PANAMA CITY (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — The Panamanian and Puerto Rican teams went through one of their most intense and gut-wrenching games during the continental qualifiers to China 2019.

With the goal of keeping their World Cup hopes, both squads gave it their all but, in the end, Puerto Rico left with a smile and a sigh of relief.

In a great encounter on Sunday at Panama City’s Roberto Durán Arena, Puerto Rico showed signs of life in the Qualifiers by defeating a tough Panama, 71-70.

This way, Puerto Rico (6-4) left behind the two consecutive defeats and will seek their qualification to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China in the two final games at home against Argentina and Uruguay on February’s window.

Panama (4-6), for their part, are now in a complicated place and must win their remaining games (against Mexico and the United States) and wait for other results in Group F to know if they will have any options left.

Alex Franklin was Puerto Rico’s outstanding figure, with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists, but it was the energy that he exuded coming in from the bench which turned around the Boricuas’ destiny, since they had entered a 13-point rut that favored their opponents, in a first half against a Panamanian side that seemed unstoppable.

 The game was divided in three parts. The first two quarters went to Panama, and Puerto Rico took over the third. The concluding quarter had everyone on the edge of their seats.

After 30 minutes, Puerto Rico led, 54-51, but Daniel Girón closed the hosts in, 56-54. The islanders responded with consecutive scores by Eduardo González and David Huertas to keep the control of the game, 53-58, with 7:07 left to play.

Puerto Rico kept the five-point difference with a floater by Gary Browne, but CJ Rodríguez responded with a three-pointer that enlivened the local fans, 65-63, with 3:50 left on the clock.

Later on, Rodríguez came back with his long-distance shot to bring Panama closer by a point, 67-66, and the crowd went wild. Bishop scored, and the Central Americans took the lead, 68-67, but two free-throws by Huertas and a layup by Franklin brought peace back to the visiting side, 71-68, with 1:01 left of action.

Panama brushed the victory thanks to two free-throws by Javier Carter (71-70) and a great defense that caused the Puerto Ricans to lose the ball.

However, in the final attack, Trevor Gaskins went at it alone and missed a jump shot, and the Puerto Ricans celebrated — and breathed.

Panama started out strong with a Michael Hicks that led the local offense with 12 points, like in his best of times. With five points by the veteran forward and seven by Carter, the Panamanians took a great advantage, 16-6, with 3:30 left to play for the first quarter, and the Boricuas called an emergency time-out. The starting Puerto Rican players were slow on the court and had no aim against a Panama that didn't tire from running.

The visitors brought in their reserves, who stepped on the court with more energy than the starters, and shortened the distance, 20-15, after the first 10 minutes.

During the second quarter, the locals again marked a double-digit difference, 26-16, with a layup by Girón. Panama seemed to be more energetic than a Puerto Rican side with no response in the attack and that was slow on the defense. The Central Americans then established the greatest advantage of the first half, 14 points (33-20), after a slam dunk by Carter.

Franklin (with six points in the first half) was one of the few positive things the Puerto Ricans had, and decreased the difference, 35.26.

Panama took the first half, 35-28, which marked another half of poor attacks by Puerto Rico, who against Uruguay remained at 31 points in the two halves of last Thursday’s game.

Knowing that the World Cup ticket now seemed further away, Puerto Rico performed better in the third quarter.

With layups by Browne and Jorge Bryan Díaz, a three-pointer by Ricardo Sánchez and a slam dunk by Díaz, the Boricuas took control, 39-38, in the middle of the quarter.

Panama recovered, 44-40, but a three-point shot by Huertas and a two-pointer by Browne marked Puerto Rico’s best moment of the game, 49-44. Nonetheless, the Panamanians responded with five consecutive points to tie the teams, 49-49, after a three-pointer by Hicks.

Puerto Rico did not panic and ended the quarter in a good position to go into the crucial segment in the lead, 54-51.

FIBA