A day after being eliminated from medal contention by Brazil in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, Argentina still has something to play for.
Argentina Rolls By Costa Rica, Will Play Mexico For 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship Berth
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Rocio Evangelina Diaz and Argentina can still qualify for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship (Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball).
Colorado Springs, Colo. - June 26, 2010
A day after being eliminated from medal contention by Brazil (2-1) in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, Argentina (2-2) is still playing for something.
Natasha Spiatta scored 17 points and both Celia Fiorotto and Diana Cabrera scored 14, leading Argentina to a 86-34 win over Costa Rica (0-4) in a FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women consolation semifinal game on June 26 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The win keeps alive Argentina's chances to qualify for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Chile.
The top four finishers in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, plus the host nation Chile, qualify for next year's U19 Worlds. Since Chile (2-1), which will play the USA in a medal semifinal game tonight at 5:45 p.m. (all times MDT), is one of the top four finishers in the U18 Championship, the fifth-place finisher will earn a berth to the U19 Worlds.
Argentina will play Mexico for fifth place on June 27 at 1:15 p.m.
'We don't think it's going to be an easy game," said Argentina coach Eduardo Pinto. "Mexico has the outside players, very good ones. We better come to play."
Michelle Mayorga and Sofia Jimenez each scored seven points for Costa Rica, which will play Puerto Rico for seventh place on June 27 at 11 a.m.
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