Cuba's all-around effort leads to dominant win over United States

LA HABANA (Cuba) – After missing the last two editions of the FIBA AmeriCup, Cuba has been determined to get back into the competition, and showed their commitment to their country and their game as they defeated the United States 81-67 on Sunday evening at Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva.

Falling to the United States in their first matchup of the AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers as they had just seven players available for the game, Cuba showed what potential their full roster could bring to the table in the rematch.

Holding the United States to just 10 points in the first quarter, Cuba gave themselves breathing room with a 16-point lead as Pedro Bombino, Jasiel Rivero and Tito Casero combined for 17 of Cuba’s 26 points.

RaiQuan Gray stepped up for the United States scoring 8 of their first quarter points, but with Jahmius Ramsey the only other player to score a basket, they would need to improve their game plan in order to cut into the deficit.

While both teams had size and athleticism on their side, Cuba got the best of the United States in the turnover battle, resulting in 11 points off of 6 turnovers in the first quarter.

The second quarter was all United States as they cut the deficit to 9, outscoring Cuba 22-15, as Gray tallied another 6 points while Elfrid Payton Jr. and Deonte Burton each added 5.

Jayce Johnson and Stanley Johnson controlled the boards for the United States, grabbing 6 total defensive rebounds by the half.

All of Casero, Rivero, Bombino and Marcos Chacon tallied 7 points for Cuba by the half, but with the rest of the rotation notching just 13 points they needed to have a solid quarter, one with better shot selection, to defeat the United States.

And Cuba did just that, extending their lead to 20 points by the end of the third quarter as Marlon Diaz, Reynaldo Garcia and Howard Sant-Roos all tallied 6 points by the quarter’s end, while Bombino added 10 points in the quarter shooting 100 per cent from the floor.

Michel Espinosa was the primary playmaker for Cuba, tallying 6 assists, while Rivero continued to patrol the boards.

Gray, Jayce Johnson and Ramsey kept up the offensive intensity for the United States as they tallied 20 points in the quarter, but could not find a way to stop Cuba’s offense that was finding their flow.

While the United States managed to outscore Cuba 15-9 in the final quarter, it was too late as Cuba’s bench poured in 44 points compared to just 15 from the United States, despite being able to outscore Cuba in the paint.

Bombino led Cuba with 19 points and 5 rebounds, while Rivero and Chacon both added 11 points, with Rivero also tallying 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in the win.

Gray led the United States with 17 points, Ramsey added 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Jayce Johnson added a near double-double of 9 points and 10 rebounds.

FIBA