Brazilian small forward Marquinhos (#14) (Photo : Reuters)
Brazil and Panama square off in the last day of Group A preliminary round competitions during the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship held in Mexico City.
The Brazilians are having an up-and-down tournament with a 1-2 win-loss slate. They have shown inconsistency most of the time from their opening day 71-57 defeat in the hands of unheralded Uruguay up to their last game against Mexico, which they also lost, 66-58, but not after giving the hosts a tough fight.
Ruben Magnano's squad pulled off their only win so far versus the Dominican Republic on Tuesday behind the exploits of starting small forward Marquinhos, who fired 17 points to lead the Brazilian scorers, as per the tourney's official website.
Meanwhile, the Panamanians are carrying a 1-1 record after overcoming Uruguay in their Tuesday afternoon opener, 78-71, and an 83-66 loss to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.
Panama was led by their 39-year-old veteran forward Michael Hicks in the Uruguay match, while 34-year-old center Jose Lloreda carried the team with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds in the defeat against the Dominicans, via FIBA Live Stats.
Brazil will maximize their advantage in youth and quickness to tire out the aging Panamanian lineup, but David Rosario's men can still pull off a win by controlling the game's tempo and sticking to their deliberate half-court offense.
It would be a close game as both teams will try to execute their game plan in this battle of two teams having opposing styles.
Prediction: Brazil wins, 70-64
Brazil starting five: Augusto Lima (C), J.P. Batista (PF), Marquinhos (SF), Vitor Benite (SG), Rafael Luz (PG)
Panama starting five: Jose Lloreda (C), Leonardo Pomare (PF), Michael Hicks (SF), Josimar Ayarza (SG), Trevor Gaskins (PG)
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