Puerto Rico stun Latvia to keep Rio dream alive

BELGRADE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Puerto Rico clinched a spot in the Saturday final of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade after ending Latvia's two-game winning streak with a hard-earned 77-70 triumph in a dramatic semi-final clash.

Turning Point: A Renaldo Balkman tip-in with 1:08 remaining to play put Puerto Rico ahead 70-68 and after the Caribbean side got a stop on defence, Carlos Arroyo drilled a step-back triple to give them a 73-68 cushion with 35 seconds left on the clock.

Stats Don't Lie: Puerto Rico's superb defence forced Latvia to endure a horrible shooting night from long range, 3-of-26 three-point shooting. Puerto Rico also dominated on the boards and took away the European team's options to score from second chances.

Game Hero: While everybody on the winning team put in superb displays, Carlos Arroyo showcased on Friday his status as a clutch player down the stretch. The veteran point guard finished with 14 points, five assists, four boards.

The Bottom Line: Puerto Rico will now face the winner of the second semi-final, between the Czech Republic and OQT hosts Serbia, to decide which team earns a ticket to the Rio Games. For Latvia, the Olympic dream will not be realised for at least another four years, despite coming so close to playing in the OQT final.

FIBA