Americas | Puerto Rico crushes Canada to finish undefeated

SAN JUAN (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - Puerto Rico ended the first round of the FIBA Americas Championship undefeated after dominating Canada 90-70 in front of over 9,000 fans at Coliseo Roberto Clemente.

Carlos Arroyo and Larry Ayuso led Puerto Rico with 16 points each. They didn't need to take charge of the offense as the bench players helped, especially Filiberto Rivera who netted 13 points, Guillermo Diaz 9, Angel Vassallo 8 and Daniel Santiago 6.

The duo of Arroyo and Ayuso led Puerto Rico in the first quarter as they won 23-14. Ayuso had 10 points and Arroyo 7 for the hosts in the first ten minutes.

In the second quarter the bench players came out and took control of the offense to cruise to a 45-30 halftime lead. At the half Ayuso had 10 and Filiberto Rivera 8. Canada had Joel Anthony with 9 and Carl English 6.

Technical fouls given to Jesse Young and head coach Leo Rautins with 4:53 left, had the Canadians down 55-35 after five free throws, four from Ayuso and one from Peter John Ramos who was fouled in the next play.

At the end Diaz along with the rest of the bench players gave Puerto Rico a comfortable win to finish the first round 4-0.

In Group A the teams that also qualified are Uruguay (3-1), Canada (2-2) and Mexico (1-3). In Group B the top 4 were Brazil (4-0), Argentina (2-2), Dominican Republic (2-2) and Panama (1-3). The Quarterfinals begin on Tuesday and it will be played until Friday. The top 4 teams reach the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Luis Modestti/ FIBA Americas

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