Wednesday 25 July 2007

Brazil Tops U.S. Virgin Islands

In a game that was reasonably close the entire way, 6'8" Mario Da Rosa, named the Brazilian National league's most improved player last season, had 17 points and 11 rebounds including 6 on the offensive glass while 6'9" former Gonzaga center J.P. Batista muscled his way to 17 points and 9 rebounds as the host Brazilians opened the Pan-Am Games men's basketball tournament with an 86-81 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands before 9,500 partisan fans in Rio de Janiero. After trailing by 8 at 51-43 at halftime, U.S. Virgin Islands brought the game back to 4 mid-way through the third quarter and were able to keep the game within single digits the rest of the way but could not overcome Brazil. 6'3" Marcelo Huertas had 16 and veteran Valter Silva added 15 for the Brazilians (1-0). 6'9" Frank Elegar, (pictured) entering his senior year with Drexel (NCAA D1) as one of the favorites as Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player-of-the-year, had 21 points on 9-13 shooting and 7 rebounds for U.S. Virgin Islands. Canada's Vlad Kuljanin competes against Elegar in the CAA. Carl Krauser, the former Pitt star, added 9 points and 5 steals for U.S. Virgin Islands (0-1), who meet Puerto Rico (1-0) tomorrow while the Brazilians tangle with Canada (0-1).

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