparison


Scenario 4 – Uruguay and Puerto Rico win

Uruguay would claim the 3rd place and Puerto Rico the 4th place.

The win loose record would be as follow:
Brazil: 1-2
Canada: 1-2
Puerto Rico: 2-1
Uruguay: 2-1

Uruguay beat Puerto Rico by 3 points.

* Thank you to the reader who spotted the mistakes