POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
FINAL
Mexico - Puerto Rico 77-82
Puerto Rico won the Gold in Mayaguez. The host of CAC Games was better than Mexico in the Big Final to finish as No.1. Carlos Arroyo 
(188-G-79, college: Florida Intern.) (6 as) and Nathan Peavy (203-F-85, agency: Limelight Hoops, college: Miami (OH)) scored 16 points each for the winners, while Renaldo Balkman (201-F-84, agency: Buck Andre, college: S.Carolina) had double-double of 14 pts and 16 boards. Daniel Santiago (216-C-76, agency: Priority Sports, college: N.Mexico) helped with 13 pts. On the other side, Jovan Harris (191-G/F-81, college: USF) replied with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for Mexico. Orlando Mendez-Valdez (185-G-86, college: W.Kentucky) had 16 and Victor Mariscal (198-F-72) scored four points less than him. Mexico ended as No.2 and won the Silver in Mayaguez. First quarter was pretty leveled and teams exchanged in lead. Neither was able to make a bigger plus and Puerto Rico ended Q1 with 20-21. They took full control on their rivals in the second period scoring 21 points once again. Mexico was limited to just 9 and faced with 29-42 deficit at the halftime. Mexicans improved after the breather finishing third frame with 18-14, but they needed a way more. Carlos Arroyo and his teammates intensified defense in the last ten minutes to keep their lead. They scored just 10 points, but on the other side Mexico had 11 what was not enough them. At the end, Puerto Rico celebrated 77-82 victory and the Gold medal Mayaguez.
Places 3-4
Dominican Republic - U.S. Virgin Islands 79-69
The Bronze belongs to Dominicans. They outplayed ISV in the last day of the competition to finish as No.3. Kelvin Pena (193-G-80, college: Southeastern CC) was the leading player in victory with 26 points. Actually, he was the MVP of this meeting with valuation 19. Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81, agency: Paris Global Sports) had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, while Carlos Paniagua (201-F/C-76, college: Tenn Temple) added 10 points and 12 boards. In the loosing squad, Walter Hodge (183-G-86, college: Florida) collected 24 points and 5 boards. Jason Edwin (197-G/F-81, college: Kent St.) (5 rebs) and Devon Peltier (180-G-87) had 14 and 11 points respectively. Their ISV stayed without the medal at this event. Last quarter was the crucial on in this game. Before that, ISV made 18-20 in the first, while the second quarter was totally tied to 16-16. Nothing has changed after the breather. Teams exchanged baskets and another pretty leveled quarter was seen. Anyway, it also belonged to ISV who headed to last ten minutes with 3-point lead. Than, ISV players somehow stopped and Dominicans took full control on this meeting. Kelvin Pena was on fire and mostly owing to him Dominicans drained 24 points in the last quarter. They limited ISV to just 11 celebrating comfortable 79-69 win for the Bronze medal in Mayaguez.
Places 5-6
Panama - Jamaica 64-83
Jamaica closed this event with two straight wins. It means that Jamaicans ended as No.5 in Mayaguez, despite poor 0-2 in Preliminary Round. On the other side, Panama ended as the sixth ranked team. They registered just one win at this event. Andre Smith (188-G-80, college: NC-Asheville) was on fire for Jamaica with 28 points. He reached valuation 27 and was the MVP of this meeting. Garfield Johns (193-G-85, college: Utah) had 19 and Terrell Christie (193-G-83, college: S.Alabama) added 11 pts. In Panama, Josimar Ayarza (203-F-87) shined with 26 points and 6 boards. Desmond Smith (199-F-86, college: William & Mary) had 14 points and 6 rebs, while Ernesto Oglivie (199-F-89, agency: DR. Carlos Sifuentes) added 10 pts and 5 rebs. Second and third quarter were the crucial ones in this game. Before that, first ten minutes ended with 17-17 tie. Andre Smith and his teammates exploded for rest of the first half making 30-38 lead. They continued in the same rhythm after that and Panama was in deep trouble. Jamaicans drained 26 points in third quarter, while limiting their rivals to 16. It means that Jamaica was huge 18-points up was looking good. Last ten minutes were just the formality and Jamaica celebrated nice 64-83 for fifth place in Mayaguez.
