Brazil win South American Wheelchair Basketball title

Brazil won against Uruguay in the semi-final. © • Comitê Paralímpico Brasileiro

With their finishes, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela all earned spots at the Americas Cup, which will be held in Colombia from 11-18 August 2013.

Brazil claimed the crown at the 2012 South American Wheelchair Basketball Championships earlier this week, beating Argentina, 64-54, in the gold-medal game to finish the tournament undefeated.

Both Brazil’s Everaldo Lima and Argentina’s Maximillain Ruggeri finished the game with 27 points apiece.

The Brazilians came out shooting well to go up 21-15 by the end of the first quarter, though Argentina kept it close in the second quarter to keep within six points by the half.

Ruggeri had 18 points, including two three pointers, in the first half alone for Argentina.

In the second half, the teams traded baskets for most of the third quarter but then Brazil stormed away for the win in the final minutes of the half.

Colombia, meanwhile, outscored Venezuela, 60-43, in the bronze-medal game, as Nelson Sanz led the winning side with 18 points and Rodergo Perez chipped in 14. Felipe Aragort had 10 for Venezuela.

Uruguay was the fifth team at the tournament, but failed to win a single game, finishing with an 0-4 record at the Championships.

With their finishes, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela all earned spots at the Americas Cup, which will be held in Colombia from 11-18 August 2013. There, they will join Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Nicaragua and USA, and the top four teams from that tournament will qualify for the 2014 World Championships.