Group F Preview: No team is safe and an explosive ending awaits

MIAMI (United States) – After taking a look at the 2023 FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers Group E's games on February 23rd and 26th, it's now time to go over the situation in Group F, where everything is wide open heading into the last window.

Group F

12/18 games played

All First Round results carry over to Second Round

		GAMES				STREAK	GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	Last 5	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	USA	10	8	2	80.0		902	792	110	90.2	79.2	18
2	Brazil	10	7	3	70.0		873	703	170	87.3	70.3	17
3	Puerto Rico	10	6	4	60.0		780	772	8	78	77.2	16
4	Mexico	10	6	4	60.0		805	825	-20	80.5	82.5	16
5	Uruguay	10	5	5	50.0		721	765	-44	72.1	76.5	15
6	Colombia	10	3	7	30.0		794	901	-107	79.4	90.1	13

 

Thursday, February 23rd

Brazil vs. Puerto Rico - 19:30 local time (GMT -3)
Uruguay vs. United States - 21:10 local time (GMT -3)
Colombia vs. Mexico - 19:10 local time (GMT -5)

Sunday, February 26th

Brazil vs. United States - 21:10 local time (GMT -3)
Uruguay vs. Mexico - 21:10 local time (GMT -3)
Colombia vs. Puerto Rico - 19:10 local time (GMT -5)

United States (8-2) is in great shape to become the second team to qualify in the Americas after Canada. The red, white and blue only need one more win or a loss from Puerto Rico to clinch their spot in the World Cup. Jim Boylen's squad will first visit Uruguay, in what seems like the easier matchup, and then travel to Brazil to face a squad they already lost to at home in the previous window. That's why the North Americans will look to take care of business against Uruguay.

After them, Brazil (7-3) recovered from three consecutive losses and put on strong performances to beat United States and Mexico on the road in November. The Brazilians only need to beat Puerto Rico to qualify, but they already lost to them (75-72), so they'll have to tread carefully. The positive news for Brazil is that they'll now be playing at home. In case of losing, the boricuas would catch them in the second spot and secure the tie breaker. That would be the dream scenario for the Caribbeans, who are currently tied with Mexico at 6-4.

In their respective last games of the Qualifiers, Brazil will face United States and Puerto Rico will play Colombia.

For their part, Mexico will go on the road against a couple of teams that, despite being lower in the standings, are still dangerous. They'll first face Colombia, who handed them a tough loss (93-89) in their first matchup in Chihuahua, and then Uruguay, whom they dominated (80-60). Omar Quintero's team is in a situation where a loss could eliminate them, especially with three teams (Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Argentina) in Group E sitting at 7-3 and potentially vying to become the best fourth-place nation.

Uruguay (5-5) is in a tough spot because, in order to stay alive, they must win both of their home games (against United States and Mexico) and have several other results go their way. To make matters worse, they'll play without their leading scorer Jayson Granger (15.2 points per game), who suffered an injury during the last weekend. Colombia has been mathematically eliminated.

Star watch

Tremont Waters - Puerto Rico

Point guard
Height: 178cm / 5'10"
November stats: 19.0 PTS, 6.0 AST, 2.5 REB, 44% FG in 29.0 minutes per game

Since making his debut with the national team at the beginning of the Americas Qualifiers Second Round, Waters has been leading the Puerto Rican offense with averages of 20.3 points and 6.0 assists – illustrating his importance within Nelson Colon's squad. In these final games, Puerto Rico will need their point guard to maintain that level in order to retain their odds of qualifying to the World Cup.

X Factor

Francisco “Pako” Cruz - Mexico

Shooting guard
Height: 190cm / 6'3"
November stats: 19.0 PTS, 3.5 AST, 3.5 REB, 2.0 STL, 42% FG in 32.5 minutes per game

As mentioned above, the Mexican team faces a tall task in their final two games and to keep their chances alive they need to play at a high level on both ends of the floor. On offense, the 33-year-old veteran averaging 17.0 points per game and shooting 51 percent from long range (25/49) will carry a big load.

Group F teams in FIBA's World Ranking:

World Rank	Team	Americas Rank
2.	USA	1.
13.	Brazil	3.
21.	Puerto Rico	6.
31.	Mexico	8.
45.	Uruguay	9.
52.	Colombia	11.

FIBA