Argentina and Paraguay win in South American U17 Championship opener

LIMA (FIBA South American U17 Championship 2017) - The first day of competition of the South American U17 Championship was marked by overwhelming victories by Argentina and Paraguay.

Paraguay opened the tournament with a crushing victory of 71-35 over Bolivia. The Paraguaian team set the rythym of the game with a 22-5 second quarter in front of an undisciplined Bolivian offensive that committed 33 turnovers during the game. On Paraguay's winning team, José Barreto was the best player with 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Bolivia’s best performer was José Arnold Pérez, with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the defeated side.

During the day’s second game, Argentina defeated Ecuador 64-48. The Ecuadorian team won the first quarter, but the Argentines caught up with a dominant 20-8 second quarter that secured their advantage for the rest of the game. The winners reccured to a great participation by substitute players, who achieved 34 points, while Ecuador only made 12. The best player on the Argentine side was Juan Hierrezuelo, with 9 points and 14 rebounds for the win. Ecuador’s best was Luis Riascos, with a great personal achievement -albeit the lost cause- of 21 points and 11 rebounds.

On the second day of the South American U17 Championship, Colombia will face Venezuela, Chile will play against Perú, Uruguay will play opposite Ecuador, and the unbeaten Argentina and Paraguay will face off.

The best three teams from the South American U17 Championship will qualify for next year's FIBA U18 Americas Championship in St. Catharine's, Canada.

You can access the live statistics and coverage of the South American U17 Championship at fiba.basketball.

FIBA