Long before the start of Thursday's second-round Olympic qualifying Tournament of the Americas game against the United States, the host Puerto Ricans seemed poised for a massive celebration.

With Roberto Clemente Coliseum packed to the rafters, there wasn't a breath of air to be found. Not that anyone cared amid the music and general revelry. As some in the crowd swayed to the rhythms supplied by a sea of hand-held maracas, other fans unfurled a banner that featured a likeness of President Bush above a group of missiles, each with the name of a player on the national team and the words "Puerto Rico really has the weapons of mass destruction."

Even as the U.S. team jumped to an early lead, the party continued unabated for the opening 30 minutes of play. However, after a 19-6 outburst to open the third quarter, the music died and the crowd thinned, the first signs of the inevitable, a 91-65 win by the Americans.

Actually, according to U.S. coach Larry Brown, the first indication probably came during those initial two quarters. Despite staying within single figures and trailing by just seven at halftime, Brown said he noticed a number of Puerto Rico's mainstays were on the bench for extended periods of time.

"I was pleased with the way we played, but I don't think they were using players that they thought they could win with," Brown said. "I got the impression they were resting some people."

Eddie Casiano, Puerto Rico's leading scorer in the tournament, played less than seven minutes. Starting center Jose Ortiz, 39, came off the bench against the U.S. team and played only 14 minutes.