On July 5th, in an Olympic men’s basketball qualifying match, Puerto Rico defeated Italy 80-69 at home, ending a five-game losing streak against the Italians. In the game, Puerto Rico started strong using their home court advantage, but Italy fought back in the second quarter to take the lead. The tide turned when Puerto Rico’s reserve player, Álvarez, caught fire from beyond the arc, leading his team to quickly regain control. In the final quarter, Puerto Rico maintained their momentum, extending the margin to double digits and holding on for the victory, avenging their previous defeats. Álvarez was red-hot in this contest, coming off the bench to play 27 minutes, shooting 15 of 19 overall, 7 of 10 from three-point range, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line, scoring a game-high 29 points, along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, though his 5 turnovers were a blemish. Despite an inefficient shooting night, Waters also contributed a double-double, going 4 of 14 from the field, 2 of 8 from three-point range, finishing with 10 points, 1 rebound, and a game-high 12 assists, plus 1 steal, and a +17 plus/minus, the highest on the court. Italy, on the other hand, struggled, with none of their starters scoring in double digits, and only two players reaching double figures in scoring, none surpassing 20 points. Clearly, Italy, in a phase of transition, had its limitations exposed.
Ancelotti: Mbappé Will Score Eventually; Valverde Perfectly Inherits Kroos’s Number 8 Jersey
In the second round of the La Liga, Valverde, Díaz, and Endrick all scored, while Mbappé started but failed to score, leading to Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Valladolid at home. After the game, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke...