Waters leads Puerto Rico's Brazilian upset in NT debut

SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) – Puerto Rico is the embodiment of the famed “next man up” mentality.

No José Alvarado and no Gian Clavell? No problem, thanks to the newest face of Nelson Colón’s squad.

Point guard Tremont Waters had a stellar debut with the boricua jersey, dropping 29 points to lead them to a 75-72 come-from-behind victory over Brazil Thursday night at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan.

The 2022 Baloncesto Superior Nacional Rookie of the Year shot 12/22 (3/9 on three-pointers) from the field and scored 13 points in the final period to complete upset.

 

Waters was clutch down the stretch, tying the game at 70 with a tough layup with 1:20 to go and then hitting what amounted to the game-winning bucket, a three-point dagger with 57 remaining in regulation.

The four-year NBA veteran personified his team’s never-say-die attitude, as Puerto Rico fought from behind throughout most of the evening.

Brazil had quickly jumped to a 9-point lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to some excellent outside shooting, something they extended all the way to the end of the first half.

Gustavo Conti’s guys shot 7/16 from beyond the arc during the first 2 quarters, with Lucas Dias and Leonardo Meindl leading the way.

And with Marcelinho Huertas back at helm, Brazil was in control through most of the game without ever relinquishing the lead.

The former Los Angeles Lakers guard finished with 8 points and 5 assists and played with his usual flair:

 

However, Brazil was never quite able to put the game away, leaving the door ajar for a Puerto Rican comeback.

And buoyed by a raucous home crowd, that’s exactly what the boricuas did.

First, Christopher Ortiz (15 points on 3/6 from long distance) brought the fans their feet with a buzzer-beating three-pointer right before intermission.

 

Then Waters took over as George Conditt II and Ismael Romero got going in a game where Puerto Rico had 12 fast breaks points, more than doubling Brazil’s tournament-leading 5.4 points per game allowed in that category.

The big man duo helped erase Puerto Rico’s rebounding deficit in the second half, taking away another one of Brazil’s early strengths.

That, combined with the steady ballhandling from Waters and 37-year-old Javier Mojica, set the tone for a nail-biting finish, as Puerto Rico finished with just 9 turnovers to Brazil’s 16.

Ethan Thompson drained both of his free throws in the final minute and Puerto Rico’s defense forced Brazil into a final shot that didn’t even grace the rim.

Puerto Rico handed Brazil their second consecutive loss, after Conti’s squad suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Colombia in the last game of the First Round. Before that Brazil had won seven in a row.

 

Now things look much different in Group F, as Puerto Rico’s 4-3 record is only one game behind Brazil’s (5-2).

Dias (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Meindl (15 points and 4 boards) led a disappointing effort for a team that seemed to miss First Round star Bruno Caboclo.

As for Puerto Rico, this was their 5th win after being down at halftime in these 2023 FIBA World Cup Americas qualifiers, the most of any country in the tournament.

Brazil will now host Mexico in Jaraguá do Sul, while Puerto Rico will head to Montevideo to face Uruguay. Both games will be played on Monday, August 29th.

 

FIBA