Puerto Rico hold off late push by Virgin Islands, finish group play 2-1

RECIFE (Brazil) - Virgin Islands never went away and made a late surge, but it was too little too late, as Puerto Rico held on for a 76-73 win to close group play on a high note at the FIBA AmeriCup 2022.

Puerto Rico got off to a hot start outscoring Virgin Islands 21-7 in the first quarter with Tremont Waters and Alfonso Plummer combining for 14 points and four threes. Virgin Islands got things together and scored 26 points in the second quarter, showing that they weren't going away quietly, but still trailed 45-33 at halftime.

After Puerto Rico stretched their lead to 18 points to start the third quarter, Virgin Islands then went on a 17-7 run to cut their deficit to single digits (60-52) heading to the fourth quarter.

Virgin Islands continued their push for a comeback, as they went on a 15-2 run in the final 4 minutes of the game to cut their deficit to 74-73, but a putback dunk by Ismael Romero secured Puerto Rico's victory in the final seconds.

Romero (23 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 10-of-12 FG) and Waters (17 points, 7 assists, 2 steals, 7-of-15 FG, 2-of-6 3P) paced Puerto Rico, as the two shot the ball efficiently and combined to score 40 points and knock down 17 of the team's 29 field goals.

Puerto Rico's bench was very effective tonight and proved to be a difference maker, as they outscored Virgin Islands' bench 41-13 with Romero, Plummer and Ethan Thompson scoring all 41 of those points.

Amir Nesbitt led Virgin Islands in defeat, finishing with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and 4-of-10 from three-point. He scored 16 of his points in the second half and was the catalyst of the team's comeback.

Puerto Rico finish 2-1 in Group B and will await to see who they play in the Quarter-Finals, while Virgin Islands finish 0-3 in the group and won't be advancing to the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA