Las Vegas – How the U.S. men’s basketball team will fare in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing isn’t known, but after Saturday it’s a done deal it will get a chance to win gold.
The U.S. qualified for next summer’s Olympics in the same dominating fashion with which it has swept through this tournament, hammering Puerto Rico 135-91 in the semifinals of the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament. The top two teams qualify for the Olympics, which meant getting to the championship game was mandatory.
“I’m happy,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “We’re going to China.”
The United States and Argentina accomplished that goal and will meet today for the championship.
The U.S. team has beaten Argentina once in this tournament, 91-76 on Thursday. It is Argentina’s only loss in the tournament.
Carmelo Anthony led the Americans with 27 points on a dizzying array of 3-point shots and dunks, which have been team staples throughout the competition.
Anthony’s point total made him the highest-scoring American in Olympic qualifying tournament play (175 points), surpassing Gary Payton’s 160.
Late in the fourth quarter, the crowd chanted “Melo, Melo” as the team closed out its victory.
“Carmelo is just outright good,” guard Dwyane Wade said. “He’s a guy, we call him ‘Buckets’ because he’s going to find a way to get buckets. He’s going to score the ball whether his shot is on or not.”
