The Mexican team basketball defeated Cuba this Friday 75-66, with which it established itself in second place in Group D of the first round in the Americas qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup.
The Mexicans achieved their fourth victory in five matches to share the top of the bracket with the United States, just one day from completing the initial phase, according to a report published on the official website of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
?? Mexico wins at home! ? #FIBAWC | #WinForMexico pic.twitter.com/Pt6CV1CzYS
— FIBA Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWC) July 2, 2022
Cuba still does not know the victory at this stage and, according to the source, their luck would have changed with a better aim from the free throw line, since they missed up to 14 shots in 32 attempts.
“We dominated the rebound (45-32), but we were a disaster in free throws. We have to be calmer when we are close in the score. We missed many opportunities,” the Cubans detailed at a press conference.
Contrary to their rival, Cuba was not successful from the perimeter as they only made four shots of 21. They had to look for points in the paint and thus center Jasiel Rivero got a double-double of 17 units and 10 rebounds.
According to a report from Ephat the Manuel Bernardo Aguirre gym in Chihuahua, in the north of the country, Mexico won 18-16 in a tight first quarter, thanks to winning on counterattacks.
In field goals, the best of the Mexicans was the veteran Francisco “Pako” Cruz. The Mexicans left at halftime with a 42-36 lead with another good performance from Cruz, who added eight more points to his tally to reach 13 units.
The guard of the Turkish Tofas, according to Ephcontinued with fine aim on three-pointers and hit two more of three attempts in the second quarter against a Cuba that lost strength in the paint.
Mexico had a double-digit lead for the first time in a third quarter in which the Cubans were condemned with their turnovers, which meant 10 points for the locals. Gabriel Girón took center stage for the Mexicans with eight points, six of them from the triple.
Although the Cubans reduced the deficit, Paul Stoll completed a final quarter of five points to help the Mexicans define the match 75-66.
The cast of Mexico will close its participation in the first round of the qualifiers by visiting Puerto Rico this Monday at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. The Cubans will also return to the court on Monday, when they receive the United States in Havana.
With information from Efe and the FIBA Basketball World Cup website.
