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Argentina beat Panama and closed a perfect window with very good feelings

Nicolás Brussino brought out all his power from long distance and dispatched with 24 points against Panama – Credits: @@FIBA

If the search was to know where the Argentina basketball team, this knockout window allowed Néstor García to draw good conclusions. Without having his full team, won two away wins that allowed him to understand that, with filming, the national group keeps its essence intact. With Facundo Campazzo as a leader and with a Nicholas Brussino determinant, beat Panama 88-77but what he got with the victory is bigger than a simple favorable score, because some collective signs allowed us to understand that the competitive hunger of this team has not ended.

The first game with Venezuela showed a vital reaction in the third quarter and took a very important victory (69-67) to consolidate the confidence of the group. In this last game, what Che García’s team found in the second quarter against Panama was a version very close to what he exhibited when he was runner-up in the world. Focused, with good defensive rotations, running the floor, hitting from three points and with just a handful of turnovers.

And the most interesting thing about the case is that he managed to take two important steps with only part of the group that was runner-up in the world. Because although Campazzo, Brussino, Delía and Garino were there (he recently returned to the national team), the Argentine team was missing three vital pieces: Laprovittola, Luca Vildoza and Gabriel Deck. And the most encouraging signs are that he was able to make up for those absences with the talent of Bolmaro, the validity of Delfino and the enormous dedication of players like Vaulet, Romano and José Vildoza.

Ultimately, Che García’s team knows after these conquests that their central objective is in the second stage of the qualifiers. Because in that instance his passage to the World Cup will be resolved. There it will share group E with Canada, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, plus Venezuela and Panama.

That second stage will be played in two windows, which will be in November 2022 and February 2023. There, each team will play at home and away against the three new teams in their group. At the end of these six additional games per team, the three best teams selected from each group (in group F are Brazil, Uruguay, (Colombia or Chile), the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico), plus the best fourth team, will qualify for the Philippines-Indonesia-Japan 2023 World Cup.

But these two won duels also allow the national team to add flight hours ahead of the Americup, which will be held in Brazil, between September 2 and 11. There he could have his entire squad available and perhaps know exactly if the world runner-up is back.

The duel with Panama

A start with good defensive help, but without much offensive clarity. Argentina tried to run the field, but it was difficult for them to find the paths because they confused hurry with speed. However, he has plenty of talent and resources to stay in the game. Bolmaro’s long distance, Campazzo’s experience, Delia’s help in the paint allowed the national team not to let Panama escape, which for the style of Caribbean basketball had Gaskin and Mitchell as the two players who combined scored 16 of the 23 points that Panama scored in the first quarter.

Brussino caught fire at the start of the second quarter. And he broke the 23-23 with two three-point bombs that allowed Argentina to take a breather. And behind he offered an assist from behind for a tremendous dunk from Cáffaro, he scored a partial 8-2 and put the game 31-25. What was an intense start, was the warning of what would be the period of the national team.

Although Gaskin, Romero and Mitchell tried to get Panama into the game, that energy did not last long for the local team. Because when Campazzo made the decision to own the game, he broke everything proposed by the team led by Flor Meléndez. But the most interesting thing that Argentina offered was the collective production, because it dominated the rebound (24-15), it had 53% in field goals, it barely lost 5 balls in two quarters (in the game against Venezuela it had lost 11 in the same stretch) and between Campazzo and Brussino they combined 32 points (16 each).

Argentina defended, ran the field when it could, took care of its rim with good help, attacked the rival glass to keep several rebounds and showed that when it raises its level it is above rivals like Panama. In a quarter he scored 31 points against him and won the first half 54-38.

The second half did not change the equation too much, because Argentina maintained an intense defense, especially in the first line, did not let Panama create play and allowed them to steal some balls and run the court. Bolmaro and Delfino joined the production with consecutive points and the distances between both teams grew. The most concentrated team, with the dominance of the actions and against a rival without too many tools other than the push of Gaskin (21 points until the third quarter), Argentina extended its advantage on the scoreboard: 80-61.

The last chapter started something disconcerting for Argentina, because they had three turnovers and five missed shots in 3 minutes, which allowed Panama to run in some actions and reduce the distance to 13 points (60-67). Che García quickly asked for a timeout, calmed the waters and made it clear to his players: “Don’t worry, they only dropped 5 points. Continue playing”.

Far from being able to improve, the first 5 minutes of the quarter were very weak, because they suffered a 10-0 run. he had 5 turnovers and 0 for 8 shooting from the field. Panama even reduced the advantage to one digit (71-80). Campazzo broke the barrier of the 80, who took a free kick with a three-point shot, which the point guard changed for three goals from the three-point line. Brussino saved a shot from Bolmaro and scored the first two points from the field after almost 7 minutes, in a quarter to be forgotten, because Argentina had 14 turnovers. Despite a poor final production, he managed to close the game 88-77.

How does the selection process continue?

Che García’s team advanced together with Venezuela and Panama to the second stage of the qualifiers. There it will share group E with Canada, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. On the other hand, the six classified from groups B and D are Brazil, Uruguay, (Colombia or Chile), the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico, which will form group F.

This second stage will be played in three windows, which will be in November 2022 and February 2023. There, each team will play at home and away against the three new teams in their group. At the end of these six additional matches per team, the three best selected from each group, plus the best fourth team, will qualify for the Philippines-Indonesia-Japan 2023 World Cup.

The Americup Dispute

The national team will have more action for this 2022. From September 2 to 11, in Brazil, the 19th edition of the AmeriCup will be played. There will be 12 participating teams in this competition: Argentina, Canada, Colombia, United States, Virgin Islands, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Venezuela and the host nation, Brazil.

There, Néstor García’s team will be in group B along with the Virgin Islands, the team against which they will debut on September 3, Puerto Rico, the rival against whom they will face each other the following day, and the Dominican Republic, the team they will face on the 6th of that month.

In the last competition, played in 2017, the United States was crowned champion of the AmeriCup, defeating Argentina in the final by 81-76. At that time, the tournament was played in three countries: Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay.

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