Sports writing, Jun 29 (EFE) .- A great game by the pivot Gustavo Ayón, author of a ‘double-double’ of 18 points and 21 rebounds, and the guard Paco Cruz, with 30 points, did not serve Mexico to debut victory in the Pre-Olympic in Split (Croatia) in which he was defeated by Germany 82-76.
The Aztec team, led by the center of the Astros de Jalisco and former Spanish Real Madrid, and the guard of the Turkish Kulubu and former player of Fuenlabrada of Spain, took the initiative of the match during the first three quarters, with a maximum difference of 9 points at the beginning of the third quarter (43-51, min 23).
However, Germany, driven by its greater bench background with 37 points contributed by its substitutes, equalized the duel with 6 minutes remaining (71-71) and took advantage of five minutes of Central American drought to put a partial 0-9 with which he sentenced the match, with 80-71 in the absence of the final minute, which was just a make-up for the result.
The guard Joshiko Saibou, with 17 points and 5 rebounds, was the best player in Henrik Rodl’s team, supported by the solidity of the Russian CSKA Moscow center and former Baskonia Johannes Voigtmann, who contributed a 10-point ‘double-double’ and 10 rebounds.
With this result, Germany leads Group A of the Split pre-Olympic, with two points, one from Mexico and the other from Russia, which has not yet played. Tomorrow Mexico will face Russia. In Group B, Tunisia and Brazil play this Tuesday, and host Croatia will debut tomorrow.
– Data sheet:
82 – Germany (19 + 21 + 22 + 20): Bonga (13), Lo (7), Obst (11), Barthel (4), Voigtmann (10) -the starting five-, Benzing, Giffey (3), Saibou (17), Thiemann (6) and Wagner (11).
76 – Mexico (22 + 20 + 25 + 9): Stoll (6), Cruz (30), Jaimes (9), Girón (5), Ayón (18) -the starting five-, Friend (4), Camacho (1 ), Estrada, Mendez (3), Ramos and Willis Orozco.
Referees: Matthew Leigh Kallio (CAN), Eddie Viator (FRA) and Takaki Kato (JAP). Eliminated by five personal fouls the Mexicans Daniel Amigo and Fabián Jaimes.
Incidents: match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying tournament played at the Spaladium Arena in Split (Croatia).
(c) EFE Agency