MANAGUA (Nicaragua) - Dominican Republic delivered strong results and clinched a berth in the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers by defeating Nicaragua 86-61. The victory (3-1) also secured a Second Round ticket for the United States (3-1), leaving just one remaining spot in Group A. The three qualified teams from that group will face the three advancing teams from Group C—comprised of Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela—in the next stage.
Led by Néstor García, the Dominican side took a major step toward what would be their fourth consecutive appearance at a FIBA World Cup. This was a successful first round for the Caribbean squad where several key factors stand out:
Perfect on the road
The team posted a 3-0 record in their three road games. It won in Mexico (92-85) during the first window, then defeated the United States (87-79) and Nicaragua (86-61) in the second window to extend their Americas Qualifiers road winning streak to five games. “This is basketball—anyone can beat anyone,” García said. “Winning for the first time in the United States was something nobody expected, but from these players I expect everything, because they’re hungry and fully committed!”
“Against Nicaragua, we came out with the same mindset we had against the United States because we wanted to finish first in the group,” he added.
Effective depth
In the second window, the Dominican Republic was without several key figures. Andrés Feliz, Jean Montero, and Chris Duarte, as well as NBA players Karl-Anthony Towns and David Jones-García were not present. Even so, the nation assembled a competitive roster that secured two wins, including a historic triumph over the United States in Oceanside, California. García was quick to credit his players’ mindset and commitment for the team’s success.
The best feeling for a coach is when your players respond and compete,” he said. “We were able to rotate them. We have very athletic players who do their jobs, and we ultimately won thanks to our collective effort and team play.”
Andersson Mejía (22 efficiency), Jassel Pérez (21), and Jhery Matos (19) shined against the United States. Meanwhile, Joel Soriano (18), Luis Montero (17), and Mejía (17) stood out in Managua. The Dominican team, currently ranked 21st in the FIBA World Ranking, will close the First Round with two home games against the United States and Nicaragua in the third window of the Qualifiers, set to take place in July.
FIBA