2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men

CONTACT:- Mary Ullmann Japhet

Friday, June 30

Basketball

Note: One more game will be sent - USA vs. Brazil - starting time of 7:30 p.m. CDT

FIBA AMERICAS U-18 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MEN

SAN ANTONIO - Argentina finished No. 1 in group play with a 90-79 victory over Canada Friday at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship for men at St. Mary's University's Greehey Arena.
Argentina, 3-0 in Group B, takes on the loser of USA and Brazil Saturday at 3 p.m. Central Time in the semifinals. Canada, 2-1, meets the USA/Brazil winner at 5 p.m. The championship is slated for Sunday.
In Friday's game, Argentina appeared to have the upper hand at the outset, leading 24-9 after the first quarter. Argentina led by as much as 17 points, 29-12, with 9:04 remaining in the first half. But the Canadians held a 39-34 lead at halftime, a turnaround of 27 points. Canada came out strong in the second half and led by 15, 56-41, with 3:58 left in the third period. Argentina woke up and tied the score at 68-68 with 6:05 left in the game. It was all Argentina from that point on, outscoring Canada 22-11.
Both teams qualified for the FIBA U-19 World Championship in July 2007 at Malaysia.
Argentine forward Leandro Cecchi was the star of the game with 29 points. The 6-foot-6 Cecchi shot 10 of 12 from the field and sank 9 of 11 shots in the three-point range. Cecchi also had a game-tying 10 rebounds. Guard Diego Gerbaudo contributed 12 points and 13 assists.
Canada was paced by guard Junior Cadougon and center Robert Sacre with 16 points each.
Argentina shot 46 percent from the field to Canada's 39 percent. In addition, Argentina shot 42 percent in the three-point range to 33 percent for Canada. The Canadians held a 33-33 advantage in rebounds.

FIBA AMERICAS U-18 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MEN
Preliminary Round
at St. Mary's University's Greehey Arena
San Antonio, Texas

ARGENTINA 90, CANADA 79

Argentina - Diego Gerbaudo 2-10 7-7 12, De Los Santos 3-8 1-1 7, Ruiz 1-4 0-0 2, Vega 3-4 1-2 8, Pineiro 0-1 0-0 0, Leandro Cecchi 10-12 0-0 29, Traverso 3-5 2-2 8, Morales 2-6 2-2 6, Uranga 1-5 2-2 4, Orlietti 0-0 0-0 0, Sahdi 1-4 0-0 2, Federico Aguerre 4-6 4-8 12. Totals - 30-65 19-24 90.

FG% - 46%
3-PT.FG% - 42%
FT% - 79%

Canada- Myles 1-7 1-1 3, Junior Cadougon 6-15 1-2 16, Kristopher Joseph 4-14 2-2 11, Lukasa 1-3 4-6 6, Imama 0-0 0-0 0, William 2-4 0-0 4, Malish 1-4 0-0 3, House 2-5 1-2 7, Oluseyi Ashaolu 13, Malumba 0-0 0-0 0, Trotter 0-0 0-0 0, Robert Sacre 5-6 6-8 16. Totals - 26-67 20-29 79.

FG% - 39%
3-PT. FG% - 33%
FT%- 69%

FTotal fouls - Argentina 27, Canada 23. Fouled out - none. Technicals - none.

Rebounds - Argentina 33 (Vega, Cecchi, with 10 each), Canada 37 (Sacre 8).
Assists - Argentina 25 (Gerbaudo 13), Canada 8 (Joseph 5).
Steals - Argentina 11 (De Los Santos 5), Canada 12 (Myles, Cadougon, Joseph, House, with 2 each).
Blocked shots - Argentina 5 (Morales 2), Canada 5 (Ashaolu, Sacre, with 2 each).
Turnovers - Argentina 18, Canada 17.

Officials - Arnoldo Dorame, Jeff Nichols, Fernando Serpa.

Att. - 200.

Records in tournament - Argentina 3-0 (1st in Group B, Canada 2-1 (2nd in Group B)

Teams' next games: Saturday, medal semifinals, Argentina vs. loser of USA/Brazil, 3 p.m; Canada vs. winner of USA/Brazil, 5 p.m.

Post-Game Quotes

NAME: Guillermo Narvarte

Head Coach, Argentina

QUOTE:

“It wasn’t going to be a game where we would go over plays on the marker-board. It was going to be a game where we played from the heart and where our true character would be shown on the court.

In the first half we played on a high level, but then we came down in intensity. In the second half, little by little, we started dominating the game. Canada is a disciplined competitor; they are a very organized and solid team.

The third quarter was our chance to excel to the maximum. It was something that Canada wasn’t able to settle, not to say that they aren’t capable, but tonight that wasn’t the case.

The tournament is a great experience; however, our main objective is to qualify for the World Championship.”

NAME: Leandro Cecchi,– (Cecchi scored 29 points, 27 of which were 3 pointers.)

Player #9, Argentina

“I was very happy to contribute all those points to my team.”

“I did not realize I had scored all those 3-pointers, I was just playing.”

“I’m just a team player.”

“It doesn’t matter who we play. I want to play well so our team can win.”