2011 FIBA Americas Women's Championship And Olympic Berth Claimed By Brazil

In the recently completed FIBA Americas men's tournament, the Argentinians faced off against their bitter South American rivals Brazil and came away with the title.   Both qualified for London.

It was deja vu in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Women as it was once again a championship game showdown between Argentina and Brazil with the title and a single Olympic berth on the line.

Both teams came into this game as the unbeaten winners of their respective groups and victors in their semifinal games.   Brazil knocked off the Cubans 66-53 while Argentina escaped with a 61-59 win over a determined Canadian squad. .  

The script was flipped in the final as the Brazilians blew out Argentina 74-33 to win their fifth FIBA Americas women's title and grab the automatic qualifying spot to London.  

In the Third Place game Canada shook off their disappointing semifinal loss to Argentina and claimed the bronze medal by knocking off Cuba 59-46.  

Silver medalist Argentina, bronze medalist Canada and Cuba will represent the FIBA Americas Zone and have one last chance to quality for the London Games women's basketball tournament by playing in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament that takes place at a site to be determined from June 25-July 1.

Five sports will be up for grabs, and the FIBA Americas teams will contest them against teams from Croatia, France, Czech Republic, Turkey, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and two from the FIBA Africa Zone that will conclude their women's tournament today.

Senegal is going for their tenth FIBA African women's title when they play in today's championship game against Angola, while host Mali plays Nigeria in the Third Place game. 

Champion gets their ticket punched to London as the FIBA Africa rep, the silver and bronze medalists head to the Olympic Qualifying tournament.

But congrats to Brazil.  They will get to exhale, savor their fifth title and prepare to play in London next summer.

FIBA Americas Women's Championship Tournament Starts Today

Y'all know I wasn't going to let the FIBA Americas Women's Championship tournament getting started in Neiva, Colombia today and running through October 1 get cranked up without showing them the same love I did in commenting on the 'menz' one earlier.

This is not only a qualifier for the London Games, it is also the first time a FIBA Americas women's tournament has been conducted with ten teams and it's about time they did so. 

One of those ten teams will not be the FIBA world number one ranked USA since our women handled their Olympic basketball business by winning the FIBA Women's World Championship in the Czech Republic last summer.   Coach Auriemma now has time to decide who be on the USA Olympic women's squad that will attempt to claim a fifth consecutive gold medal in 2012.

However, there is a difference from the just concluded men's tournament in that only the FIBA Americas champion winner will automatically qualify for London.  The next three teams will head to next summer's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women that will be conducted June 25-July 1 at a to be determined site.to determine the last five slots in the Women's Olympic basketball tournament.

The FIBA Africa Women's Championship started yesterday in Mali and will run until October 2 to determine the FIBA Africa representative in the London Olympics and fill the two spots in the Olympic Qualifying tournament alloted to the FIBA African representatives.

The Olympic basketball tournament picture on the women's side looks like this.  The USA has already qualified along with host Great Britain, Russia, China and Australia.   The teams that are in next summer's FIBA Women's Qualifying Tournament are Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, Japan, Korea and New Zealand..

So the stakes are high as always for this tournament.  The draw for the 2011 FIBA America's Women's Championship was held May 5 with Group A being comprised of Chile, FIBA world number 10 ranked Cuba, Argentina, Puerto Rico and host Colombia.      
 
Group B looks a little nastier.  It will consist of  FIBA world number 6 ranked Brazil, FIBA world number 12 ranked Canada, Jamaica, Mexico and Paraguay 

After playing games within their groups from today through September 28, top two teams in Groups A and B will move on the knockout round semifinals on September 30 with the Group A winner taking on the Group B runner up and the Group B winner taking on the runner up team from Group A.

Winners go on to the FIBA Americas women's title game October 1 and battle it out for the lone Olympic ticket to London.   The championship game runner up, third  and fourth place teams will be the FIBA Americas reps at the Olympic Qualifying tournament.  
 
So let the games begin and may the best team win.   As to who I'm rooting for?   I get to relax and enjoy it.  

Ecuador-We Are Not Alone

A video focusing on the trans community in the Quito area