VEN/ARG - Great start for Venezuela with a dominating win over Argentina

SAN JUAN (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - Venezuela combined an aggresive offensive attack with good defense to suffocate Argentina and defeat them 85-69 in day one of the FIBA Americas Championship.

Oscar Torres netted 22 points, Hector Romero 19, Richard Lugo 12 and Rafael Perez 10 for Venezuela who dominated from start to finish.

Venezuela dominated the first quarter 18-16 and at halftime the lead was 39-30 with a great start by center Richard Lugo and Oscar Torres.

In the third quarter the Argentineans lost it as Pablo Prigioni was issued a technical foul with 7:51 left and the Venezuelans continued their attack led by Romero and Luis Bethelmy. At the end of the third quarter the lead was 63-51. Oscar Torres led Venezuela with 20 points.

Argentina tried to come back but baskets didn't come easy inside so they continued to shoot from three point range and fell short for the fourth straight time in Puerto Rico. The Argentineans lost three games at the II Marchand Continental Championship Cup.

Luis Scola led Argentina with 25 points and the second doube digit scorer was Pablo Prigioni with 10 points and 6 assists. Roman Gonzalez and Paolo Quinteros had an off day offensively with 8 points each.

Luis Modestti
FIBA Americas

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