Argentina Tops Cuba to Open FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

With a distributed offense and greater speed on the court, Argentina overcame Cuba today, 80-68, in the opening game of the first phase of the FIBA World Cup qualifying window.

The South American quintet leveraged an advantage built in the first quarter (21-13, 20-19, 20-17, and 19-19) and the deficiencies in the locals' interior game to secure the victory and confirm its favorite status in Group D.

The visitors exhibited an effectiveness superior to 53 percent from mid-range and, thanks to their dominance in rebounds (52-48) and assists (18-9), managed to stifle the Cubans' rallies.

Despite absences, the host squad made a good impression in its debut before the more than four thousand spectators present at the Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva.

Point guard Gonzalo Corbalan led the efforts of the Americas' runners-up with 19 points, including three three-pointers, in addition to seven rebounds and three assists.

Francisco Caffaro also stood out with 18 points and 10 rebounds; while Nicolás Brusino, Gabriel Deck, and Juan Fernández contributed to the victory with eight units each.

Cuban Standout Performance

In his return to the Caribbean team, shooting guard Karel Guzmán earned the applause of the fans and was the game's top scorer with 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

For Cuba, Marcos Chacón (14), center Pedro Bambino (12), and captain Reinaldo García (11) scored in double digits.

Both teams will face each other again on Sunday in Buenos Aires. In the February window, Cuba will host Panama, and Argentina will face Uruguay at home.

The first qualifying round in the Americas will conclude in July of next year, with the top three teams from each group competing for the continent's seven spots in the FIBA Qatar 2027 World Cup.