Contact: Mary Ullmann Japhet (210) 414-9030
Thursday
Basketball

FIBA AMERICAS U-18 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MEN

SAN ANTONIO -- Argentina won a tightly played game with Puerto Rico 79-77 Thursday at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship for Men at St. Mary's University's Greehey Arena.
There was never more than a seven-point advantage - held by Argentina in the fourth quarter- in a preliminary round game at the seven-team tournament.
Puerto Rico, now 0-2, took a three-point lead, 75-72, on a basket by forward Gilberto Clavell with 58 seconds remaining. But Argentina, which improved to 2-0, outscored Puerto Rico 7-2 in the time span. Argentina's Nicolas De Los Santos made one of two free throws with three seconds on the clock for the 79-77 lead. Center Carlos Lopez of Puerto Rico missed a three-pointer with one second left.
De Los Santos, a 6-foot-2 guard, led the game with 22 points. He shot 9 of 16 from the field. Guard Diego Gerbaudo added 18 points and forward Facundo Pineiro scored 14. Forward Sebastian Uranga had 10 rebounds.
Puerto Rico was paced by forwards Angel Garcia and Gilberto Clavell with 19 points each. Garcia, who hit 6 of 9 from the field, also was responsible for a game-leading 16 rebounds.
Puerto Rico shot 42 percent and Argentina went 41 percent. In addition, Puerto Rico led in rebounds 44-34. In turnovers, Puerto Rico had 18 turnovers and Argentina was charged with 11.
Argentina meets Canada Friday in the final day of preliminary competition and Puerto Rico takes on the Bahamas. The top two teams in each group advance to Saturday's semifinals and the championship will be played Sunday.

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

ARGENTINA 79, PUERTO RICO 77

Puerto Rico - Angel Garcia 6-9 5-7 19, Figueroa 0-1 0-0 0, Torres 2-7 0-0 5, Martinez 3-8 1-2 8, C. Lopez 1-2 0-0 2, J. Lopez 2-8 1-3 5, Luis Morales 3-13 4-5 12, Menedez 0-0 0-0 0, Roman 2-5 3-4 7, Andino 0-1 0-0 0, Gilberto Clavell 9-12 1-2 19. Totals - 28-66 15-23 77.

FG% - 42%
3-PT.FG% - 35%
FT% - 65%

Argentina - Diego Gerbaudo 5-8 7-10 18, Nicolas De Los Santos 9-16 3-4 22, Ruiz 3-8 0-0 8, Vega 0-2 0-0 0, Facundo Pineiro 4-11 4-4 14, Cecchi 0-3 2-2 2, Morales 0-3 2-2 2, Uranga 1-4 1-1 3, Sahdi 0-3 2-2 2, Aguerre 4-6 0-2 8. Totals - 26-64 21-27 79.

FG% - 41%
3-PT. FG% - 29%
FT% - 78%

Total fouls - Puerto Rico 24, Argentina 23. Fouled out - Puerto Rico: Torres, Martinez. Technicals - none.

Rebounds - Puerto Rico 44 (A. Garcia 16), Canada 34 (Uranga 10). Assists - Puerto Rico 11 (Torres 5), Argentina 17 (Gerbaudo 9). Steals - Puerto Rico 2 (Torres, Morales), Argentina 10 (Gerbaudo 3). Blocked shots - Puerto Rico 4 (A. Garcia, Clavell, 2 each), Argentina 4 (De Los Santos, Ruiz, Uranga, Aguerre). Turnovers - Puerto Rico 18, Argentina 11.

Officials - Fernando Serpa, Jeff Nichols, Oleg Latisevs.

Att. - 200

Records at tournament: Puerto Rico 0-2, Argentina 2-0.

Next games of teams - Friday - Puerto Rico vs. Bahamas, 3 p.m. CDT; Argentina vs. Canada, 5 p.m. CDT.

Post-game quotes

Thursday, June 29, 2006

GAME #2 (Argentina, 79 v. Puerto Rico, 77)

NAME: Nicolas De Los Santos, #5

POSITION: Player, Argentina

QUOTE: “There are different leagues in Argentine basketball. We practice between five to six hours a day, focusing on weights and fundamental training. We also practice with people older than us, which really helps our game.”

“In the US kids grow up with either a football or a basketball in their hand, but in Argentina we grow up with a soccer ball in our hands, so it’s a huge accomplishment for us to be where we are today.”

“Manu is our role model. He sets an example for us; someone that we can look up to.”

“I grew up playing soccer but I moved to another city that was too cold to play soccer outside, so I was forced to play basketball inside.”

NAME: Diego Gerbaudo, #4

POSITION: Player, Argentina

QUOTE: “Manu has opened a big door for us in Argentina, not just Manu but the 2004 Olympic team also. Manu plays in one of the best leagues in the world. The Argentine leagues are very competitive. We practice everyday and listen to what are coaches are saying.”

“It’s a huge honor to us to play in the same city as Manu. They are very appreciative for everything that Manu has done for us. He writes us inspirational and motivational emails before each game since he’s in Argentina right now, instead of San Antonio. He tells us to not let him down while we are here.”

“My father was the president of the basketball league. Every time that my dad had a meeting with the league, I would take the keys to the gym, and go and practice shooting. At 11 years old is really when I started to play basketball.”

NAME: Guillermo Narvarte

POSITION: Head Coach, Argentina

QUOTE: “Basketball is the second sport first off because it’s an expensive sport and secondly because of the politics behind it. Politics in Argentina killed the sports for a while, but little by little it’s built back up. Twenty years ago, thanks to the founder of the national league the sport came back. Manu and all of the players from the Olympic team have played in the League. All of these players have formed a friendship with the kids. We’ve learned a lot from American basketball and European basketball, so we have influences from both, including our style and character.”

“The kids that are playing here are following in the same footsteps as Manu and other players from Argentina.”

“In this world championship it was very important for us to qualify and we’d like to continue nationally. Our main objective was to qualify, and obviously we can’t hide our passion for the game. We play with a lot of respect and discipline. We know that it’s a tough competition because we know that there wasn’t a chance interchange with competition just games no practices or scrimmages with other teams. It’s like do or die.”

“Our preparation was very important because we lost twice in Dallas to Puerto Rico, but we knew that this was the most important one… the one that really counted. The main focus now is tomorrow’s game.”

“Everything’s possible.”