With a fifth win, the Dominican national basketball team had held tight to their chance of a slot for the Americas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup by defeating Chile 71-46 at the Palacio de los Deportes in Santo Domingo. But then on Sunday, 16 September, playing Venezuela at the Forum de Valencia Arena, the Dominican team couldn’t pull together enough and lost 79-78 in overtime.
In Group F, the DR is now behind Canada, Venezuela and Brazil, and ahead of the US Virgin Islands and Chile. The DR’s now only chance is to be the fourth best of both Group E and F, to make the seven that move ahead in the qualifier for the Americas for China 2019 FIBA World Championships. The three best teams of Groups E and F, plus the fourth best of both groups, will make up the seven.
FIBA described the game as “one of the most exciting games of the Americas Qualifiers.” It highlighted it was the first Americas Qualifier game needed extra time. For the Dominican Republic, Víctor Liz played phenomenally, contributing 25 points; Eulis Báez added 17. FIBA reported that despite the outcome, the Dominican team was in control during a great part of the encounter since the middle of the first quarter is now with a mark of 5-3, or are fourth in their group. The Dominicans have lost three of their past four games after beginning the Qualifiers with 4-0.
The DR has pending playing Venezuela again on 21 February 2019 and Brazil on 24 February 2019.
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FIBA Basketball
FIBA Basketball
17 September 2018
