AGUADA (FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship 2018) – Mexico will face Costa Rica and Puerto will face El Salvador in the Semi-Finals of the Centrobasket U17 Women’s Championship after the conclusion of the Group Phase.

Mexico ended the Group Phase with the top of Group A after a 110-29 win over the British Virgin Islands. Mexico imposed their dominance from the get-go and escaped to an early lead after a 29-11 first quarter. With 43% shooting from the field, and a 64-40 advantage in the boards, Mexico made its way to the victory. As usual, Sofia Payan led the scoring for the Mexicans with 16 points.

El Salvador secured a trip to the Semi-Finals after a 62-28 win over Guatemala. With the score tied at 13 at the end of the first quarter, El Salvador held the opponent to just 3 points during the second quarter. With a balanced offensive, and complete dominance in the battle of the boards 64-36, the Salvadorians escaped and secured the win. Kimberly Villalobos led the scoring for El Salvador with a 15-point and 11-rebound “double-double”.

Costa Rica took the second position of Group B after a 71-53 win over Surinam. Surinam won the first quarter 13-7, but then Costa Rica took command and dominated every aspect of the game to secure the qualification to the Semi-Finals of the Centrobasket U17 Women’s Championship. Valeria Gonzalez led the scoring for Costa Rica with 18 points.

Puerto Rico qualified to the Semi-Finals unbeaten after a 99-35 win over Bahamas. From the get-go, the Boricuas established a comfortable lead and maintained a high octane offensive on their way to the victory. Racking-up 26 assists, and with complete dominance of the boards, the Boricuas celebrated their qualification. Sheslanie Laureano was the top performer for Puerto Rico with 7 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.

On the Semi-Finals of the Centrobasket U17 Women’s Championship, Mexico will face Costa Rica and Puerto Rico will face El Salvador.

Meanwhile, on the Reclassification Round, Guatemala will face Surinam and Bahamas will face the British Virgin Islands.

The top-three teams from the Centrobasket U17 Women’s Championship will qualify to the FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship 2018.

FIBA