Argentina and USA face off in key duel to lead Group E

LA RIOJA (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — The Argentine national team will welcome Team USA at La Rioja’s Superdomo next Thursday, in a game whose winner will take the top position.

Argentina will play their two matches as locals and will then face Mexico on Sunday, December 2. Meanwhile, the North American team will end their participation in this stage of the Americas Qualifiers against Uruguay, in the city of Montevideo.

This will be the first encounter between the two teams that are currently tied in the Group's first position, with a 7-1 record. The USA fell short in their visit to Mexico, 78-70; and the Argentines lost as locals in the city of Olavarría, against Uruguay, 88-83.

The Argentina-USA will be a truly important game, not only because the group leaders will be clashing, but because with a victory in this stage they will secure the great objective of qualifying to next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Argentina is the second team leading in scores in the Qualifiers, behind Canada, with an average of 87.9 points per encounter. They are also third in assists (20.4), eighth is rebounds (39.9), second in steals (9.4), second in free throw percentages (71.8%), second in two-pointers (57%), and fourth in three-pointers (36%).

As for the United States, they are third in the general standings, with 87.3 points per game, first in rebounds (45.5), first in three-point percentages (41%), sixth in free throw percentages (70.5%), fourth in assists (19.6), and ninth in steals.

The stage will be the Superdomo, the venue that hosted the Argentines against the Paraguayans for the first game of the Qualifiers, when the home team led a 96-63 triumph.

The President of the Argentine Basketball Confederation (CABB, for its Spanish acronym), Federico Susbielles, talked about the stadium that will be the team's home in this second occasion: “A year ago we were astounded by this stadium and its infrastructure, as well as the efforts made by the Province to kindly host us in an absolutely complete stadium. We believe it is an act of justice to end this qualifying road right where we started, in the province trusted by the National Team, and I know that it will be an incredible stage to seek those two victories that may take us to the World Cup in China if everything goes as expected and as dreamed.”

Meanwhile, Team USA, led by Jeff Van Gundy, arrives at this stage with a surprise in their roster — their most experienced player, Reggie Hearn, returns. He was a key player in the United States team that achieved the gold at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 and has played in 5 of the 4 qualifying rounds that have been disputed until now.

“You could say I'm the poster child for this team, coming in to do these qualifying games and the AmeriCup, and that is something that has helped to catapult my own career," said Hearn to FIBA.

Likewise, Coach Jeff Van Gundy assured in his most recent press conference after their win against Panama: “I think our greatest strength is our depth. Again, we’ve pretty much done this throughout (the Qualifiers). We play 10 or 11 guys, anywhere from 10 or 11 minutes up to the low 20’s. We try to take advantage of our depth.”

The team is practicing at the NBA’s Houston Rockets’ stadium and arrives at this stage with Joel Berry II, DeAndre Liggins, Richard Solomon, Reggie Hearn, Eric Moreland, Jarnell Stokes, Scotty Hopson, Chasson Randle, Travis Trice, John Jenkins, Cameron Reynolds and Tyler Zeller.

Eight players have experience in the NBA regular season, including veteran player Tyler Zeller, and eleven players have played in the NBA G League. Nine are currently playing in the official NBA minor league and three are free agents.

The point guard for the Sacramento Kings, Frank Mason, is the leader of the team, averaging 18.0 points per game, although he will not be present for these matches.

As for the team coached by Sergio Hernández, the surprise was the return of shooting guard Paolo Quinteros, who will once again wear the Argentine jersey for the first time since 2011, when he wore it at the FIBA AmeriCup 2011 in Mar del Plata, where his team achieved the gold.

“It was a great surprise to be called. When I found out that I was among the twelve, I couldn’t believe it. I know the team’s commitment and challenges and I’m very happy to be a part of it after so long. After being left out of the Olympic Games in London, I’ve always wanted to be in the team and I always looked to see if I was being summoned. I always had hope, but I understood that the National Team had to make changes and give opportunities to younger players. This is an acknowledgement to the sacrifices one makes during the season,” said Quinteros.

“The Argentine team, depending on the moment, seeks experience or projects. Paolo Quinteros, apart from his age, is in an impeccable state, and considering that the number of minutes in the national team is generally less, and considering the responsibility of this particular moment... For him this is his comfort zone. Paolo’s experience will be very important. He comes in in great physical shape and he will have a role with few minutes, which favors him. This has been his job for 20 years. He's used to being a franchise player,” said coach Sergio Hernández in the pre-game interview.

Also, small forward Marcos Mata comes back after appearing in the first stage of the Qualifiers; and Lucas Faggiano, point guard for San Martín de Corrientes in the Argentine league will wear the light blue and white jersey for the first time. Like this, the team led by captain Luis Scola — averaging 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game) -- will count on players Nicolás Laprovittola, Lucio Redivo, Máximo Fjellerup, Nicolás Brussino, Franco Giorgetti, Javier Saiz, Marcos Delía and Roberto Acuña.

“I wasn't expecting to be called. I didn't know that it could happen. I'm happy and ready to play. These are fundamental games and our minds have to be as strong as they have been up until now,” said Marcos Mata.

Meanwhile, Lucas Faggiano said about his participation: “It's a dream to be able to play in the national team. You have the hope, but as the years go by it becomes more of a reality. I've been working well in the club and doing things right. I imagine that it’ll be an incredible experience. The national team is very close to achieving its objectives and these will be two great games, and at home.”

Of the 12 that will play against the United States and Mexico, there are four that have been in all the games of the Qualifiers: Laprovittola (with an average of 10.6 points and 4.5 assists), Delía (7.9 and 5.8 rebounds), Saiz (3.3 points and 2.4 rebounds) and Fjellerup (2.4 points).

These end-of-the-year games could be definitive for these two national teams who won 7 of their 8 games, since there are only two games left to define who will qualify to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China 2019.

FIBA