SAN JUAN (Marchand Continental Championship Cup) - Luis Scola made 28 points and 6 rebounds from Luis Scola weren't enough for Argentina as they lost to Brazil 91-76 in the first game of the II Marchand Continental Championship Cup.

Leandro Barbosa with 18 and Tiago Splitter with 14 led the defending champions to a relatively easy win but the team coached by Sergio Hernandez never gave up in the game. Brazil will play Puerto Rico on day 2.

The first half was for Brazil 39-32 as Splitter netted 15 points while for the Argentinean team Roman Gonzalez had 8. Pablo Prigioni missed the game due to physical discomfort and was replaced by Juan Manuel Fernandez who is 19 years old and plays for Temple University.

Brazil dominated the boards 47-38 and the assists 18-15.