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Baseball is the most popular sport in Puerto Rico, but not on Sunday. Fans may have packed a venue named after a baseball player, but it was basketball that was king. Puerto Rico earned a trip next year to Athens by defeating Canada 79-66 in the bronze-medal game of the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Puerto Rico earned its fourth appearance in the past five Olympics, having missed out only in 2000. The top three teams in the tournament earned trips to the Olympics, the United States and Argentina having secured berths with semifinal wins Saturday. "I prayed that Puerto (would return) to the Olympics," said Puerto Rico forward Jose Ortiz, 39, who would have retired from the national team had his team lost. "It would have been my last game, but I'm going to Athens. (Puerto Rico's players) stood up, everybody, collectively." Ortiz recorded a triple-double - 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists - while guard Elias Ayuso added 16 points and center Daniel Santiago scored 15 for Puerto Rico. Forward Rowan Barrett led Canada with 18 points, while Dallas Mavericks guard Steve Nash scored only 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting. |