ASUNCIÓN (DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana) - The Brazilian team of Franca became the first team to qualify to the DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana 2018 Final after winning the first Semi-Final group by points differential in a three-way tie with Libertad Sunchales (Argentina) and Olimpia Kings (Paraguay).

The paulista squad suffered a defeat against Libertad by 93-86; but at the second game of the day the host Olimpia defeated Quimsa (Argentina) 93-77, which produced the three-way tie that gave Franca the ticket to the Final.

Libertad needed two more points to earn a direct qualification to the Final, and as if it were a movie script to raise emotion to the maximum, they had the last possession of the game, but Marcos Saglietti missed a three-pointer with five seconds to go before the strong defense of those led by Helinho Rubens.

Martín Cuello with 21 points was the top scorer for Sunchales, who had up to five men in double-digits in scoring. He was followed by Khalil Kelley with 15 and Ernesto Zago with 14.

For the finalist, Jimmy De Oliveira added 17 points and André Goes 16.

In the other match, Libertad had his hopes put in a Quimsa victory that will qualify the team of Sunchales to the Final; however, Olimpia controlled the game before a Santiago del Esteró team that had nothing at stake.

Anthony Young and Rodney Green, stood out for the Guarani with 35 and 24 points, respectively. Federico Aguerre reached 22 points for the Argentine team.

Franca now awaits for the winner of the Second Semi-Final group, November 20 to 22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the participation Flamengo (host), Baurú (Brazil), Minas Tenis Clube (Brazil) and Instituto de Córdoba (Argentina).

FIBA