Vargas and Mendoza lead Dominicans to win over Costa Rica
PANAMA (Centrobasket) – Led offensively with 15 points from Rigoberto Mendoza and Eloy Vargas, the Dominican Republic captured their first win of the Centrobasket Championship over Costa Rica, 80 – 58.
PANAMA (Centrobasket) – Led offensively with 15 points from Rigoberto Mendoza and Eloy Vargas, the Dominican Republic captured their first win of the Centrobasket Championship over Costa Rica, 80 – 58.
• Turning point: After dominating the first quarter, 18 – 7, the Dominicans found themselves in front of a Costa Rican team fighting as equal. Costa Rica got within 4-points, but the Dominicans found their game and after a 23 - 10 third quarter, opened the scoreboard in their favor en route to their first win.
• Stats don’t lie: The Dominicans dominated the rebounding battle, 50 – 30, and showed great defensive control accumulating 11 steals in the win.
• Game Hero: Eloy Vargas was the man of the match with 15 points and 9 rebounds.
• The Bottom Line: Melvyn Lopez and company stepped into the Roberto Duran Arena and imposed their game style against a Costa Rican team that fought hard but at the end couldn’t contain the Dominicans offensive variants. Tomorrow, the Dominicans will have the day off, while Costa Rica will take on Bahamas, in a battle of teams looking for their first win.
FIBA