Mexico’s Jorge Gutierrez defends Argentina’s Nicolas Richotti in a FIBA Americas Championship second-round game on Sept. 9, 2015 at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico. (José Jiménez Tirado, FIBA Americas)
Francisco Cruz, Jorge Gutierrez and Hector Hernandez are one step closer to putting Mexican basketball back on the map.
The former Lincoln High School stars helped Mexico win a 95-83 win over Argentina Wednesday in Mexico to advance to the FIBA Americas Championship semifinal. With another win, the team would secure a berth in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“All the players as a family,” . “In the final quarter we left everything on the court and that’s why we won. On Friday, we face Argentina again and we will show the same mentality and aggressiveness. This team dreams of the Olympics and we will do it.”
The top two teams from the FIBA Americas tournament will play in the Olympics. Mexico is 6-1 in the tournament, its sole loss was to Canada. If they win Friday in the rematch against Argentina, Mexico will be making its eighth appearance in basketball, and first since 1976.
