FIBA World Cup Day 5: Croatia On The Bubble
By Phil Watson
Group B at Sevilla
Puerto Rico 77, Philippines 73
Puerto Rico kept itself in contention for a berth in the round of 16, getting its first win while eliminating the winless Philippines.
Jose Barea of the Minnesota Timberwolves tied the game with a 3-pointer with 2:11 to go and then gave Puerto Rico the lead on a layup with 51 seconds left.
Barea then hit 3-of-4 from the foul line, but missed the second of two with 13 seconds left and Puerto Rico leading 75-70.
Renaldo Balkman of Puerto Rico fouled Jimmy Alapag on a 3-pointer and Alapag knocked down all three free throws with four seconds to go to make it a one-possession game, 75-73. Ricky Sanchez hitr two free throws with three seconds left to seal the win for Puerto Rico.
The Philippines got off to a hot start, leading 25-13 after one period, but Puerto Rico rallied to get to within 44-39 at halftime and led 61-57 entering the fourth quarter.
Barea had 30 points for Puerto Rico, while Sanchez and David Huertas tossed in 13 points apiece. Alex Franklin grabbed nine rebounds and scored three points.
Andray Blatche finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots for the Philippines, but also committed six turnovers. L.A. Tenorio added 18 points and Paul Lee had 10 points before fouling out.
Puerto Rico won despite shooting only 23-for-58 (39.7 percent), in part because they were 11-for-26 from behind the arc (42.3 percent). The Philippines was 24-for-57 (42.1 percent), but 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) from long range.
Puerto Rico earns a spot in the elimination round with a win over Croatia on Thursday.
Argentina 81, Senegal 46
Senegal’s two-game winning streak crashed to an end as Argentina blew the game open with a 28-8 fourth quarter.
Luis Scola of the Indiana Pacers finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds for Argentina (3-1). Walter Herrmann added 11 points and Pablo Prigioni of the New York Knicks knocked down 10. Eleven different players found the scoring column for the Argentines.
Nicolas Laprovittola handed out six assists and scored eight points for Argentina and Facundo Campazzo had three steals and four points.
Gorgui Dieng of the Minnesota Timberwolves had 11 points and eight rebounds for Senegal. Xane D’Almeida had four assists to go with nine points, Maleye N’Doye had three steals and two points and Hamady N’Diaye of the Delaware 87ers blocked two shots and scored six points.
Senegal shot just 32.7 percent (18-for-55), compared to 45.3 percent (29-for-64) for Argentina.
Group B Standings (with point differential)
x-Greece 4-0 (+57)
x-Argentina 3-1 (+57)
x-Senegal 2-2 (-49)
Croatia 2-2 (-5)
Puerto Rico 1-3 (-37)
Philippines 0-4 (-23)
top four teams advance, x-indicates clinched spot in round of 16
Thursday in Group B
Senegal vs. Philippines, 8 a.m.
Croatia vs. Puerto Rico, noon
Argentina vs. Greece, 4 p.m.