PUR – Puerto Rico get back on track with triumph over Mexico

SANTO DOMINGO (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Organizers breathed a sigh of relief as play resumed at the Centrobasket Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Problems with the air conditioning which led to moisture on the court prevented all but one of Wednesday’s games from being played.

Those were postponed until Thursday, with improvements made at the Palacio de Deportes that allowed a resumption of play.

Puerto Rico, upset by Trinidad and Tobago in their first game, bounced back against Mexico and won 95-82 with Peter John Ramos scoring 16 points, Jose Barea 15, Carlos Arroyo 14, Filiberto Rivera 12 and David Huertas 10.

Barea also had 12 assists while Arroyo handed out eight.

The Puerto Ricans were in total command by half-time when they held a 50-35 lead.

That advantage ballooned to 77-57 with 10 minutes remaining.

"I'm happy,” said Arroyo.

“I think we did a better job on defense. I think we all learned the lesson of the first game and we know that there is still a lot to do. We must go step by step.”

In other games, Jamaica beat the British Virgin Islands, 71-56, and Belize hammered Cuba 94-78.

The top four sides at the Centrobasket qualify for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina.

Puerto Rico will compete at the FIBA World Championship next month in Turkey.

They will play in Group C against hosts Turkey, Greece, Russia, Ivory Coast and China.

FIBA