World Cup 2027 American Qualifiers: Taboada's 27 Points Fuel Uruguay Rout of Cuba

Uruguay put together a near-perfect night at home, blitzing Cuba 99-70 on July 5, 2026, at the Antel Arena and never trailing after Cuba's fleeting 1-0 edge in the opening minute. A 16-0 burst midway through the first quarter turned a tight game into a laugher, and the hosts simply kept piling on from there, eventually leading by as many as 33 points.
Joaquin Taboada (190-SF-2007) was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting including a blistering early stretch where he scored eight points in under two minutes to set the tone. Nicola Pomoli (195-G/F-1999) added 18 points in just over 17 minutes, Pablo Gomez (200-PF-2003) chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds, and Santiago Vescovi (191-G-2001, college: Tennessee) rounded out the effort with seven points, six rebounds and four assists. Marcos Chacon (194-F/G-2003) did what he could for Cuba with 15 points and four assists, but the visitors never found a foothold after their brief opening lead evaporated.