SAN JUAN, 26 August 2003 — The US and Argentina have finished at the top of their respective groups as the first round of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament was completed on Sunday.
After playing four games, the two groups of five teams have been whittled down to a single group of eight where each country will play the four teams they did not meet in the first phase.
Group B winners the US (4-0) had a rest day on Sunday but in the final game of the pool, Leandro Barbosa had 22 points to lead Brazil to a 104-72 win over the Dominican Republic, who was led by Amaury Filion’s impressive haul of 35 points.
In the day’s other Group B game, Venezuela narrowly defeated the Virgin Islands 87-84 on the back of a 27-point performance from Victor Diaz and 21 points from Diego Guevara.
With the loss, the Virgin Islands joined Uruguay as the two teams to be eliminated after both compiled 0-4 records. Earlier Argentina defeated Puerto Rico 85-80 in Group A action to finish the first round with a 3-1 record.
Meanwhile, Rowan Barrett scored 27 points as Canada easily defeated Mexico 108-72 in a fight-filled Group A game. Late in the first half, Mexico’s Eduardo Najera was involved in a brawl with Peter Guarasci after being struck in the face with a vicious elbow.
Najera, who plays with the NBA Dallas Mavericks, retaliated with a punch and both The US begins the second phase of their campaign against Canada (3-1), Argentina plays Brazil (3-1), Mexico (2-2) takes on the Dominican Republic (2-2) and Puerto Rico (2-2) meets Venezuela (1-3).
Canada’s Barrett leads all tournament scoring with 94 points and his compatriot Steve Nash leads in assists with 30. American Mike Bibby has the most steals with 11, while Jose Ortiz-Rijos of Puerto Rico leads in rebounding with 25. After the second round, the four teams with the best records advance to the semifinals on Aug. 30.
