playoffs

He Argentine national basketball team took the undefeated from Canada, which they defeated by 83 a 72at the Islas Malvinas Sports Center in Mar del Plata, for the last window of the Qualifiers for the World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines 2023, but not yet qualified for that ecumenical event, so they must beat the Dominican Republic on Sunday, in the same scenario, to achieve that goal.

To directly access the Group E World Cup this Thursday night, the team led by Pablo Prigioni needed not only to beat the Canadians, who were already classified and that is why they came to Mar del Plata without their NBA players, but also that Puerto Rico or Mexico lose in their respective commitments as visitors from Brazil and Colombia.

But there was no case, although the Central Americans were the closest to succumbing, but, following a great game, they ended up beating the Brazilians by 92 to 90, while the Mexicans overwhelmed the Colombians by almost 60 points: 113 to 54.

Against this background, Argentina now has eight victories once morest three losses, the same as the Dominican Republic, which this Thursday night comfortably won as a visitor to Panama by 93 to 67.

The first three in each zone, plus the best fourth, qualify for the World Cup. Canada holds a record of 10 wins and one loss, which Argentina gave it precisely this Thursday night.

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The Argentine team consolidated their victory from the second quarter, since the first ended losing by 18 to 17. The first 9 points of the albiceleste team were the work of their greatest figure, the Cordovan point guard Facundo Campazzo, who, on his return to Mar del Plata, where he is an idol for Peñarol, displayed his entire repertoire of conversions, errands and assists.

And precisely by his hand, the current Red Star player, from Belgrade, began to build the victory in the second round of the match, which the Argentines ended up taking 40-31, registering a 23-13 run.

Of course, the development matched once more with the start of the second half, which would end with a tight partial in favor of the locals by 21-19, which would slightly increase the difference for a closing of the third quarter with Argentina leading by 61 to 50.

But, despite the fact that the difference was not that wide, there was already a feeling of consummated victory for the fans who packed Malvinas Argentinas at the start of the last quarter, in which their palms reddened once more to applaud a Campazzo who established himself as the figure of the night with a double-double, converting 13 points and delivering 10 assists. The other scorer with the same amount was Nicolás Brussino.

In this way, all the paths towards the World Cup must now move towards what will happen on Next Sunday, at 9:10 p.m., once more at the Mar del Plata Sports Center, once morest the Dominican Republic, with the inexcusable need to achieve another victory so as not to depend on any external result..