The Mexican basketball team lost the chance to reach the 2024 Paris Olympics by falling in the semi-finals of the San Juan Pre-Olympic Games against the host team, Puerto Rico, by 98 to 78.
Mexico It had the deficiencies of a group under construction, without its best elements, some injured and others with the dilemma of accepting the invitation to be part of the team.
Forced to win to face Lithuania in the Final, Mexico took to the court against Puerto Ricoquintet that he commanded Tremont Waters by getting 24 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Mexican team started the game dominating, specifically with two of the three triples that Fabián Jaimes made in the first period to give them a quick 4-12 lead over the home team.
Puerto RicoPlaying in front of some 12,730 fans in the stands of the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, including his immortal José ‘Piculín’ Ortiz, he seemed a bit nervous as he seeks his first Olympic pass in twenty years.
The Mexican teamalthough Puerto Rico tied the score, scored another field goal by Jaimes and a triple by veteran point guard Paul Stoll to close the first period in their favor, 20-25.
Faced with this and looking for a different strategy, the coach of Puerto RicoNelson Colón, replaced Waters with Jordan Howard, who responded excellently, and with nine points of an 18-3 run, the Caribbean squad took a comfortable 38-28 lead, making Mexico asked for time.
Puerto Rico He maintained that momentum for the next few minutes until a pair of three-pointers by Mexican Karim Rodriguez, including one at the close of the first half of the game, helped his team reduce the lead to eight points, 39-47.
From the third quatrain onwards, Mexico disappeared from the game and the home team seemed comfortable with the support of their thousands of fans. In the end, the difference of 20 points sealed the Mexican elimination and its absence from the game. Paris 2024.
Puerto Rico took advantage of the home advantage and will face Lithuania for the Olympic pass Paris 2024, after overwhelming Mexico and dismiss the 12 Warriors with their second defeat in the mini tournament.
Lithuania advanced to the final match by beating Italy 88-64 early in the semifinal round of the competition taking place at the Puerto Rico Coliseum in San Juan.
With this elimination, Mexico reached 48 years without attending the Olympic Games. The last time was in Montreal 1976, when it placed 10th in the competition. The best result in its Olympic participations was in Berlin 1936, when it won the bronze medal.
Source: Ambito
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