The National Team defeated Chile 54-40 and won the first match of Group A. Outstanding defensive performance to cause 32 losses in the rival. The activity will continue this Thursday against Paraguay.
It is not easy to face an international debut far from your home, from your family, from those people who surround you and love you, from even those fans who cheer your name. How complex it must be to represent an entire nation at just 15 years old. There are always exceptions and here we are before one of them. The group showed responsibility, integrity and courage at the start of the South American U15 against a tough and complex opponent. They defeated Chile 54-40 with a superb display of their players and made an entire country proud.
The iron defense put forward by the coaching staff allowed them to set the pace early against an opponent who was perplexed by the intensity of the game in the first few minutes. The Chilean team paid dearly for those premature errors that ended in accurate counterattacks and that led Argentina to establish a 13-4 run. An idea that was worked on during the long months of preparation and that had the desired effect. Certain white and blue inaccuracies in the second quarter marked parity on the board (equality at 15) until establishing a momentary 18-19 victory for the host country. However, those led by Paula Budini and Rocío Pérez maintained that pressure on the starts and took the first half 28-22.
For the return from the long break, the offensive fluidity proposed from the leadership of Sol Depetris paved the way in his first appearance in the contest. Argentina was clearly superior against an opponent who lost possession of the ball too easily. Determining actions that accompanied, once again, a suffocating defense that completely dried up Chile’s aspirations. The technical duo rotated the twelve players and was left with a crucial victory by 54 to 40.
Sol Depetris led the statistics with 17 points, 3 steals, 3 blocks and a PIR of 19, followed closely by Isabella Boullon with 10 and Juana Barrionuevo with 7 units.
The action will continue this Thursday when it is their turn to face Paraguay starting at 6:00 p.m. for the second date of Group A of the continental tournament. A new victory would place them virtually in the semifinals and at the mercy of getting a ticket to FIBA Americas in 2023. All games can be seen for free through the BasketPass platform.
STATISTICS
Photos: Courtesy of FIBA
