After losing to San Antonio Spurs’ Cory Joseph and team Canada on Thursday night; the Dominican Republic earned a victory against a different Spur, Tiago Splitter and Brazil on Friday. The Dominican Republic defeated Brazil 79 to 74 in a very close game on day four of the 2011 FIBA Americas tournament in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
With Brazil down by four points and a minute remaining in the game, Splitter was given the ball in the post as he had the obvious mismatch on Sacramento Kings’ Fracisco Garcia. Garcia wisely stripped Splitter and Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks scored on the other side for the Dominican Republic to put them ahead by six points.
Brazil would try to make a comeback, but in the end, their effor wasn’t enough. Splitter finished with a strong 16 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks on 6-of-8 shooting in 28 minutes of action.
Marcus Viera led Brazil with 18 points while Marcelo Heurtas had 16 points but 10 turnovers.
The Dominican Republic was led by Horford’s 22 points and Francisco Garcia’s 14 points.
Splitter and Brazil are now 2-1 in the FIBA Americas and will resume play on Saturday against Cuba whom Cory Joseph and Canada defeated earlier today.
(Photo: Flickr.com)
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