USA, Brazil Men Win Preliminary Round Group Titles at Pan American Games

Pan American Games – Men’s Water Polo

• August 4-10, 2019
• Lima, Peru
• Tournament Central
• Results
• Time: UTC-5 (1 hour behind ET)

After three days of pool play, the United States and Brazil came out as the group winners in men’s water polo action, each finishing at 3-0.

The United States topped Group A with wins over Cuba (21-6), Canada (13-11) and Puerto Rico (24-1).

Brazil won Group B with victorious over Peru (14-2), Mexico (10-5) and Argentina (12-7).

With just eight teams in the competition, each will compete in the event quarterfinals on Thursday.

The quarterfinal schedule is as follows:

Pool Play Results

Standout Statistics

• The United States led all teams with 58 goals, followed by Canada (51), Brazil (36), Argentina (32) and Mexico (30).
• The United States was the most efficient goal scoring team, making 58 percent of its shots (58/104). Canada (52 percent), Brazil (43.9 percent), Mexico (39.5 percent) and Argentina (34.0 percent) followed.
• Canada’s Nicolas Constantin-Bicari is the leading scorer after the preliminary round with 13 goals (in 21 shots). Brazil Gustavo Guimaraes (10 of 19) and Canada’s Matthew Thomas Halajian (10 of 19) follow, while Cuba Giraldo Carales Manzno (9 of 35) and Americans Hannes Daube (9 of 16) and Johnny Hooper (9 of 14) round out the top group.
• Canadian Aleksa Gardijan was the most efficient shooter, hitting 77.8 percent of his shots (7 of 9), followed by American Alexander Obert (8 of 11, 72.7 percent). Brazilian Gustavo Coutinho (6 of 9 , 66.7 percent), American Marko Vavic (6 of 9, 66.7 percent) and American Johnny Hooper (9 of 14, 64.3 percent) rounded out the Top 5.
  • American Hannes Daube made 6 extra-man shots in seven attempts (85.7 percent). Seven players turned in three extra-man goals.
  • Mexico’s Oliver Alvarez Basillo was 5-for-5 on penalty shot attempts, while five players added two apiece.
  • Canadian Matthew Thomas Halajian hit seven action shots (in 10 attempts), while Brazil’s Gustavo Guimaraes made six (of 14).
  • Canada Nicolas Constantin-Bicari scored seven center shot goals (in 9 tries), followed by American Alexander Obert‘s 5 (of 7).
•  Brazilian Slobodan Soro was tops among goalkeepers with a 66.7 save percentage (28 of 42) followed by American Alex Wolf (62.5 percent, 30 of 48).
• Wolf made the most saves in the preliminary round (30), followed by Soro (28), Canadian Milan Radenovic (27) and Mexico’s Orlando Ortega Guadarrama (26).