Argentina starts 2025 AmeriCup Qualifiers with solid win over Chile

MAR DEL PLATA (Argentina) – Argentina delighted the home crowd at Polideportivo Malvinas Argentina Thursday night, defeating Chile (90-78) in the start of the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers.

The squad coached this time around by Hernán Mandole led by as many as 18 points but had to withstand a pair of second half runs by a feisty Chilean squad that just wouldn’t go away.

 

Turning point: Chile got a high double-digit deficit down to 6 points early in the third quarter on a free throw after star forward Gabriel Deck earned a technical foul by complaining on what he thought should’ve been a foul on a layup attempt.

The emotional outburst seemed to snap Argentina out of their funk, allowing them to regain a double-digit lead that they mostly sustained or expanded the rest of the way.

Player of the game: Nicolas Brussino not only led the way for Argentina with 19 points, but he also provided a spark during key moments of the game.

The 30-year-old sharpshooter went 7/16 from the field, including a torrid 5/10 from beyond the arc, and was instrumental in Argentina jumping to an early 17-7 lead with 8 quick points. He then hit a three-pointer in the second quarter when Chile had cut the lead down to single digits and repeated the feat in the third when Chile got within six points.

 

He also contributed 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Deck (17 points and 10 rebounds) and Facundo Campazzo (15 points, 8 assists and 2 steals) were their usual effective selves, while Lucio Redivo (12 points) and Marcos Delía (11 points and 4 rebounds).

Chile had an explosive performance from Manuel Suárez, who scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half. The 30-year-old small forward shot 8/15 from the field and added 10 rebounds and 2 assists.

Sebastián Herrara was just as important. After going scoreless in the first half, the 26-year-old guard scored 21 points the rest of the way, finishing 5/5 from downtown.

 

Herrera went on a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter to get Chile back in the game and had another third-quarter flurry to silence the home crowd and keep his country alive.

Chile also got a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double from big man Felipe Haase.

Stats don’t lie: With Campazzo at the controls, Argentina played a masterful game on offense and finished with 24 assists on 37 made baskets against just 7 turnovers.

That level of ball security was a big difference on a night where many other categories were played to a draw. Chile won the rebounding battle 39-37, while Argentina had a 44-40 edge in points in the paint. Both teams shot well from beyond the arc, though Argentina’s 11 threes dwarfed Chile’s 7.

 

The away team had a 3-to-1 edge in free throws (15 vs. 5) as well as 19-10 advantage in second chance points.

But in the end, Argentina’s experience, depth and power tipped the scales.

Bottom line: Argentina needed a successful start to the competition as they try to put a disappointing 2023 in the rearview mirror.

 

 

 

After winning the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup, the South American giants failed to qualify to the 2023 World Cup and to the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, meaning they won’t even be able to vie for a medal on the 20th anniversary of their legendary gold in Athens. With some newer faces around a core of Deck, Campazzo, Brussino and Delía, the hope is that they can quickly regain their standing in the region during next year’s AmeriCup.

Meanwhile, Chile still isn’t expected to win these types of games, but performances like Thuraday’s are wildly encouraging. Both Venezuela and Colombia should watch out for Juan Manuel Córdoba’s guys later on in Group A.

 

FIBA