Facundo Campazzo shone in the Argentine comeback against Venezuela and “asks” with his game that the NBA take it into account

The Argentina got a win in Venezuela. Not because of the importance of the match, not because of the magnitude of the figures, but because of a comeback worth remembering that, in addition, stimulates confidence in the replacement in the basketball team. lost by 14 points (53-39) a minute and a half from the end of the third quarter, in a game with low scoring and a lot of scoring. But in the last period he swept with a 26-13 partial and ended up winning by 69 to 66on the fifth date of the play off for him World Philippines-Indonesia-Japan 2023, which will continue this Sunday with a visit to Panama. She did it with a Facundo Campazzo huge at that stage, and at the end, in the whole game: the point guard who would be about to leave the Denver Nuggets dominated the game at the crucial moment and totaled 29 points.

The Cordovan thing in the decisive 10 minutes was impressive in the “cauldron” that was the Luis Ramos gym, in Puerto La Cruz, full of Venezuelan fans. Argentina, who had lost no fewer than 13 balls in the first three quarters, came in 10 points down (53-43) at the last and Campazzo, who was not bad at night, became incandescent. The ball was his, and triples and free throws gushed out of his right hand, which, by the way, are not among his specialties. But at more sports temperature, more leader was the number 7.

Compact of the performance of Campazzo vs. Venezuela

For example, with the three-point shot with which the selected team went on to win (54-53) with 7:50 minutes to go. The former Real Madrid player had the ball with little time on the shot clock and he holed in from the right to finally leave Venezuela behind on the scoreboard, who had been in front by a long way from the initial stretch (22-10 to end of that period). The shortest actor on the court was the biggest, the one who set the rules. With a three-pointer from far from their captain, who returned to his position smiling and shaking his head, the visiting team established a partial 21-0 and went on to be 60-53 up. A surprise, something out of the script: it was the same team that had been succumbing to a classic Venezuelan virtue, defense.

Directed by a dysphonic Néstor “Che” García, the white team made one mistake after another, especially in passing. Many were cut down by those led by another Argentine, Fernando Duró. That perhaps he has not been successful in the strategy of slowing down and stretching the possessions in the final quarter, to lower the scoring even more. And “make time”. Venezuela pressed too many times against the shot clock, which he had cheated so many times with doubles or triples that defeated the bell. But he pulled too hard on the rope.

And the visitor woke up. The alarm found Campazzo more alert than anyone else, who commanded all the attacks of what seemed like a starting line-up despite how “rotary” the squad is: Campazzo, Leandro Bolmaro, Patrick Garino, John Paul Vaulet Y Marcos Delia. Charles Delphine he was in the starting lineup (he hit a 3-pointer early), but he didn’t get many minutes (17). It should be remembered that two figures were missing of the selection, gabriel deck Y Nicholas Laprovittolathat for participating in the final of the Spanish league until a few days ago this time they were not summoned by DT García.

When the albiceleste team felt these absences and suffered from development and the score, Campazzo emerged to cover them and win outright. He did a lot: those 29 points in 36 minuteswith 5/9 triples Y 12/13 in singles (1/5 in doubles), plus 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 robbery Y 1 block (also, 4 losses), for a +25 rating. With such a performance and 13 points in the defining quarter, the Cordovan even seemed to send a message to the NBA: “I don’t want to leave the elite. Keep me in mind.” It’s almost an open secret that the Denver Nuggets will finally part with him., and Facundo now becomes a free player, with full availability to negotiate with any franchise. Real Madrid has not finished putting together its squad, hoping for a return of the superstar with which he dominated Spain and Europe. But that would imply a setback in the career of Campazzo, who has said more than once that he intends to continue in the best league in the world.

A losable game, but spectacularly won thanks to him, in the World Cup qualifying round is not a measure, of course. Still, the little number 7 does everything he can to get attention and be considered to play among the best on the planet. As he did, and with very good moments, for two seasons.