Washington, DC (2021 AmeriCup Qualifiers) – The second game of the United States and Puerto Rico in four days was not much different from the first encounter. Two games and two wins went to the continental champion against a Puerto Rican team that had no offensive identity.

 Once again, the United States dominated Puerto Rico from the start. This time, the Caribbean team presented no reactions that menaced the Americans that imposed their presence, 95-73, at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC.

With this result, the USA (2-0) overpowered the two games against Puerto Rico (0-2) in the first qualifying window of the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 as part of Group D, which also features Mexico and the Bahamas.

The Americans had five players in the double figures, led by Kyle Fogg with 18 points and eight assists. Meanwhile, Justin Anderson contributed 17 points; Jalen Jones, 14; Joshua Magette, 11; and Eric Mika, 10. The USA was the best in rebounds, 57-36, and once again punished the Puerto Rican defense with 16 three-point shots.

As for Puerto Rico, Isiah Piñeiro scored 15 points with ten rebounds, while Isaac Sosa contributed 15 coming in from the bench.

In what was a déjà vu of the first game held on Thursday, in San Juan, the United States' team started strong thanks to its athletic game against a Puerto Rican side without an offense.

A dunk and a layup by Eric Mika quickly gave control to the locals, 11-2, in the first four minutes of the game. The Americans continued the pressure, and, with a shot by Jalen Jones, they opened the difference, 21-7. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, was slow in the inside rotations, and in the attack, they used a lot of one-on-one tactics – a sin against a powerful national team like the United States. The USA won the first quarter, 26-11.

Ángel Rodríguez gave life to Puerto Rico with five consecutive points in the second quarter, 26-16, but that was the Caribbean team's most intimidating moment. The USA answered with two back-to-back three-pointers by Jones and Justin Anderson, increasing the difference, 32-17, with 6:47 left to play in the first half.

The Puerto Ricans kept the scoreboard tight, but Team USA was too overpowering, and with a long-distance shot from Jones, they stayed in control, 44-27, and well on their way to win the first half, 50-29.

Puerto Rico tried to bounce back as they did at home, but this time it wasn't possible. The Americans continued steadfast in the defense and charged on to take an even more significant lead, 61-35, in the third quarter.

The rest of the game was merely academic, and Puerto Rico was able to patch up the result so that the difference wouldn't seem too alarming.

Puerto Rico and the United States will jump back into action in November this year, playing as locals against Mexico and the Bahamas (respectively) on the 27th.

Marcos Mejías Ortiz / FIBA