Americas & Liberty Cup

FINAL RESULTS FOR  AMERICAS ZONE
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT

Mar del Plata, Argentina – The Canadian men’s team defeated USA 85-66 this past weekend to win the Americas Cup Qualification tournament. Pat Anderson with 33 and Richard Peter with 21 were the high scorers for Canada with Jeff Glasbrenner scoring 18 for the USA. In the Bronze medal game Brazil defeated Mexico 84 -62. Top scorers for Brazil were Marcos Silva with 32, Eric Silva with 19 and Irio Nunes with 18 leading the scorers for Mexico was Raul Ortega with 23 and Salvador Zavala with 16. Canada, USA and Brazil will advance to the Paralympics in Athens. 

Earlier in the week Argentina won the Liberty Cup tournament going undefeated against Venezuela, Uruguay and Colombia in the Liberty Cup pool of the tournament.

 In women’s play Mexico defeated Brazil for gold by a score of 46 – 27. The win gives them the right to join Canada and the USA as the third women’s team to qualify from the Americas for the Paralympics in Athens. Top scorers for Mexico were Rosa Camara 14, Lucia Vazquez 13 and Leticia Penaloza with 10. Scoring for Brazil was Jucilene Da Paixao Moraes with 8 points.

 On the final day of play Argentina defeated Venezuela 71 – 54 to capture 5^th place in the Americas Cup. Adolfo Berdun with 33 points for Argentina and Jose Sifontes with 13 were top scorers in the game. In the other game Colombia defeated Uruguay 57 – 43 for seventh place. Top scorers were Wilber Caicedo 18, and Oscar Rios 12 for Colombia, Daniel Martinez and Hugo Curbello each had 14 in a losing cause for Uruguay.

 Pat Anderson (Canada) with 137 points was high scorer for the Americas Cup tournament followed by Adolfo Burdun (Argentina) with 120; Jeff Glasbrenner (USA) with 111 points, Marcos Silva (Brasil) with 108.

CANADA TO PLAY USA IN MEN’S GOLD MEDAL GAME
09 December 03 

Mar Del Plata, Argentina December 8, 2003 – USA came out shooting in the first semi-final game against Brazil. They lead 23 – 8 at the end of the first quarter. Brazil matched them basket for basket in the second quarter to keep the game within reach but still trailed 38 -20 at the half. Both teams traded baskets through out the second half but in the end the lead that the USA built up in the first quarter proved to much to overcome. Final score USA over Brazil 76 – 57. Jeff Glasbrenner led all scores with 25 points for the USA. Jeremy Lade chipped in 15 and Jason Nelms added 13. Marcos Silva and Sandoval Nunes each had 13 points for Brazil. 

In the second semi-final Canada proved to be way to strong for a game Mexican squad. The Canadians came out running and lead 26 – 3 at the end of the first quarter. Canada dominated the play through out and finished a strong game beating Mexico 89 – 39. Pat Anderson had 30 points followed by Dave Durepos with 14 and Joey Johnson and Richard Peter with 10 each. 

Canada will play USA in the Gold medal game with Brazil and Mexico squaring off for the final spot to Athens.

 In other play Venezuela defeated Uruguay 37 – 24 to advance to the 5/6 play-off. Juan Corrales and Eduardo Gonzales each had 8 points for Venezuela and Daniel Martinez had 10 in a losing cause.

 Argentina defeated Colombia in the other consolation play-off game by a score of 61 – 35. Adolfo Berdum with 27 and Fabian Castilla with 14 were the leading scorers for Argentina. Oscar Rios had 8 for Colombia.

 Argentina will meet Venezuela for 5^th and 6^th and Uruguay will play Colombia for 7^th and 8^th.

 AMERICAS ZONE
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT
08 December 03

Mar Del Plata, Argentina – The teams in the Americas Cup Qualification Tournament for men began play in quarter final play today. After a preliminary round which saw Canada end up first in the Americas Cup pool and Argentina win the Liberty Cup  the teams began the cross-over today in their search for one of the three spots to the Paralympics in Athens. 

In the game between Brazil and Venezuela both teams came out shooting and only 2 points separated them at the end of the first quarter but then the superior strength of Brazil started to wear done Venezuela and Brazil ended up on top with a score of 82 to 49 to advance to the semi-finals. 

In the second game of the day Uruguay proved no match for the must bigger and more experienced team from the United States and the USA will move on with a score of 88 – 19. 

In game three Canada defeated Colombia easily winning 106 – 33 to advance. 

The last game proved to be the most exciting of the day with Mexico fourth place after the preliminary round of the Americas Cup playing Argentina first in the Liberty Cup. The teams exchanged baskets for most of the first half and went into the break with Mexico up by only 4 points 30 to 26. In the third quarter Mexico outscored Argentina 22 to 11 and never looked back winning 72 – 51. 

USA will play Brazil in one semi-final and Canada will play Mexico in the other. Venezuela will play Uruguay and Argentina will play Colombia on the consolation side. 

The women had a day off today but will resume play on Monday.
 

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AMERICAS CUP 

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