Panama vs Argentina

After Panama cut the deficit to single digits early in the third quarter, Argentina responded with a decisive 10-0 run sparked by Campazzo. The Argentine point guard orchestrated the transition game, finding Deck for easy finishes and knocking down a step-back three that silenced the home crowd. Panama never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Facundo Campazzo (Argentina) — Player of the Match. The veteran point guard was the game's most influential player, scoring efficiently from deep, running the offence with precision and applying defensive pressure. His leadership in the third-quarter surge effectively sealed the result.

Gabriel Deck (Argentina) — Deck continued his torrid run in the qualifiers, having now scored more than 15 points in each of his last six starts (FIBA data). He was a matchup problem for Panama, scoring inside and out while grabbing key rebounds.

Eric Romero (Panama) — The Panamanian forward fought hard all night, building on his 14-point, 14-rebound, 4-block performance against Cuba earlier in the window. His activity on the offensive glass kept Panama within striking distance for extended stretches.

Leandro Bolmaro (Argentina) — Back after a 28-month absence from the national team, Bolmaro provided energy and slashing ability off the bench. His downhill drives drew fouls and created space for Argentina's shooters.

Argentina's 96 points continued a trend of offensive production that has defined their qualifying campaign (84.2 ppg average across all games). Their ball movement produced high-quality looks, particularly from three-point range where they shot efficiently. Panama, averaging 76.8 ppg coming in, struggled to keep pace after halftime — held to 34 points in the second half.

The rebounding battle tilted Argentina's way, building on their tournament average of 45 rebounds per game versus Panama's 41.4. Argentina also generated more assists (22.2 per game average) through Campazzo's orchestration, per FIBA team statistics.

Group D finished with Uruguay (4-0, 8 pts) in first, Argentina (3-1, 7 pts) in second, Panama (1-3, 5 pts) in third and Cuba (0-4, 4 pts) in fourth. All results carry forward to the Second Round, where every game could prove decisive in the race to qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina remain firmly in contention for a World Cup berth. Panama, having secured Second Round passage with their win over Cuba earlier in this window, will need to improve their offensive consistency to advance further.

Argentina's next fixture in the Second Round begins on 27 August 2026. Panama will also resume their campaign in late August, looking to build on their first Second Round appearance.