The Argentine basketball team defeated Cuba 105-49 in a match played tonight at the Obras Sanitarias stadium, as part of the second qualifying round for the 2027 Basketball World Cup. According to the Argentine News Agency, the team led by Pablo Prigioni, which could not play in the first round due to visa issues, was vastly superior to its rival, especially in the second half, and concluded the first qualifying window with a strong performance, after failing to qualify for the previous World Cup. Having defeated the Cubans away in the first round 80-68, the Argentine team leads Group D, ahead of Uruguay, Panama, and tonight's opponent, with four wins, same as the 'Charruas', but with a better point difference. With forward Nicolás Brussino as the standout player, with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and shooting guard Gabriel Deck as the top scorer with 18 points, Argentina will play the third round against Uruguay on Friday, February 27, 2016. The first quarter was not at a high level from either side. Argentina strengthened with fast breaks, benefiting from a physical advantage, and second-chance opportunities. Additionally, a poor performance from three-point range, just 2 made out of 18 in the first half, was offset by the dominance under the basket of center Francisco Caffaro. The third quarter started with 'albiceleste' leading 41-27 and would mark a huge gap between the two teams. With the tough absence of point guard Karel Guzmán, their key player in the previous game, the offensive load of the Central American team was heavily affected: they failed to score on their first eight possessions. Nevertheless, they managed to tie the game late in the first quarter and go down by just one point, although the game's balance would be lost as the minutes went by. Starting the second quarter, Pablo Prigioni's team began to improve and pull away from their rival.
