Carlos Delfino during the match that Argentina beat the Virgin Islands on their debut in AmeriCup. CABIN photo
After the overwhelming 95-62 victory against the Virgin Islands at the debut, which was also the first game of Paolo Prigioni as a coach, him men’s basketball team will go this Sunday for another win in the America’s Cup against a difficult opponent. The Juventus team will face Puerto Rico, for the second date of Group B of the tournament to be played in Recife, Brazil. The appointment is at 20:10 of our country and can be seen live by TyC Sports.
If he beats the Puerto Ricans, who started with an 88-82 win against Dominican Republic-, Argentina will ensure the passage to the quarter-finals of the tournament, to which the first two of each zone will qualify – there are three, from four countries each – and the two best third parties.
The equipment did not arrive at a good time for the competition. Despite having closed the qualifying window for next year’s World Cup with a 95 to 77 win against the Bahamas, after losing 99 to 87 to Canada days before, after that second game, he had a difficult day due to the turbulence. and unexpected exit of coach Nestor Che Garcia.
Prigioni accepted the challenge of taking over the team three days before his AmeriCup debut. And at the debut the team showed team and precision, even against an opponent who did not expect too much and who on paper is the weakest of the group.
“A great job has been done and it makes me happy because they did a great preparation. They are the center of attention, they have prepared well both to play in the window and to come to this tournament, and it makes me happy to have started like this. well We have taken the first step, there is still a long way to go in the tournament, but we are happy with the work we have done “, commented Prigioni.
And he added: “I trust them and the group a lot. I feel they have faith in what I can give them and it is a unique feeling. I am very grateful to them for allowing me to train them, it is a great satisfaction.”
This Sunday Argentina will make a new test against an opponent who, on paper, is the strongest in the area and should work harder.
The national team, champion of the tournament in 2001 and 2011 (when it was still known as the FIBA Americas Championship), wants to take revenge for the losses suffered in the last two editions. In 2015, in Mexico, they lost the final against Venezuela. And in 2017, when it was played in Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Medellín and Montevideo, it fell in United States of Americathe great candidate to repeat the title.
The North Americans, on the other hand, fell on the first date with a surprise 73-67 against Mexicodriving the Group C. in A send Brazilsecond favorite to shout champion.
Source: Clarin
