SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — As the Dominican Republic secured a comfortable 99-76 victory over Nicaragua Monday night in Group A action of the 1st Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers, it was RJ Luis Jr. who delivered a dominant performance with 22 points and 17 rebounds.
With this result to move to 4-2 overall with 10 points, the Dominican Republic continued their campaign at the top of Group A.
|
Group A
|
W/L
|
PTS
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
DOM (1)
|
4/2
|
10
|
|
2.
|
USA (1)
|
4/1
|
9
|
|
3.
|
MEX (1)
|
3/2
|
8
|
|
4.
|
NCA
|
0/6
|
6
|
|
(1)Qualified for the Second Round
|
|
||
GAME HEROES
Luis anchored the Dominican Republic on both ends of the floor of the Palacio de los Deportes, finishing with 22 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in just under 25 minutes of action. He posted an efficiency rating of 34 and a +24 plus/minus, connecting on 7-of-12 from two-point range and 5-of-7 from the line. His relentless work on the glass and defensive presence set the tone on both ends of the floor.
Joel Soriano, who played with Luis at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, added a double-double of his own, contributing 14 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 4 assists in 23:40, good for a +23 plus/minus. Andrés Feliz orchestrated the offense with 17 points and a game-high 10 assists against just 1 turnover in nearly 31 minutes, finishing with a +21.
Jean Montero chipped in 15 points and posted a team-best +31, providing a spark on both ends. On the other side, Jared Ruiz paced Nicaragua with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 35:41, but it was not enough to keep his team within striking distance.
GAME FLOW
The Dominican Republic jumped out to an early lead in the opening quarter and maintained a slim edge at halftime. However, they broke the game open with a dominant third period, using their size and athleticism to overwhelm Nicaragua. The hosts then closed out the contest with a controlled final quarter, never allowing the visitors to threaten down the stretch.
Information Courtesy of FIBA
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
