FAU18W - Brazil defeats Argentina and advances to championship game

Gurabo, Puerto Rico - Brazil defeated Argentina, 67-54, in the first semifinal of the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women thanks to an impressive second half and game from Vannessa Fausto, who scored 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Argentina came out aggressive on both ends of the court and thanks to the great start of their captains, Micaela Sancisi, Victoria Llorente and Julieta Armesto, opened the game with an 11-3 run against a Brazilian team that lacked cohesion on defense.

Argentina moved the ball, Sancisi attacked the gap and the points came easy to the Argentines at the beginning of the quarter. However, Brazil responded and scored six straight points to close the scoreboard and eventually end the quarter only down by 4 points, 13-9.

Armesto furiously opened the second, scoring eight points in the first five minutes and Argentina increased their lead to 13 points (24-11). Sancisi also put on a show scoring 7 points in the quarter.

But the Brazilians remained in the game thanks to Vanessa Fausto’s offensive output, a player who was injured in the first game of the tournament and did not see action until today, scoring 9 points in the first half and helping to reduce the disadvantage going into the break. Argentina won the half 32-24.

And so the third began and the offensive drought came to Argentina.

Brazil started the second half with a 14-2 run against an Argentina team that only scored seven points in the third. Vanessa was excellent at both ends of the floor in this part and the Brazilian strategy of pressuring and denying Sancisi of managing the game paid off. The third ended 44-39 in favor of the Brazilians.

Argentina battled with everything to stay in the game in the final quarter. Sancisi and Llorente scored to close the score to 50-47 with 7 minutes left, however, Brazil was able to move the ball correctly to find the open player, the three points started to go in and Brazil secured victory.

The game ended 67-54, a victory for Brazil that advances them to the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, tomorrow against the winner of the game between Canada and the United States.

The best scorer of the game by the Brazilian was Vanessa with 17 points, in addition to capturing 13 rebounds in the victory. For Argentina, the best was Sancisi with 17 points, 4 rebound and 4 assists.

 

FIBA Americas