MANAGUA (Nicaragua) – Puerto Rico secured its second win in Group B of the FIBA AmeriCup by defeating Venezuela 97-70, advancing to the quarter-finals after Canada’s victory over Panama in the last game of the day.
The island team was initially caught off guard by their opponent’s intensity, but after halftime, they displayed their credentials as a podium contender, pulling away with a wide margin.
Turning point
Venezuela is currently in a rebuilding phase and came out with no fear in the first 20 minutes. The team dominated several early stretches and surprisingly went into halftime with the score tied at 43. The Venezuelans’ push lasted until the middle of the third quarter, when they were up 48-43. However, Puerto Rico began executing their plays, and Gian Clavell scored six straight points, sparking a 15-2 run that put the team ahead 58-50 with 4:20 left in the third. With control of the scoreboard, Coach Carlos González’s squad loosened up and showed no mercy for the remainder of the game. They dominated the second half 54-27.
TCL player of the game
Four Puerto Rican players scored at least 15 points. Ismael Romero led the offense with 19 points (9-11 from the free-throw line). Alfonso Plummer added 17 off the bench, and George Conditt IV posted a double-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Conditt had the highest player rating with 31.
New Orleans Pelicans’ guard José Alvarado put on a strong performance with 15 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Clavell also reached double digits, contributing 13 points. For Venezuela, backup point guard Edwin Mijares led the charge with 25 points and 5 assists. José Ascanio followed with 12 points.
Stats don’t lie
Venezuela attempted 38 three-pointers, making 11, but only visited the free-throw line three times (3-3), the second-lowest mark in the tournament since 2003. In contrast, Puerto Rico went to the line 29 times, making 26. The biggest adjustment the Puerto Ricans made in the second half was cutting their turnovers down to just one, compared to 11 in the first half. They capitalized on turnovers (28-10), fast breaks (20-10), and in the paint (48-30).
Bottom line
Puerto Rico now leads the all-time series against Venezuela in the AmeriCup 9-3, with its 27-point margin being the second-largest win over Venezuela. In 2007, they won by 29 points (92-63). On Sunday, Group B will have a day off, and on Monday, the final games of the Group Phase will take place. Puerto Rico will face Canada, and Venezuela will take on Panama.
They said
Plummer, who was a spark for Puerto Rico’s offense after coming off the bench, praised the team’s change in attitude during the second half of the game. “We didn’t start the first half the best way; we were relaxed,” said the left-handed shooter. “The communication with the coaches at halftime really helped motivate us. In the second half, we were more aggressive, and we made them make mistakes. The game went our way thanks to that effort and intensity,” he concluded.
FIBA