Brazil's Augusto Lima (Photo : Reuters)
Tournament favorite Brazil faces another powerhouse squad, Dominican Republic, in the second day of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, September 1.
The Group B match will follow the afternoon meeting between the competitions' top two teams Canada and Argentina.
Brazil, who is now coached by Argentine mentor Ruben Magnano, fell to a tie at last place with Paraguay two years ago during the most recent edition of this tournament with a 0-4 record after capturing the silver medal in 2011.
Now gone is their team leader and point guard Marcelinho Huertas, but the squad is safe in the hands of the younger generation players Augusto Lima, Rafael Luz, and Vitor Benite.
Brazil's top NBA players Tiago Splitter, Nenê, Anderson Varejão, and Leandro Barbosa are also not available in this year's tourney, but they are still projected to finish third in this year's tournament by the NBA's official website.
Dominican Republic is entering the competitions without NBA mainstays Al Horford and Charlie Villanueva, but they are still strong behind the trio of veterans Francisco García, Eulis Baez, and James Feldeine.
On Tuesday, Kenny Atkinson's boys lost to Canada, 86-74, via Sportsnet, in the 2015 Tuto Marchand Continental Cup that also served as a tune up game for this FIBA contest.
The team is coming off a bronze medal finish in the 2014 Centrobasket held early this month.
Prediction: Brazil wins, 90-80
Brazil starting five: Augusto Lima (C), J.P. Batista (PF), Marquinhos (SF), Vitor Benite (SG), Rafael Luz (PG)
Dominican Republic starting five: Eloy Vargas (C), Eulis Baez (PF), Francisco García (SF), James Feldeine (SG), Édgar Sosa (PG)
