SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) – Jamaica confirmed their status as the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers Cinderella, defeating Puerto Rico once again, 97-92, Monday night at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The JamRockerz were forced to play both games on the road due to the effects of Hurricane Melissa, proving that the 92-90 win at the buzzer on Friday was no fluke and has become another contender to earn one of the seven tickets to the FIBA World Cup 2027.
Turning point
Romain Thomas hit back-to-back three-pointers to start an 11-2 run in the second quarter that stretched Jamaica’s lead to 14 points, putting them firmly in control of the action. Jamaica would lead by as many as 20 points in the second half before Puerto Rico cut it down to three in the final as the team made a run that came too little, too late.
Player of the game
Big man Kofi Cockburn was the hero once more after producing a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double with 5 assists and 1 steal. Chase Audige led the team in scoring with 20 points (4-for-11 from long distance), while Romaine Thomas (18 points) and Tyran De Lattibeaudiere (15) also scored in double figures.
Alexander Morales had a game-high 26 efficiency after generating 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block. Stephen Thompson Jr. had 18 points, while Zakai Zeigler (17 points and 6 assists), Christopher Ortiz (13) and Isaiah Piñeiro (11) also had solid performances.
Stats don’t lie
After dominating in the paint on Friday with 52 points, this time around, Jamaica mixed it up and did most of its damage from beyond the bullseye shooting. They went a torrid 13-for-27 from beyond the arc (48.2 percent) and added an excellent 18-for-21 at the charity stripe. Jamaica also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, winning the second-chance battle 20-13. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s 21 turnovers proved costly down the stretch.
Bottom line
Jamaica (2-0) remains undefeated after winning the team’s first two games ever in World Cup Qualifiers and sits atop Group B. The team also became the first country in the history of these Qualifiers to score 90+ in its first two games. Puerto Rico (0-2) has now lost both games of a single window of World Cup Qualifiers for the first time in history. They had won 9 out of their 10 games at home before dropping this set against Jamaica.
They said
FIBA