POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
J.J. Barea
Puerto Rico - U.S. Virgin Islands 89-72
Puerto Rico advanced to Big Final in Mayaguez. The host of this event outplayed ISV 89-72 and will meet Mexico in the battle for Gold. ISV will play against Dominican Republic for third place. Jose Juan Barea (181-G-84, college: Northeastern) shined for the winners with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Angel Vasallo (196-G/F-86, college: Virginia Tech) and Nathan Peavy 
(203-F-85, agency: Limelight Hoops, college: Miami (OH)) scored 17 and 16 points respectively. Carlos Arroyo (188-G-79, college: Florida Intern.) helped his team with 14 pts. In ISV, Jerome Gumbs (194-F-82, college: USF) delivered 16 points. Walter Hodge (183-G-86, college: Florida) (5 as) and Jason Edwin (197-G/F-81, college: Kent St.) netted 14 and 12 pts. Except of third, Puerto Rico won all other quarters in this game. They started with 21-17 in Q1 and continued with impressive 27-15 for the next ten minutes. It means that Jose Juan Barea and his teammates were 48-32 up at the halftime and were looking great. ISV improved after the breather and managed to cut the margin to 10 pts before the last frame. That was all from them as Puerto Ricans shined in the last ten minutes (26-19) for 89-72 victory and a spot for the Big Final in Mayaguez. Friday is the last day of the competition.
Dominican Republic - Mexico 82-85
Mexico handed the first loss to Dominicans advancing to Big Final in Mayaguez. There, Mexico will take on powerful Puerto Rico. Orlando Mendez-Valdez (185-G-86, college: W.Kentucky) was the leading player in victory with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Jovan Harris (191-G/F-81, college: USF) helped with 13, while Hector Hernandez (206-F-85, college: Fresno St.) and Omar Quintero (183-G-81, agency: DR. Carlos Sifuentes, college: S.Nazarene) added 12 points and 5 rebounds each. Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81, agency: Paris Global Sports) shined in defeat with 25 points and 11 boards. Cristian Arias (191-G-81) had 14 points and 5 boards. Dominicans will meet ISV for the Bronze. Mexicans made quick 10-15 lead at the beginning, but were able to keep just 22-24 for the rest of Q1. Orlando Mendez-Valdez and his teammates were better in the second frame as well. This time they drained 24 points, while limiting Dominicans to 17 for 39-48 lead at the halftime. Dominicans replied after the breather making 20-15 in Q3 and everything was open again. In very exciting finish Mexicans were focused and they managed to end this game with 82-85 and to reach the Big Final. Friday is the last day of the competition. Gold: Mexico - Puerto Rico; Bronze: Dominican Republic - ISV.
Places 5-7
Jamaica - British Virgin Islands 75-68 OT
Jamaica made a first step forward to fifth place in Mayaguez. Jamaicans were better than IVB in overtime and will have to beat Panama in order to win position No.5. On the other side, IVB ended the championship as the last ranked team. Akeem Scott (186-G-83, college: High Point) came up with 21 points and 7 rebounds in victory. Ricardo Alliman (201-F/C-87) was the MVP of this game with valuation 29. He spent 41 minutes on court collecting 13 points and 26 rebounds. Michael Rogers (198-G-88) helped with 11 pts. In IVB, Chaurbin Smith (178-G-80, college: Sauk Valley CC) was the leading scorer with 16 points. Kennedy Bass (196-F-81, college: Anderson) (8 rebs), Kilven Samuel (8 rebs) and Avery Percival (198-F-85) (5 rebs) netted 14 points each. Jamaica opened the game with nice 16-10 lead, but IVB replied in the second frame with 16-19. Still, Jamaica was 3 pts up ahead of the second half. Chaurbin Smith and his teammates created 20-23 in third quarter and teams started from zero again. We saw basket after basket game for the rest of regular time, which ended with 65-65 tie. In extra five minutes Jamaica totally took control on their rivals, what resulted with nice 10-3 for 75-68 OT win. On Friday, Jamaica will meet Panama.
