Uruguay beats Paraguay at the end

ASUNCION PARAGUAY (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifier 2019) -Uruguay beat Paraguay 58-49 in their first meeting of the third phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifier 2019. It was an even game, besides the differences that marked the Uruguayan team as the favorite to win. The local team fought until the end, especially at the end of the game that was played in the León Condou stadium in Asunción, where they were playing again for the first time in 31 years.

The team led by Luis Oroño fought until the end but could not do it against the leader of Group A and ended the Qualifiers without any wins (0-5). The Uruguayan team added its fourth victory in five games, which it why it is leader alongside Argentina and where this Sunday in Montevideo they will fight for the first position.

Uruguay had discharged Jayson Granger and Esteban Batista for this game because of injuries, two key pieces in past qualifying games. The point guard Bruno Fitipaldo was who led the team with 13 points, while Marcos Cabot supported him with 11.

Gabriel Peralta, who led the Paraguayan team with 17 points and 9 rebounds, was important at the beginning of the third quarter and put his team ahead with a point of difference and then matched the game in 49 which made León Condou explode. The rest of the players could not add up to double digits: Guillermo Araujo had 8 points and 4 rebounds and Diego Bareiro collaborated with 5 points and 8 rebounds.

The Uruguayan team had a 26.92 percent three-point average (7 of 26) and 35.72 % in the court, while capturing 46 rebounds (31 on defense), and shared 10 assists. The Paraguayans captured 44 rebounds (28 on defense) and barely shared 5 assists during the whole game, besides only getting in 13 of 40 two-point shots (32.5 percent) and 4 of 23 three-pointers (17.39 percent).

Uruguay, Argentina, and Panama rollover 100% of the points obtained during this series and will meet in matches against the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, whom already qualified for Group C, where Cuba did not have any victories.

The team led by Marcelo Signorelli won four out of five games (only lost against Panama as a visitor) and will define the first position of their series next Sunday, when they recieve in Palacio Peñarol a direct rival like Argentina.

FIBA