NASSAU, BAHAMAS — On Monday night at Sir Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, Puerto Rico led for 36:28 and never looked back after a first-quarter swing, cruising to a commanding 92-115 victory over the Bahamas in the 1st Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers. After weathering an early push from the hosts, Puerto Rico built a double-digit lead by the end of the opening quarter and carried a 10-point advantage into halftime.
They then controlled both the third and fourth quarters to seal a strong road win—stamping their ticket to the next round with a 2-4 record and 8 points in Group B.
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Group B
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W/L
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PTS
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
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1.
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CAN (1)
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6/0
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12
|
|
2.
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BAH (1)
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2/4
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8
|
|
3.
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PUR (1)
|
2/4
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8
|
|
4.
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JAM
|
2/4
|
8
|
|
(1)Qualified for the Second Round
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TURNING POINT
The decisive moment arrived with 5:24 left in the first quarter, when center Ismael Romero threw down a dunk under the basket to tie the game at 15-15. That play erased the Bahamas’ early lead and sparked the stretch that shifted momentum for good.
From 5:37 to 3:41 remaining in the opening quarter, Puerto Rico outscored the Bahamas 15-20, turning a 15-13 deficit into a 15-20 lead. During that span, Puerto Rico dominated the glass, grabbing 7 rebounds to the Bahamas’ 2, while the hosts managed just one field goal.
GAME HEROES
Guard Jezreel De Jesús anchored Puerto Rico’s backcourt with 22 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in 30:29, posting an efficiency rating of 23 and a +10 plus/minus. He knocked down 7-of-11 from the field, drained 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, providing a steady perimeter scoring threat as the lead grew.
Romero added 21 points on an efficient 9-of-13 from the field, along with 6 rebounds. Ethan Thompson contributed 17 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, finishing with 21 efficiency and a team-high +16 in 28:30. Off the bench, Alfonso Plummer delivered 19 points in just 19:06, while Enrique Gabriel Freeman supplied 13 points, 18 efficiency, and a team-best +20.
On the other side, Franco Miller Jr. paced the Bahamas with 24 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and a game-high 26 efficiency.
TIME SPENT LEADING
Puerto Rico spent 36 minutes and 28 seconds in front. The Bahamas led for 2 minutes and 19 seconds, while the score was tied for 1 minute and 13 seconds.
Information Courtesy of FIBA
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