Team Belize wins 1, loses 1 in 2010 Centrobasket

Team Belize fell to Mexico 62-82 in their 2nd game on Tuesday, after opening with a 80-71 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the Centrobasket tournament in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on Monday.

Team Belize was up 15-13 in the 1st quarter, led by team captain Milton Palacio, who scored 15 game points. Unfortunately Mexico led by Oscar Quintero who had 19pts, had taken over a slim 33-32 lead at the half time break. Belize had 18turnovers which the Mexicans took advantage of to open up a 17pt run in the 3rd quarter that was only answered by 4pts from team Belize, and Mexico led 60-44 at the end of the quarter.

In money time, the pressure was on Belize to score, and while Richard Troyer drained in a 3-ptr to narrow the lead, other shot attempts were hurried and did not score. The Belize defense in their efforts to hold back the Mexican offense got into foul trouble early and Mexico converted from the free throw line. Team Belize’s shooting was also off, as they shot only 42% from the free throw line, compared to 76% the day before.

Team Belize did better on Monday, when they dominated Trinidad and Tobago 80-71, Milton Palacio leading the attack with 16pts, dishing out 5 assists and snatching 3 steals. Ian Young led Trinidad’s attack with 15 pts to lead 17-14 in the 1st quarter. Alex Carcamo answered with 16 pts for Belize, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists, while Richard Troyer added 14pts, grabbed 9 rebounds and handed out 3 assists to lead 40-38 at the half. Trinidad took over the lead briefly after the break, but Leon Jacobs added 8pts to Belize’s score, Charlie Burgess added 4pts and Belize led 63-54 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Trinidad matched Belize 17-17 in the last quarter, but Belize led 80-71 at the final buzzer.

Team Belize plays Cuba on Wednesday, Cuba has won the Centrobasket tournament 4
times and on Friday, Belize faces the defending champs, Puerto Rico, which has won Centrobasket 10 times. Only the top 2 teams from each group advance to the semifinals over the weekend; it will be curtains for the remaining 6 teams. Belize would need to be among the semifinalists to qualify for the FIBA Americas tournament, from which the top 3 advance to the 2012 Olympics.

Belize will be among the top 8 teams who qualify for the Central American and
Caribbean Games to be held in Puerto Rico later this month. The top 3 from
Centrobasket also qualify for the 2011 Pan Am Games to be held in Guadalajara,
in the state of Jalisco, in Mexico.

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