DR makes finals FIBA Championship

[NewsWhore]

The Dominican Republic national men's basketball team has moved up to the semi-finals of the FIBA Americas Championship together with Argentina, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. The DR defeated Uruguay 84-76 yesterday in the 10-team qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. The first two teams in the tournament will qualify for the Olympics. The third through fifth place finishers get a final chance at qualifying in a July 2012 tournament. The DR team now has a 5-1 record in the tournament, but faces its toughest two matches ahead, Puerto Rico and Argentina.

This is the first time in the country's history that the Dominicans have clinched a berth in a semi-final of an Olympics qualifier. With the win yesterday, the DR ensured it would at least participate in the final July 2012 qualifier.

The Dominican Republic beat Uruguay 84 to 76. Al Horford led the game with 23 point and 14 rebounds. For Uruguay, Martin Osimani had 22 points and 6 assists, FIBA Americas reported.

With Sosa's jersey draped over one of the seats on the bench, the team dedicated its win to Sosa, who watched the game from a nearby hospital. Sosa broke his right leg on Monday during the final seconds of the game against Panama. After the game, the team went straight to the hospital to visit him.

The DR's biggest challenge now is to beat Puerto Rico in the Wednesday 7:30pm game. Puerto Rico defeated the Dominican Republic 99-77 two weeks ago in the first game of the Jenaro "Tuto" Marchand Cup held as a warm-up for the FIBA Americas Championship.

The DR will play Argentina on Thursday at 5pm. Both those games will be streamed live on ESPN3.com (http://ESPN3.com)

www2.mardelplata2011.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=B9F7CB6FBB1746C481BF6772680293A0 (http://www2.mardelplata2011.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=B9F7CB6FBB1746C481BF6772680293A0)

www.coachcal.com/2011/09/06/dominicans-win-again-dedicate-victory-to-injured-teammate/ (http://www.coachcal.com/2011/09/06/dominicans-win-again-dedicate-victory-to-injured-teammate/)

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/arroyo-scores-26-and-puerto-rico-beatscanada-to-reach-semis-of-olympic-qualifying-for-americas/2011/09/06/gIQAidyL7J_story.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/arroyo-scores-26-and-puerto-rico-beatscanada-to-reach-semis-of-olympic-qualifying-for-americas/2011/09/06/gIQAidyL7J_story.html)

More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)

[Sidney]

DR gets another chance at a qualifier The DR defeated Puerto Rico 103-89 in Mar de Plata, Argentina on Sunday. On Saturday, however, the DR had lost its crucial game with Brazil (83-76) together with its bid to win one of two berths for the 2012 Olympic Games. The DR had defeated Brazil in a previous game. The fourth place (4/3) is the best standing the DR has ever achieved in a FIBA Americas Championship. The DR trained for 40 days to get ready for the chance at defeating powerhouses Argentina, Brazil and Puerto Rico in the championship for the slot to London. As expected, Argentina won first place, Brazil placed second in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship and the DR third. Because it made the semifinals, the Dominican Republic will compete for a slot in the Olympics in July at the last-chance qualifying tournament to be held in Europe, along with Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Al Horford was the runner-up in points in the tournament with 190 to Luis Alber Scola (ARG), and Jack Michaels and Al Horford lead in rebounds in the tournament with 80 and 71, respectively. Al Horford led in free throws made, and Francisco Garcia led in blocked shots (13). Al Horford was also the leader in steals with 19.