Argentina edge Brazil in epic basketball thriller at Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Nocioni and Campazzo inspire 'El Alma' to dramatic comeback victory in double overtime
Facundo Campazzo scored 33 points for his side including some crucial late free throws (Photo: FIBA)
Argentina fought back to secure a dramatic double overtime victory and break Brazilian hearts during an intense South American basketball showdown at a boisterous Carioca Arena 1 on Saturday (13 August).
'El Alma' repeatedly recovered from losing positions to eventually run out 111-107 winners and all but secure their qualification for the men's quarter-finals at the Rio 2016 Games.
Brazil, who enjoyed six-point leads with seconds remaning of both the fourth quarter and the first overtime, need a win in their final match against Nigeria to have any chance of making the next round.
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This great South American sporting rivalry will not be renewed in its best-known surroundings of the football pitch at Rio 2016 after Argentina were eliminated from the men's tournament.
But basketball fans from both countries created a passionate, football-style atmosphere for this preliminary round clash – the noise reaching a crescendo as the game approached its thrilling climax.
Bounced on rim four times
Brazil looked to have the game won in normal time, but with three seconds left on the clock Andres Nociono chucked in one last effort that bounced on the rim four times before dropping through the basket to tie the game 85-85.
The hosts again had victory in their hands with seconds of the first overtime remaining, but Argentina recovered from 94-88 down to tie the scores at 95-95.
Nocioni (13) celebrates with his team-mates at the final buzzer (Photo: Getty Images/Elsa)
Top scorer Nociono was again the catalyst, sinking a three-pointer at a crucial moment to notch his 37th point of the game.
Having survived twice, Argentina – the world's no.4-ranked team – took control of the second overtime period as Campazzo held his nerve with a series of free throws to seal a famous win for his team.
The victory puts Argentina top of group B with one game remaning, while Brazil lie fourth - their qualification set to be decided by Monday's contest against Nigeria.
