Puerto Rico's 65-Point Rout Headlines a Busy Managua Stretch as Quarterfinals Are Set

Group play at the Polideportivo Alexis Arguello produced two lopsided results, a road blowout and a gritty comeback win across July 15-16, 2026, setting up the quarterfinal bracket for the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2027 Centrobasket Qualifiers.
Nothing matched the one-sidedness of Puerto Rico's 99-34 demolition of El Salvador, a Group B result built on a 19-0 run spanning the second and third quarters. McGee-Stafford Imani (201-C-1994, college: Texas) was dominant with 12 points and 14 rebounds in under 16 minutes without picking up a single foul, and Franchesca Torres (168-SF-2005) added 13 points and four steals; Fatima Aviles (161-PG-1999) led El Salvador with just seven. The Dominican Republic delivered a similarly emphatic statement on the road, routing Nicaragua 90-54 behind Esmery Martinez (188-F-2000, college: Arizona)'s 21-point, 10-rebound, six-assist night a continuation of the form she'd shown across this qualifying window. Kiyomi McMiller (173-G-2006) fought hard for Nicaragua with 24 points, but it wasn't enough against a Dominican side that closed the third quarter on a 13-0 run.
Mexico produced the day's best comeback, erasing an 11-point first-quarter deficit against the Bahamas to win 81-67. Mariana Valenzuela (188-F-2003) anchored the turnaround with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Morelia Chavez (185-F-2003) came off the bench for 16; Rhema Collins (188-G-2005) led all scorers with 22 for the Bahamas in defeat. And the Virgin Islands controlled the Group A finale against Guyana from the opening quarter, winning 87-71 behind Imani Tate (175-G/F-1995, college: Albany)'s 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists though Guyana's Joy Adams (180-F-1993, college: Iona) was extraordinary in a losing effort, posting 28 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five steals across all 40 minutes.
With group play now complete, the quarterfinals are set for Friday, July 17, both in Managua: Virgin Islands vs Bahamas and the Dominican Republic vs El Salvador.