The Argentine basketball team (6-2) reacted quickly and beat his pair from the Bahamas (2-6) 95-77 on Monday, in the second match of the fourth qualifying window heading to the Philippines-Japan Basketball World Cup -Indonesia 2023.
In a packed Islas Malvinas Sports Center in Mar del Plata (more than 8,000 people), the team led by Néstor ‘Che’ García from Bahia recovered from the loss to leader Canada (87-99) last Thursday in Victoria.
The progression of the albiceleste success was as follows: 21-15, 43-44, 68-59 and 95-77.
Real Madrid forward, Gabriel Deck, emerged as the outstanding figure of the day. The former player of Quimsa and San Lorenzo achieved his highest score with the light blue and white shirt, getting 37 units (14-17 in doubles, 0-2 in triples, 9-13 in free) and taking 7 rebounds in 27 minutes who remained on the field.
The other bastion on which the local triumph rested was Facundo Campazzo. The Denver Nuggets strategist had 17 points (all in the second half), 10 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 recoveries.
✨ The magic of @facucampazzo ?#WinForArgentina #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/bhwLSrTck5
— CAB (@cabboficial) August 30, 2022
In the visiting team, the best came from the pivot Kai Martínez Jones, with 16 points and 6 rebounds.
In the other games in zone E, Venezuela (7-1) defeated the Dominican Republic (5-3) 76-72, while Canada (8-0) thrashed Panama (2-6) as a visitor, 106 -fifty.
On the day of his 40th birthday, Carlos Delfino from Santa Fe was chosen by ‘Che’ García to serve as forward from the beginning, instead of Leandro Bolmaro, in relation to the quintet that started in the previous match with Canada.
Argentina preferred to bet on greater circulation and fluidity and not so much height to compete ‘hand in hand’ with an athletic rival, but quite messy in transitions and in the defense of their own basket.
As a move, the Campazzo (4 assists)-Delía connection worked and the albiceleste team shot up 17-7, thanks to a partial 10-0, with a courageous performance by Deck from Santiago.
The Real Madrid player became strong in hand-to-hand duels, posting himself under the baskets and generating imbalances with his power (12 points; 5-6 shots from the field in the initial 10m).
? Turtle on fire! ? #VISAMainSponsor pic.twitter.com/ARSibETuWA
— CAB (@cabboficial) August 30, 2022
Little by little, the Caribbean team adjusted its sights and found solutions with the entry of Garvin Clarke plus the determination of intern Kai Jones (Charlotte Hornets). Thus the difference was reduced to 6 points (21-15) at the end of the first quarter.
In the second chapter, Bahamas continued betting on vertigo and improved their outside aim (6 triples) against an Argentina team, which started rotations to give rest to Campazzo, Laprovíttola and Deck.
Thus there was a good entry by Vildoza (9 points) and an acceptable entry by Brussino, but the strong defense disappeared and a visiting team took advantage of it, which went ahead for the first time in the last ball, to go up 44-43.
After the talks in the locker room, the local quintet recovered the necessary intensity to tie up a rival, who suffered for not being able to do what he knows best: run the field.
In addition, Campazzo was lit. The Cordovan crack, who until then had not scored points, scored 10 points in the third chapter, played and made his teammates play. An invaluable support from the ‘Tortu’ Deck (9 units in that section) restored the confidence of an Argentine team, who took a distance of 12 (68-56), with 1m remaining. 12s. for closure. The period ended with home advantage by 9 (68-59).
In the last quarter, Argentina regulated the pace, took advantage of the fatigue of a Bahamian team that began to make mistakes regularly and got a clearance on the scoreboard for which they had not made merits during the rest of the night.
In this way, ‘Che’ García’s team found some peace of mind for the November window (the fifth) where they will have to visit the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, precisely.
Delía: “It was a demonstration of character”
Alfredo Ves Losada, correspondent
The pivot of the Argentine basketball team assured that the team gave “a demonstration of character” in its victory tonight by 95 to 77 over the Bahamas in Mar del Plata, in the closing of the fourth window of the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup.
Delia, who scored 16 goals, highlighted the team’s response to “a very difficult rival” after the match played at the Islas Malvinas Sports Center.
“It’s shown that here in America they are all strong teams and no one makes a big difference,” said the BC Wolves player from Lithuania.
Perfect connection!
Of @facucampazzo for Marcos Delia.
Add Argentina! pic.twitter.com/S4PQQKZYPX
— Technical Foul (@falta_tecnica) August 30, 2022
Regarding the performance of the Argentine team, he stressed that “our greatest offensive potential is on the perimeter”, and assured that if it is possible to “add damage from the paint, Argentina will be a much more difficult rival to defend”.
In this sense, he valued that “it is the second game of this group with little training” and that “as the games go by we will find better performance.”
Synthesis
(95) Argentina: Facundo Campazzo 17, Nicolás Laprovíttola 3, Carlos Delfino 3, Gabriel Deck 37, Marcos Delía 16 (FI) Tayavek Gallizzi 0, Leandro Bolmaro 4, Nicolás Brussino 4, José Vildoza 11. DT: Néstor García.
(77) Bahamas: Franco Miller 6, Buddy Hield 10, Mychel Thompson 11, Kentwan Smith 8, Kai Martinez Jones 16 (FI) Lourawls Nairn 2, Rashad Davis 2, Willis Mackey 0, Garvin Clarke 12, Danrad Knowles 1, Bradley Nairn 9, Kadeem Coleby 0. DT: Christopher Demarco.
Progression: Argentina 21-15, 43-44, 68-59 and 95-77.
Referees: Alexis Mercado (Puerto Rico)-Hortencia Sánchez (Mexico)-Carlos Vélez (Colombia).
Stadium: Islas Malvinas Sports Center (Mar del Plata).
Attendance: 8,300 spectators.
