Gold for Brazil Women at South American Championships

On the final day of the Women’s South American Championships, all four teams still had lots to play for. The gold medal game would crown one team the champions of the tournament, with the bronze medal game giving the winning team the third, and final, spot in the America’s Cup (the qualification tournament for the World Championships next year).

The first game of the day was the third/fourth play-off between Peru and Chile. Peru, who have improved throughout the tournament, produced an excellent first half display winning the quarters 19 - 6 and 14 – 4 to take a 23 point lead into the half time break, 33 - 10.

The second half was a much closer affair as Chile grew in to the game and Peru rotated their squad. Chile’s Daniela Alegria and captain Daniela Zapata combined to score twelve of their team’s fourteen second half points, as they won the final quarter 8 – 6. Peru, though, had already done enough to secure third place and a place at the Americas Cup, winning 52 - 24.

Peru’s top scorers were captain Pilar Jáuregui with 19 points, supported by Alejandra Callirgos’s 8 points and Lucy Herrera’s 7 points. Chile’s top scorers were Daniela Alegria and Daniela Zapata with 8 points a piece.

The final was a re-run of the opening game of the tournament, Brazil against Argentina. Brazil won that game comfortably and were looking to repeat that success, whilst Argentina were determined to be much more of a challenge this time around.

Brazil put on the defensive pressure and pressed Argentina in the first half helping them to gain the upper hand and edge into a seven point advantage at the break, with quarter scores of 14 – 10 and 12 – 9.

After half-time though, Brazil came out with the same vigour and intensity and this time their pace proved too much for the Argentinians. Some sharp shooting from captain Vileide Almeida and Debora Costa combined to hit 23 of the 25 points for their team in the third, as they won the quarter 25 - 9.

The 23-point margin Brazil took into the fourth quarter gave them a comfortable cushion to finish the game with a 16 – 12 final quarter score and take home the title with a 67 – 40 victory.

Captain Vileide Almeida top scored with a huge 30 point game. She was followed by Debora Costa (20 points) and Andreia Farias (11 points). Argentina’s Maria Pallares hit 25 points to make her their top scorer.

IWBF Americas would like to thank the Federación Deportiva Nacional de Personas con Discapacidad Física (FEDENADIF) for organising and hosting the tournament, as well as all the players, team staff, volunteers and officials for making it possible.

ITO's - Maureen Orchard (CAN) Technical Delegate, Juan Magallanes (MEX) Referee Supervisor, Maria Luisa (PER) Chief Classifier, Jayne Chilutti (USA) Classifier, Wadi Isaac (PUR) Classifier.

Referees - Karen Molina (COL), Mariana Pichardo (MEX), Enzo Fernandez (CHI), Mati Quintana (ARG), Paula Belian (BRA), Hugo Begazo (PER)