Uruguay's Martín Osimani chases Panama's J.R. Pinnock (Photo : Reuters)
The 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City is underway and opening the second day of competitions is a match between two long shot teams Uruguay and Panama in Group A.
Uruguay finished seventh in the 2013 edition of the said tournament after compiling a 2-6 win-loss record. The team's final match during the most recent FIBA Americas was an 86-78 loss to powerhouse Dominican Republic in the second round, as per Sports Opera.
The team will be coached by veteran mentor Adrián Capelli of Argentina and will still be bannered by veterans Martín Osimani and Mauricio Aguiar, and their up and coming point guard Bruno Fitipaldo, who led the team to a fourth-place finish in the recently concluded 2014 South American Basketball Championship.
Small forward Aguiar, who led the team in scoring during the tournament with 16.4 points per game, is expected to scorch the nets once more against Panama in their second game of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Panama is coached by Puerto Rican David Rosario and led by aging players 35-year-old point guard Joel Muñoz, 32-year-old Jamal Levy, and 39-year-old Michael Hicks.
The team did not compete two years ago in Venezuela and last participated in 2011 when they finished eighth place with a 2-6 record.
They are coming off a fifth-place effort in the 2014 Centrobasket early this month, with their last game a 62-55 victory over Jamaica in the group classifications, via Scoresway.
Prediction: Uruguay wins, 68-60
Uruguay starting five: Kiril Wachsmann (C), Nicolas Borsellino (PF), Mauricio Aguiar (SF), Martín Osimani (SG), Bruno Fitipaldo (PG)
Panama starting five: Jose Lloreda (C), Michael Hicks (PF), Jamaal Levy (SF), J.R. Pinnock (SG), Joel Muñoz (PG)
