Olympic qualifying semifinals set

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MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Brazil and Argentina won their final games in the second round of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament for the Americas on Thursday, setting the matchups for the deciding semifinals.

Brazil defeated Puerto Rico 94-72, while Argentina beat the Dominican Republic 84-58.

That set up Saturday's semifinals where the winners secure berths for the London Olympics.

Brazil (6-1) faces the Dominican Republic (4-3) in one semifinal, while Argentina (6-1) meets Puerto Rico (5-2). The winners move to Sunday's finals.

The third- through fifth-place teams earn spots in a qualifying tournament just before the Olympics, which will award the berths for London.

Venezuela (3-4) beat Uruguay 92-80 on Thursday to clinch fifth place. In Thursday's other game, Panama (1-6) edged Canada 91-89.

The United States won the world championship last year and has already qualified for the London Games.

Marcus Vinicius scored 18 points for Brazil and Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs added 17.

Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets had 25 points to lead Argentina and Manu Ginobili of the Spurs added 17.

Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks had 16 points for the Dominican Republic, which is coached by Kentucky's John Calipari.

Gary Forbes, who played for the Denver Nuggets, was 11 of 13 from 3-point range and had 39 points for Panama in its upset win.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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