the Argentine national team He began his participation in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar with a smile. And in Havana the team led by Nicholas Casalangida It was imposed by 80-68 on Cuba At the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum, in a match in which Gonzalo Corbalan and Francisco Cafaro stood out, two key figures in maintaining the advantage in moments of extreme tension. Mateo Diaz’s official debut in the national jersey was also celebrated. On Monday, at 7:10 p.m., they will face each other again at Stade Obras.
From the beginning, Argentina demonstrated its physical and collective superiority. With Cafaro dominating the paint, clogging lanes and taking punishment near the rim, the team quickly gained distance and won the first quarter 21-13. Defensive intensity and rebound control set the pace in those opening minutes.
The second group showed another side. Cuba adjusted, became more aggressive and took advantage of the Argentine rotation to settle the proceedings. In just three minutes, the local team equalized the score in a contact frame, with errors on both sides. Argentina responded in time: after a minute called for by Casalanguida, Corbalan’s power seemed to lead the score 8-0, capped by great work by the goalkeeper to lead at half-time 41-32.
The return of the locker room maintained the trend: Argentine dominance underpinned by the interior duo and Corbalan’s effectiveness. However, the variables gave air to Cuba, who found a way to discount at an even more dizzying pace. There the number originated Facundo CampazzoTo speed up the turnaround and order the team to close the third half with a 61-49 advantage.
In the last quarter, Argentina had clear opportunities to settle the match, but a series of errors opened the door to a Cuban response. The home team approached with strength and some character, forcing them to adapt once again. In the end, the national team regained its calm, imposed its presence once again near the edge and achieved a victory, with nothing left to take the lead in a long and demanding stage.
In the individual category, Corbalan was the top scorer with 19 points (3/8 with a triple) and 7 rebounds while Cafaro completed a strong performance with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Although the outside shot did not help, Argentina made up for it with defense, rebounds and physical strength.
With this first win, the delegation returns to the country to close the first window on Monday, again against Cuba, this time at home and with the support of the crowd at the Estadio Operas.