Cubans Apparently Defect Before Loss
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Four Cuban basketball players apparently defected before their team’s loss Sunday to the United States in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Allan Houston had 17 points as the United States eliminated Cuba from Group A, 88-52.
The point total was the second-lowest total for the Americans in 34 games using NBA players in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1999.
When the Cubans arrived at the arena about an hour before game time, only eight players were present.
Missing were three of the team’s four leading scorers: center Lazaro Borrell, 26; guard Roberto Herrera, 24; and guard Angel Cabellero, 28. A fourth player, center Hector Pino, 23, also was missing.
Herrera is the son of Cuban Basketball Federation president Ruperto Herrera. His brother, Ruperto Jr., defected in Argentina in May.
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