SAN JUAN, 2 September 2003 — The United States completed their unbeaten run with a rout of regional rivals Argentina Sunday while Puerto Rico booked their passage to the 2004 Athens Games in the FIBA Olympic basketball qualifying tournament of the Americas.
Puerto Rico defeated Canada 79-66 in the all-or-nothing bronze medal game, with the third and final Olympic berth from the tournament on the line.
The hosts’ triumph served as a curtain raiser to the United States’ 106-73 pounding of Argentina in the gold medal game, but with each of the finalists already headed to Athens it was the third-place match that produced the sense of urgency.
Using the big-man tandem of Jose Ortiz and Daniel Santiago, the hosts opened a 14-point half-time lead and poured it on in the third quarter, touching off a celebration eight years in waiting.
“A year ago, we thought it might be possible that Puerto Rico would be out of the Olympics,” Puerto Rico coach Julio Toro said. “But we believe that Puerto Rico belongs on that plateau of excellence of basketball in the world.”
“Los Boricuas” are back in for the fourth time in the last five Olympiads. And making the trip — again — will be the 39-year-old Ortiz, a national hero known as “Piculin” who teamed with Santiago to beat up Canada around the basket.
Likened to longtime Utah Jazz star Karl Malone by Team USA coach Larry Brown during the tournament, Ortiz looked very much like “The Mailman,” delivering in all areas.
He had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and seven blocks for the first triple-double of the tournament.
“I think it’s my best game, as important as this one (was),” Ortiz said. “But most important, like Julio said, we could not afford to be out two cycles of the Olympic Games. It was going to be my last game if we didn’t win. He was unbelievable,” Canada coach Jay Triano said. “He was three blocks away from a quadruple-double. He just kept hurting us inside, cleaning things up, intimidating us at the defensive end and took away all of our easy baskets.”
Santiago, who will play for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association next season, scored nine of his 15 points in the first quarter, helping the hosts open a 24-13 lead and set a physical tone Canada could not match.
When Santiago sat early in the second period, Puerto Rico initially struggled. But tiny Roberto Hatton accelerated the tempo with three driving lay-ups that rebuilt the lead to double digits and also did an outstanding job in shutting down Canada’s Steve Nash, who victimized the hosts for 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a first-round win.
Nash, the All-Star guard of the Dallas Mavericks, forced shots and offered little direction for the offense. He missed 8-of-9 shots in the first half and finished with 10 points and seven assists, shooting just 2-of-13 from the field.
Canada has missed three of the last four Olympics, qualifying in 2000 with a semifinal win here over the hosts.
But Puerto Rico avenged that loss and then some.
The United States, too, earned a measure of revenge Sunday against Argentina, for an 87-80 defeat at last year’s World Championships.
That game marked the first time in 59 matches that a US team stocked with NBA talent had lost in international competition.
But the USA, led by Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, went a long way toward restoring the old world order with a crushing victory that included a dazzling display of dunks, three-point shots and brilliant passing.
The US led 53-19 after little more than 15 minutes. By half-time they were up 60-27, thanks in part to a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds in just 10 minutes by Duncan, who finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
“I think we really showed that we’re the best players in the world,” McGrady said. “I think from start to finish, that’s what we showed - that we’re the best.”
Argentina looked nothing like the team that earned silver at the 2002 world championships, nor the group that just five days ago was tied with the US with 6 1 2 minutes to play before succumbing 94-86.
“We didn’t forget what Argentina did to our team last year,” McGrady said. “I think that game right there is really going to leave a taste in someone’s mouth.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Team USA coach Larry Brown said.
“It’s one thing to do it in some of these preliminary rounds, but with what was at stake and the fact that they broke our string and gave us a great game, that first 24 minutes was incredible.”
The US stamped themselves the odds-on favorite to claim their fourth straight Olympic gold medal next year in Athens, Greece, regardless of what happens in next week’s European Championships.
“(This will) give the world something to think about for a year,” O’Neal said. “Hopefully this will let the rest of the world know that we are for real.”
