Group B preview: Brazil's strong defense could be the difference

 MIAMI (United States) – Group B of the Americas Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 are set for crucial matchups to help define the teams that will advance to the next stage. The two undefeated - Brazil and Uruguay, and the two that are winless Chile and Colombia, will face each other.

The game that will capture much of the attention is that of the leaders, who will meet on Friday the 25th, at 7:10 p.m. (local time) at the Ginásio Pedrocão de Franca. The Brazilians have traditionally been strong at home, going 5-1 in previous World Cup qualifiers.

Led by Gustavo De Conti, Brazil will be without center Cristiano Felício (sprained ankle), point guard Marcelinho Huertas (flu) and power forward Timothy Soares (COVID-19). In their place, fans will see guards Elinho Corazza, Alexey Borges and forward Gabriel Galvanini. Even with these substitutions, the South American power continues to exhibit very talented depth, with the likes of Vítor Benite, Bruno Caboclo, Leo Meindl and Lucas Mariano among others.

"It's our debut at home. We have two complicated games in which we must be attentive to the maximum. We are looking for the two victories, knowing the competition is very talented," De Conti said in a statement from the Brazilian Confederation.

Uruguay will not have its leading scorer from the first window, Bruno Fitipaldo (22.0 points) and instead will have the return of Luciano Parodi (10.2 points for s.Oliver Würzburg in Germany). At the last minute, power forward Mathias Calfani was lost to injury, but coach Rubén Magnano will continue to have veteran Esteban Batista, rising star Agustín Ubal, forward Theo Metzger and recently naturalized Diego Peña García.

It will be a challenge for the Uruguayans trying to break the strong Brazilian defense, which in these qualifiers is the leader in blocks (5.0 per game), points conceded in the paint (24), stingy when it comes to second-chance points (4) and have been equally unwilling to give up easy baskets in transition allowing just two-points per contest.

Getting that first win will be the focus

If the clash for the leadership of the group is of the utmost importance, so is the one between Chile and Colombia, the two both need to win in order not to fall to sole possession of last place in a very competitive group. They will face each other on the 25th as well at 9:40 p.m. (local time) at the Antonio Azurmendi Coliseum, in Valdivia, Chile.

The two teams are very even, but Colombia has key absences from the first window, like leading scorer Brian Angola (27.0 points per game), Hansel Atencia (15.5 points), and inside presence Andre Ibargüen (7.0 rebounds). Forwards Michaell Jackson, Tonny Trocha and point guard Romario Roque wil be asked to step up and will log major minutes.

The Chileans will also miss their leading scorer, center Manny Suárez (14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds), so Sebastián Herrera and Ignacio Arroyo will have to take charge of the offense.

“The days leading up to these games have allowed us to get geared up to play with a lot of confidence in order to play our best basketball. Our main objective is to advance to the second round of the Qualifiers,” declared captain Gerardo Isla, to the press team of the Chilean federation.

 

This will be the third meeting between these two in World Cup Qualifying history, with each team winning their away game. So anything can happen.

Later, on the second date of the group, scheduled for Monday 28, Brazil and Colombia will meet (20:00, local time), on the same stage in Franca. Chile and Uruguay will do the same in Valdivia (22:10, local time).

FIBA