Canada beats the U.S. Virgin Islands by sounding the buzzer at the start of FIBA’s third window

San Juan. A lay-up by center Kyle Landry at the end of regular time helped the Canadian team beat the US Virgin Islands 95-93 on Wednesday at the opening of Group C’s third qualifying window for the AmeriCup 2022 tournament, which will be played in the Roberto. Clemente Coliseum.

With a 93-93 draw, with seconds to go and Anthony Bennett with the ball, he found Landry at the basket, and in a seeming instinct to recognize he didn’t have time to shoot and score, he threw the ball against the table, reach to the same and enter complete the great meeting between both teams.

Landry’s basket was the only one he tried and hit in the game.

With the win, Canada improved their record in Group C to 2-1 to be second behind the Dominican Republic, with a 3-1 record, while the Virgin Islands saw their record drop to 1-3.

Because Cuba has not arrived in San Juan to participate in this third qualifying window for the AmeriCup 2022 and the first three teams in each group will advance to the upcoming tournament, the Dominican Republic, Canada and the US Virgin Islands will automatically advance to next’s league year.

The game between Canada and the Virgin Islands was fairly even and fierce from the first quarter, although the Canadians took advantage of their distance play to take a comfortable lead.

Canada dominated the game in the first period 20-18, but with an 8-2 point, they expanded the lead by 28-20 and closed the quarter.

The Canadians hit six 3-pointers during this period.

In the second period, however, the Caribbeans got into the aggressive battle and with six points in a row, they approached the Canadians 28-26.

Canada took advantage of their opponents’ turnovers and defensive failures, but continued to take advantage of the match, including placing 34-32 in their favor.

Canada’s long distance game was key in this first part of the game, however, as with another triple, this time from reserve, Aaron Best, who led his team on the offensive with 28 points, put his team for 44 -38.

However, the Virgin Islands continued to fight for the advantage and with a triple by Romani Hansen, they managed to tie the score to 46-46 with 29 seconds to go in the second half.

But center Owen Klassen made one of two free throws with 25 seconds to go to give Canada a 47-46 lead to end the first half of the challenge.

In the third period, both teams fought for control of the game and exchanged advantages, until with two triples in a row from Best with almost a minute and a half to go, he opened the score to Canada at 72-64, one of the biggest advantages .

For his part, Walter Hodge, a Puerto Rico native but a representative of the Virgin Islands, hit a triple to end the third period 74-69 in favor of Canada and with a view to throttle for the fourth and final period.

And so, Hodge determined it early in the fourth quarter, when he scored another triple to bring the game closer to 74-72.

Both teams in turn continued to fight for the advantage, including a basket from Hodge with 1:25 left in the game to put the Caribbean team 90-88 in front.

But Best, attacking the Canadian offense, managed to score two free throws to even the game 90-90.

However, Hodge showed his attacking caliber and slipped another triple, his third and last of the game, to lead his 93-90 squad with 54 seconds to go.

Canadian Phil Scrubb reacted with another triple to level the game 93-93 with 46 seconds to go.

Hodge, trying to become the hero of the game, however, fiddled with and gave Canada a chance to take over the game, until finally the timely basket and Landry’s victory arrived.