Barbosa Unable To Carry Brazil

LAS VEGAS - Leandro Barbosa traded jerseys with Luis Scola once it was over. He just wished he could have swapped places instead.

Scola, the newly signed Houston Rockets forward, scored 27 points to lead Argentina to an automatic Olympic berth with a 91-80 FIBA Americas Championship semifinal victory against Barbosa's Brazilian team.

Barbosa, who finished with 16 points, did not exit the arena with his team, uncharacteristically dodging reporters as he had done all week. His brother, Arturo, said Barbosa wanted to focus on preparing for Saturday's game rather than talk because of its importance. Brazil, with talk of internal strife, now will have to go to a last-chance qualifier in July .

"There are 12 players on the team, but everyone only talks about Leandro," Arturo said before the game.

The onus on the Suns guard became greater Saturday when Nene, the only other Brazilian with NBA experience, injured his calf midway through the first quarter.

Barbosa helped Brazil to a 43-35 halftime lead. He helped stretch the lead to 51-40 in the third with a three-point play and a three-pointer. But with a third foul, Barbosa left the game, and Argentina went on a 14-1 run.

Barbosa went 1 for 5 in the fourth quarter and was late on a critical defensive rotation when Brazil was within three down the stretch.

source : azcentral.com