Yaima Boulet was amazing on the court, but this time her team mate Yaquelín Plutín became the offensive reference of the Cuban female basketball team
By: Raiko Martín
Once again the center pivot Yaima Boulet was amazing on the court, but this time her team mate Yaquelín Plutín became the offensive reference of the Cuban female basketball team that surprisingly won over the French team with a score 78-73, thus advancing to the next round of the World Championship with headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The total was seven rebounds and 22 points for Plutín which supported the success of the Caribbean team which this time was able to keep the lead attained in the first quarter 22-19, because they equaled actions to 13 and 20 in the second and third quarters, respectively, before finishing off in the final quarter with a score of 23-19.
In third presentation, the girls of Armandito Acosta remarkably improved their effectiveness in the shots with 65% and 68% in 2-popints throws and free throws, something which undoubtedly cleared the path to the triumph.
Once again Boulet stood out in the Cuban quintet with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Yamara Amargo also stood out with a total of 17 points.
Hence the quintet of the Island advanced to the following round as third place of group D, with the same average of wins and lost that Czechs and French, but with smaller average of points scored and allowed.
Thus, the Cubans will begin on Saturday the following round with a difficult match against the United States team, which finished undefeated in its group. The remaining matches of this phase will be against China on Sunday, and later on Monday against the powerful Russian team.
In the remaining results of the last classifying date the United States defeated Russia 90-80, Argentina followed the same example against South Korea 73-64, the Czech Republic won over Taipei China 93-72, and Spain thrown aside the Brazilian hostesses with a closed score of 67-66.
On the other hand, Lithuania achieved its second victory in the tournament after defeating Senegal 74-63, China assured its classification with its victory over Nigeria 71-59, and Australia defeated Canada 97-65.
As for individual statistics, the Cuban Yaima Boulet still occupies important spaces, since with her 23.3 points per match she is second in that department only overcome by the Australian Lauren Jackson (27), at the same time she leads the rebounds next to the Brazilian Alexandra with 11.3 per game.
