Puerto Rico coach Rick Pitino. (Photo : Reuters)
Venezuela and Puerto Rico clash in the third game of September 2 matches for the 2015 FIBA Americas held at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City. The game is a Group B preliminary round matchup.
Venezuela is coming off a 73-52 blowout of lowly Cuba in the first game of the opening day of competitions.
Nestor Garcia's squad executed a balanced attack against the boys from Havana as backup point guard Heissler Guillent led the team in scoring with 14 points off the bench. Guillent was supported by fellow second-stringer David Cubillan and starting shooting guard Jose Vargas with 10 points apiece, via FIBA Live Stats.
Puerto Rico lost its opener against tournament favorite Argentina, 91-86, as NBA veteran Luis Scola played a massive game leading his team in all categories with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.
As expected, fellow NBA vet J.J. Barea led Puerto Rico with a double-double of 20 points and 10 dimes plus three rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the tough Argentine side.
Big man Renaldo Balkman had 15 points with only five rebounds while point guard Richard Chaney Jr. scored 13 and pulled down seven boards, as per the tournament's official website.
Puerto Rico coach Rick Pitino will try to bounce back from the high-profile loss against the Argentinians in this match versus Venezuela and they will take care of business in the payoff quarter after turning back a tough challenge by Garcia's wards in the first three.
Prediction: Puerto Rico wins, 80-64
Venezuela starting five: Miguel Marriaga (C), Nestor Colmenares (PF), John Cox (SF), Jose Vargas (SG), Gregory Vargas (PG)
Puerto Rico starting five: Renaldo Balkman (C), Ángel Daniel Vassallo (PF), Elias Ayuso (SF), José Juan Barea (SG), Richard Chaney Jr. (PG)
