By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was a winner-takes-it-all game and Argentina made the most of it against the Olympics host Japan.
The “Albiceleste” got an easy 97-77 win and took the last ticket to the Olympic tournament quarterfinals with Luis Scola and Facundo Campazzo leading the charge.
Scola had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Campazzo flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds and things proved to be quite easy for the eventual winners.
Coach Sergio Hernandez didn’t hide his feelings about Scola: “He is ridiculous. I don’t think he stopped for a single day over the last 25 years. Even when the season ends, the next day he goes out to work with his personal basketball coach, personal phyisical trainer. He’s got a basketball court in his house. He pushed us to amazing places over the last 20 years. He pushed me, too. I would never be here without Luis Scola. I love him. I love Luis Scola.”
Yudai Baba had 18 points for Japan, Rui Hachimura picked up a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double, but Japan couldn’t make it past the group stage to the knock-out games.
On the contrary, Argentina will be there for the fifth straight time. The 2004 Olympic gold medal winners entered the last quarter with a 65-53 advantage keeping things under control after leading 48-36 in the first half.