NewsWhore
06-25-2012, 05:21 PM
Both undefeated Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic clashed back-and-forth on Sunday, 24 June 2012 for the gold medal of the Centrobasket 2012 tournament. In a game that was decided by teamwork and free throws in the last half of the fourth quarter, the DR defeated Puerto Rico 80-72.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Puerto Rico regained the lead from the Dominican Republic, 65-64, with a 6-0 run. Then an Al Horford free throw tied the game for the last time to 67 points with 4:54 to play.
As it was, Puerto Rico didn't score in the next three minutes, which were sufficient for the DR team to advance with a 7-0 rally, closed with a triple by Juan Coronado, to take the lead 74-67 with 2:53 remaining. The Dominican team maintained the lead to the end.
Jack Michael Martinez led with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Juan Coronado followed with 17 and nine rebounds, while Francisco Garcia and Eulis Baez contributed 11 each one.
Puerto Rico was the regional championship having won the title in the in Santo Domingo in 2010, 2008 and 2006. The bronze medal in the tournament went to Jamaica.
The victory was sweet for the DR, that hadn't won a Centrobasket tournament since 2004 (Santo Domingo) and 1977 (Panama).
Key offense players in the game were team captain Jack Michael Martinez, Juan Coronado, Manuel Fortuna, Francisco Garcia and Al Horford in defense. The press highlighted the extraordinary team effort, given that star Al Horford that evening only scored 9 points.
In earlier games, the Dominican Republic had defeated Panama 79-62. In that game, the DR got off to a slow start again, losing the first quarter 13-20.
Puerto Rico in turn defeated Jamaica 103-89 to reach the finals against the Dominican Republic. The game was tough in the first quarter, with Jamaica tying eight times during the first half.
Both Puerto Rico, ranked 16th by FIBA and the DR, ranked 25th, seek to qualify for one of the three berths to the London Olympics that will be granted during the Olympics qualifier that starts 2 July in Caracas, Venezuela. The Centrobasket tournament serves to tune up the teams for the much tougher qualifier.
Leading into the qualifier tournament, the Dominican Republic team will play an exhibition game against the US national team in Las Vegas on Thursday, 12 July at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Dominican team is coached by John Calipari winner of the NCAA collegiate championships in the US with his University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Centrobasket gold is the first international gold for US coach John Calipari.
Then on 3 July it is scheduled to play in Group C of the Olympics qualifier against Korea at 11am and then on 4 July against Russia at 1:30pm.
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/national/12_MNT_Las_Vegas_Tickets.html
http://www.elnuevodia.com/plataparapuertorico-1286530.html
http://www.fibaamericas.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=87A463CAF75C4538889AE869D65FD92B
http://www.coachcal.com/15239/2012/06/calipari-led-dominicans-win-centrobasket-gold/
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Puerto Rico regained the lead from the Dominican Republic, 65-64, with a 6-0 run. Then an Al Horford free throw tied the game for the last time to 67 points with 4:54 to play.
As it was, Puerto Rico didn't score in the next three minutes, which were sufficient for the DR team to advance with a 7-0 rally, closed with a triple by Juan Coronado, to take the lead 74-67 with 2:53 remaining. The Dominican team maintained the lead to the end.
Jack Michael Martinez led with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Juan Coronado followed with 17 and nine rebounds, while Francisco Garcia and Eulis Baez contributed 11 each one.
Puerto Rico was the regional championship having won the title in the in Santo Domingo in 2010, 2008 and 2006. The bronze medal in the tournament went to Jamaica.
The victory was sweet for the DR, that hadn't won a Centrobasket tournament since 2004 (Santo Domingo) and 1977 (Panama).
Key offense players in the game were team captain Jack Michael Martinez, Juan Coronado, Manuel Fortuna, Francisco Garcia and Al Horford in defense. The press highlighted the extraordinary team effort, given that star Al Horford that evening only scored 9 points.
In earlier games, the Dominican Republic had defeated Panama 79-62. In that game, the DR got off to a slow start again, losing the first quarter 13-20.
Puerto Rico in turn defeated Jamaica 103-89 to reach the finals against the Dominican Republic. The game was tough in the first quarter, with Jamaica tying eight times during the first half.
Both Puerto Rico, ranked 16th by FIBA and the DR, ranked 25th, seek to qualify for one of the three berths to the London Olympics that will be granted during the Olympics qualifier that starts 2 July in Caracas, Venezuela. The Centrobasket tournament serves to tune up the teams for the much tougher qualifier.
Leading into the qualifier tournament, the Dominican Republic team will play an exhibition game against the US national team in Las Vegas on Thursday, 12 July at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Dominican team is coached by John Calipari winner of the NCAA collegiate championships in the US with his University of Kentucky Wildcats. The Centrobasket gold is the first international gold for US coach John Calipari.
Then on 3 July it is scheduled to play in Group C of the Olympics qualifier against Korea at 11am and then on 4 July against Russia at 1:30pm.
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/national/12_MNT_Las_Vegas_Tickets.html
http://www.elnuevodia.com/plataparapuertorico-1286530.html
http://www.fibaamericas.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=87A463CAF75C4538889AE869D65FD92B
http://www.coachcal.com/15239/2012/06/calipari-led-dominicans-win-centrobasket-gold/
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)