Brazil's Tiago Splitter, left, attempts to dribble past Dominican Republic's Jack Martinez during a FIBA Americas Championship semi-final basketball game in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Saturday Sept. 10, 2011. The top two finishers of the tournament get an
Brazil's Tiago Splitter, left, attempts to dribble past Dominican Republic's Jack Martinez during a FIBA Americas Championship semi-final basketball game in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Saturday Sept. 10, 2011. The top two finishers of the tournament get an automatic berth in the 2012 London Olympics and the next three advance to the last-chance Olympic qualifier to be held in July 2012. Martin Mejia, Associated Press
By Associated Press

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — Brazil and Argentina picked up victories Saturday to claim berths in next year's London Olympics.

Brazil beat the Dominican Republic 83-76, and Argentina edged Puerto Rico 81-79 in the semifinals of the Olympic men's basketball qualifying for the Americas.

The two finalists meet Sunday and qualify automatically for London. The third through fifth-place teams earn spots in a qualifying tournament just before the games, which will award several more berths for London. Venezuela claimed the fifth-place spot.

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

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