WASHINGTON (USA) – Helped by the return of its best player in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifier, Brazil achieved a crucial victory 94-79 against the United States, this Friday afternoon at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC
Yes, we are talking about Bruno. After being absent during the last window and the AmeriCup 2022, intern Bruno Caboclo returned in dramatic fashion, scoring 24 points and guiding his country to a victory that saw them win much of next year’s tournament in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. brings closer.
The 27-year-old shot 9/13 from the field, including 3/5 from beyond the arc, and had four rebounds, an assist and a steal in just 27 minutes of play.
Cabocolo scored 15 runs in the first half with Brazil scoring more than 61 percent off the ground, leading to a 20-point lead that would have been more than enough for a win.
The presence of forward power from the Capitanes de Ciudad de México allowed coach Gustavo Conti to adapt his rotation, roles and uses.
Caboccolo came off the bench behind the big pair of Cristiano Felicio and Tim Siores, who set the tone early on the defensive end. And with Marcelinho Huertas running the show, the Brazilian became an aggressive stalwart who broke any resistance from the home team.
Huertas finished with 8 points and 7 assists, and his ball speed was crucial to getting the open shot for Brazil. The South Americans finished 10/24 from long range, with Georginho de Paula shooting 3/4 of his way to 18 points.
The United States looked overwhelmed in the first half and it cost the game despite the defensive effort after the break.
The experienced Langston Galloway came alive in the second half and finished with 14 points. Forward Alizee Johnson added 10 and four rebounds.
Jim Boylen’s team won both the third and fourth quarters, but failed to narrow the gap to single digits as the Brazilian deftly slowed down and used the clock to their advantage.
The United States lacked a primary offensive and external shooting options to match the Brazilian power.
The Americans shot just 7/26 from the 3-point zone and missed shooting men who were in earlier windows such as Matt Ryan or John Jenkins.
They were also leading 40-32 and scored just 38 points in the paint, enough to explain how their rival lost them in Chihuahua City, their second qualifier after losing to Mexico almost a year earlier.
As far as Brazil is concerned, it is safe to say that they are back on track after losing three straight in these qualifiers.
Conti’s boys won silver in the AmeriCup this summer, losing by a basket to Argentina in the final, and clearly returned to their victorious form.
The United States (7-2) are still ahead in Group F, but now Brazil (6-3) is just one game behind them. These teams will face each other once again in the last match of the competition in Brazil on 23 February 2023.
FIBA
