Despite playing against the best team in the tournament with virtually a B Team, the Tall Albiceleste could go to the semis with their heads held high. The United States sealed the top seed in the Semifinal Round of the FIBA Americas Championship with a 91-76 victory over Argentina in the final game of the day on Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The 15-point win for the U.S. was its' smallest margin of victory in this tournament.
As expected the US raced out to a 28-13 lead after the first quarter, relying on the hot hand of Kobe BRYANT, who netted 15 of the team's points in the opening stanza. BRYANT, who led all scorers with 27 points, connected on 10-of-15 shots from the field in just under 23 minutes of play. After leading by as many as 25 points earlier in the contest, the U.S. took a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter. Argentina outscored the U.S. by six and held the Americans to five rebounds in the final quarter.
Luis SCOLA was our best performer of the night with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist & 1 block shot. Not a good game for the rest but I'm sure Sergio HERNANDEZ would want to keep them fresh for probably the most important match of all in the semis.
So once again, standing between our way and the Olympics in non-other than Brazil. In the first meeting we were given a real hard time before BARBOSA and Co. shot themselves in the foot. So what's its going to be this time. My heart is really nervous to say anything. Argentina please not this time, not when we're this close.
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