POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Jovan Harris
Group E
Jamaica - Mexico 77-79
Mexico advanced to Semifinals in Mayaguez. Mexicans grabbed thriller win against Jamaica ending the Preliminary Round as No.2 of Group E with 1-1 record. Jamaica dropped to 0-2 and will continue in Classification Games for 5th to 7th place. Jovan Harris (191-G/F-81, college: USF) was totally the best player in victory. He spent 37 minutes on the court collecting 29 points and 7 rebounds. Hector Hernandez (206-F-85, college: Fresno St.) helped with 10 points and 8 boards, while Orlando Mendez-Valdez (185-G-86, college: W.Kentucky) added 9 pts and 6 rebs. In the loosing squad, Akeem Scott 
(186-G-83, college: High Point) shined with 25 points and 5 boards. Kimani Ffriend (211-C-77, agency: Court Side, college: Nebraska) (11 rebs) and Garfield Johns (193-G-85, college: Utah) had 14 and 11 pts respectively. First quarter was totally leveled as the score stood at 14-14. Both teams shined offensively in the next ten minutes, but Jamaica was the one who ended with 27-25 for two-point HT lead. Another pretty leveled period was seen after the breather. This time Mexico finished it with plus one (15-16) and teams started from zero again. Jovan Harris shined in the last quarter and managed to end it with 21-14 for crucial 77-79 victory. Both teams will have a day-off on Wednesday. On Thursday, Mexico will meet the top-ranked team of Group F. Jamaica will also play against 3rd of 4th ranked team from that pool in Classification Round.
Group F
Panama - U.S. Virgin Islands 53-56
U.S. Virgin Islands grabbed the first win in Mayaguez. They outplayed Panama 53-56 joining them with 1-1 record in Group F. Both teams still have a chance to reach the Semifinals. Jason Edwin (197-G/F-81, college: Kent St.) stepped up for the winners with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kitwana Rhymer (208-C-78, college: Massachusetts) also came up with double-double of 12 points and 13 rebs. Third scorer in ISV was Walter Hodge (183-G-86, college: Florida) with 9 points. In Panama, Jaime Lloreda (201-F/C-80, college: LSU) shined with 24 points and 19 rebounds. Leonardo Pomare (203-F-86, college: San Diego) added 14 pts and 16 rebs in this defeat. Everything was great for Panama at the beginning. They opened this meeting with 11-3 lead and later finished Q1 with 16-8. ISV players woke up after that and replied with 3-11 run. They closed the second frame with 10-22 for 4-point lead at the half time. Third period belonged to Panama once again and they jumped to plus 2 before the last ten minutes. Jason Edwin and his teammates shined when it was the most important and played very good last quarter. They scored 14 points, while limiting Panama to 9, what was enough for tiny victory and a nice chance for the Semifinals in Mayaguez. In Day Three, U.S. Virgin Islands will meet British Virgin Islands. Panama will play against undefeated Dominican Republic.
