WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The draw for the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women placed the team of host the United States in preliminary Group A, along with Brazil, Dominican Republic and Paraguay.

    It was announced by USA Basketball on Thursday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Group B will consist of Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico in the tournament, which will be played June 28 to July 2 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

    The top two from each group will advance to the July 1 medal semifinals, while the bottom two will play in the classification semis earlier July 1. The finals will be held on July 2.

    The top four finishers in the Championship earn qualifying berths for the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship slated to be held in Bratislava, Slovakia. Enditem