No Surprises In The First Round Of The Preolimpic Tournament

No surprise came in the first round of the Preolimpic tournament  since the favorite teams won all their matches.

Spain had no mercy on Fiji. A good defensive effort and the control on the rebounding (50 for Fiji’s 24) provided Spain that fast-break and transition game that mekes them feel so comfortable. The very first trey of the game from Valerie Nainima for the 3-0 was just an anecdote since in the next offense from Spain Anna Montañana sparked a 19-0 run  that put her team in front for good.

Evaristo Pérez was able to rotate all his players. Amaya Valdemoro lead the team in scoring with 24 pts (9-of-10 in twos) and 5 rebounds in just 17 minutes. Cindy Lima had a huge last quarter and had 17 pts and 6 rebounds in the game. Anna Montañana had 14 pts and 6 rebounds in 16:34. Newcomers Alba Torrens and María Revuelto had 16 (12 in the second quarter)  and 10 pts  (9 in the second) in 20 and 17 minutes respectively

Valerie Nainima lead Fiji with 23 pts

In the second meeting Cuba had to wait to the last quarter to beat China Taipei, since until the late minutes of the third the game was close. China had a simple game really effective in the offense that didn’t allow Cuba pulling away by using their physical talent, majorly trading baskets during the first three quarters.

China Taipei won the first quarter, 21-19. Chi Wen  scored 8 pts. But Cuba World reach the interval in front, 43-39, with Yulizeny Soria and Yamara Amargo scoring 6 apiece in the second  

After the break the defensive improvement from Alberto Zabala’s team gave then the chance to make an 8-0 run that would put them in front 53-62 and they won’t look back no more  

“The key was Cuba’s press defense in the third” said Coach China Taipei Ling Yao, who also said that her team had played better than they expected, but Cuba is a very physical team and they took advantage of that.”
 

Cuba entered the fourth 55 64 in front

“After the break we were convinced that if we imposed our velocity and our strength we’d win.” Said Coach Alberto Zabala,  

Cuba took complete control in the last period reaching a maximum lead of 62-83 with 3:35 remaining. China Taipei rushed their offense and didn’t find a way to break Cuba’s aggresive defense, finally losing 79-96. The 12 pts scored in the last quarter by Wei Chuan Chieng, China Taipei’s leading scorer, were useless

In China Taipei three more players reached double figures; Fen Chun Chiang 16 pts, Huy Yun Cheng  13 pts and Chi Wen  11 pts.

For Cuba Yakelyn Plutin lead the team with 19 pts and 13 rebounds, Suchitel Avila scored 20 and Clenia Noblet had 14 pts and 7 boards

The third game was an easy one for Latvia. Senegal’s team were mere espectators of a balanced Latvia’s game. A 19-0 run in the first quarter was definitive. Ainars Zvirgzdins used to game to rotate all his team. Latvia didn’t get the foot off the pedal during the whole game.  

In the third Mustapha Gaye’s team put a brief fight but Latvia wouldn’t lose the control an closed the game with a 94-34 win

Anete Jekabasone-Zogota scored 19 pts, Gunta Basko 17 pts, Ieva Kublina 10, Zane Tamane 10 pts and 8 boards and Ieva Tare 11 pts for Latvia

Latvia won the rebounding battle 39-31 and commited just 11 turnovers for Senegal’s 22

Aya Traoré was Senegal’s best scorer with 11 points

“We did a very good work in defense and that lead us to a big advantage.” Said Coach Ainars Zvirgzdins

In the last game the Czech Republic took advantage of Carolina Sánchez injury in the first minutes of the third quarter  

Jan Boborovcky’s women made a 9-0 run early in the game (15-12) but Argentina reacted and made a 12-0 run that put them in front 24-15 with 27 seconds remaining in the first that would end 25-18 for Argentina, with Caro Sánchez scoring 15 pts

Chzec defense got better in the second and the European power horse clan its way back, tying the game at 28 after a basket from Jana Vesela. Both teams begin then to have problems to score, however the show basket trading favored the Europeans that reached the break 38-35 in front  

Short two minutes in the third Carolina Sánchez was hit in her nose and had to leave the game. Argentina was at that point one point down, 40-39, but the absence of Caro would affect Argentina psicologically –As Coach Eduardo Pinto said – and they begin to struggle both offensively and defensively, scoring just seven points in the time remaining of the quarter that would finish 62-46 for the Chzecs

The last quarter was evened (15-9 overall) again. Argentina recovered from Caro’s absence and showed all their toughness in trying a late comeback but the chzecs ability was finally superior and they would win the game 77-55

In the Czech Republic Hana Machova scored 16 pts and grabbed 6 boards, Katerina Elhotova scored 15, Jana Vesela  13 and 9 boards and Petra Kulichova 11 pts and 7 rebounds

For Argentina Caro Sánchez was the leading scorer with 18 pts, joined by Marcela Paoletta’s 9