It went all the way into overtime, but Venezuela was able to put Canada away in the extra period as they defeated the Canadians 103 to 98.
San Antonio Spurs’ Cory Joseph started the game at point guard for team Canada, but he saw very little playing time there after. Joseph ended the game with one point, two assists, and two rebounds in just 15 minutes of action.
Joseph sat on the bench to begin the second half, then, with one minute remaining in the third quarter and the game tied, Joseph was reinserted into the game and immediately got to the free throw line where he scored his only point of the game.
Joseph played a few minutes to begin the fourth quarter but never saw action after that, nor in the overtime period. I’m not aware if head coach Leo Rautins minimally used Joseph because Canada’s other point guard Jermaine Anderson had a monster 28 points, he was trying to preserve Joseph’s body, or if Memphis Grizzlies’ Greivis Vasquez was just too much for Joseph to handle on the defensive end.
Vasquez led Venezuela with a game high 29 points while Hector Romero gave Canada fits in the paint with 28 points.
Canada finishes round one of the 2011 FIBA Americas 2-2, round two is set to begin on Tuesday.
(Photo: Billionaires.forbes.com)
