Argentina was left out of the 2023 Basketball World Cup for the first time since 1982 losing to the Dominican Republic in a dramatic match. The albiceleste team, runner-up in the world in 2019, broke a streak of nine consecutive appearances in the highest event in world basketball.
Next, in DAZN we explain why the South Americans will not be at the World Cup basketball event.
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Why doesn’t Argentina play the 2023 Basketball World Cup?
Argentina, the current world runner-up in 2019, was left out of the 2023 Basketball World Cup after losing to the Dominican Republic 75-79 in their last game of the FIBA windows. The team led by Pablo Prigioni, with Facundo Campazzo and Gabriel Deck in the starting five, finished fourth in the group and could not qualify for the tournament to be held in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
Is It is the first time that Argentina has not participated in a World Cup since 1982, breaking a streak of 40 consecutive years. The albiceleste team had been one of the powers of world basketball in recent decadesachieving Olympic gold in Athens 2004 and world silver in China 2019.
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The defeat against the Dominican Republic was a major surprise, since Argentina was the favorite to win the game and seal their passport to the World Cup. However, the Dominicans played with more intensity and success, taking advantage of the defensive gaps and offensive errors of the Argentines. Point guard Gelvis Solano was the hero of the game with 25 points and 6 assists.
Argentina needed to win or lose by less than four points to qualify as one of the best third parties. However, a three-pointer from Solano with two seconds left sealed the score and left Argentina without options. The South American team was left with a balance of three wins and three losses in their group, behind Venezuela (5-1), Brazil (4-2) and the Dominican Republic (4-2).
The elimination is a hard blow for Argentine basketball, which will have to wait four more years to play a World Cup again. In addition, it ends the golden generation led by Manu Ginóbili, Luis Scola or Andrés Nocioni. Now it is his turn to renew himself and look for new talents that can restore his lost glory.
