URU/ARG - Batista leads Uruguay past Argentina

PAYSANDU (Pan American Games) - Uruguay again had the measure of Olympic champions Argentina in a warm-up for the Pan American Games.

Alberto Espasandin's side claimed a 77-69 win in Paysandu on Saturday night, with the Uruguayans leading the opening three quarters comfortably before Argentina fought back in the last period.

Uruguay had already beaten Argentina 80-73 on Thursday night, in the first of the two-game friendly series, and 74-69 in the Top 4 quadrangular friendly tournament played in Chile on July 1.

Uruguay finished the third quarter ahead by 12 points (59-47), but Argentina, coached by Sergio Hernandez, profited from a period of six minutes 45 seconds without scoring by their opponents to reduce the deficit up to just four (65-61) with one minute 45 seconds remaining.

Esteban Batista was the game's top scorer with 26 points, plus a 16-rebound contribution for the victors.

Leandro Garcia Morales added 13 points coming off the bench, while Diego Lo Grippo netted 22 in the losing cause as Argentina suffered their third reverse in a row to Uruguay for the first time in a decade.

Argentina are playing with a B team in preparation for the Pan American Games, which gets underway on July 25 in Rio de Janeiro.

In that tournament, Argentina will be coached by Hernandez's assistant Gonzalo Garcia, while the head coach starts preparing the A Team for next month's FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

Uruguay, meanwhile, are expected to play both championships with their best team, led by Batista, who spent the past two seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.

Matias Greco
FIBA