Canada defeats US Virgin Islands by ringing the bell at the beginning of FIBA’s third window

San Juan. A Kyle Landry training at the end of regulation time helped the Canadian team beat the US Virgin Islands on Wednesday 95-93 in the opening of the third qualifying window of Group C at the AmeriCup 2022 tournament, which is played at Clemente Coliseum.

With the game tied 93-93, with a few seconds left and Anthony Bennett with the ball, he found Landry near the basket and, in an apparent instinct to admit that he did not have time to shoot and score, threw the ball against the table, managing to enter as well ends the great meeting between the two teams.

Landry’s basket was the only one he tried and hit in the game.

With the victory, Canada improved its Group C record to 2-1, ranking second behind the Dominican Republic with a 3-1 record, while the Virgin Islands saw theirs fall to 1 -3.

As Cuba did not arrive in San Juan to participate in this third qualifying window for AmeriCup 2022 and the top three teams in each group advance to the next tournament, the Dominican Republic, Canada and the US Virgin Islands automatically go to next year’s competition.

The Canada-Virgin Islands game was fairly even and fierce in the first quarter, although the Canadians took advantage of their remote game to take advantage of a comfortable advantage.

Canada dominated the game in the first period 20-18, but with an 8-2 round they extended the advantage by 28-20 and closed the quarter.

The Canadians hit six triples during this period.

In the second period, however, the Caribbean entered aggressively and with six points in a row, they approached the Canadians 28-26.

Canada, taking advantage of the turnover and defensive failures of their opponents, continued to take advantage of the match, including putting the game in their favor with 34-32.

However, Canada’s long-range game was key in this first half of the game, as with another triple, this time from reserve Aaron Best, who led his team offensively with 28 points, he put the team ahead 44 -38.

However, the Virgin Islands continued to fight for the lead and, with a triple by Romani Hansen, managed to equalize the score 46-46 with 29 seconds left in the second half.

However, center Owen Klassen made one of two free throws with 25 seconds left to give Canada a 47-46 lead to close out the first half of the challenge.

In the third period, both teams engaged in an intense battle for control of the game, exchanging advantages, until with two triples in a row by Best, with almost less than a minute and a half left, opened the score for Canada 72 -64, one of the biggest party benefits.

Walter Hodge, born in Puerto Rico but representing the Virgin Islands, hit a triple on his side to close the third period 74-69 in favor of Canada and in order to press the acceleration for the fourth and final period.

And so Hodge stipulated it at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when he scored another triple and brought the game closer to 74-72.

Both teams, in turn, continued to fight for the lead, including a 1:25 basket of Hodge remaining in the game to put the Caribbean team ahead 90-88.

But, Best, loading the Canadian offense, managed to score two free throws to equalize the game 90-90.

However, Hodge, showing his offensive caliber, slipped another triple, his third and last in the game, to lead his team 93-90 with 54 seconds left.

However, Canadian Phil Scrubb responded with another triple, tying the game 93-93 with 46 seconds left.

Hodge, trying to become the hero of the match, however, beat, giving Canada a chance to take control of the match, until finally the basket arrived in time and Landry’s victory.