Friday, November 3rd, 2023.- Venezuela pulled off a major surprise at Santiago 2023, by defeating Brazil in the second semi-final of male's basketball, securing their spot in the gold medal match against Argentina.

The Venezuelan team triumphed over Brazil with a score of 84-77 at the Polideportivo 1 of the Estadio Nacional. In this game, the winning side effectively maintained the lead they gained in the first half.

The standout players for the victors were Yohanner Sifontes and José Ascanio, who scored 22 and 15 points, respectively. Additionally, Garly Sojo and Néstor Colmenares contributed with seven rebounds each in the defense.

"We felt right at home with all the fans who came to support us. Brazil was the favorite, and we came out focused. Everything worked in our favor offensively. We had a slight slump, but in the end, we were able to bounce back," commented José Ascanio, visibly delighted with his performance.

"Every one of the guys deserved this, to reach a Pan American Games final. We came out strong, knowing what we had to do. Every day, we give our all with pride for our country, and this is the reward. Now, we're facing Argentina, and it's time to take our revenge for the loss we suffered in the group stage," he concluded.

Venezuela will face Argentina in the gold medal final this Saturday, November 4th, at 8:00 p.m. at the Polideportivo 1 of the Estadio Nacional. Meanwhile, Brazil will play against Mexico at 5:00 p.m. for the bronze medal.

Written by Patricio Echagüe - Patricio Cabello; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Luis Hidalgo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport