Things did not go well for the Dominican basketball team that lost all except one of its games in the first round of the Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Team star Luis Felipe L?pez later admitted he was out of shape and the team did not have enough time to train together for the high level of competition that took place at the event. The DR lost to Brazil 70-64, to Venezuela 70-66 and to Puerto Rico 103-95. It only defeated Panama 77-73. In the second round, the team lost to the US team, 107-71. Given the poor results in Puerto Rico, there is mounting skepticism that the DR basketball team will be included in the Dominican delegation to the Winnipeg Pan American Games. Despite its poor showing in the first round, the DR advanced to the second round, where it lost to the US team, 107-71. It has yet to play the other three teams from Group B. The rules state that the four teams with the best records after two rounds advance to the medal round, with head-to-head matchups used to break ties. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, with the winners earning an Olympic berth and playing for the gold medal one day later.
