SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - Colombia (men) and Kenya (women) shine among qualified teams on Day 1 of the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2024 on December 12.
TEAMS
COLOMBIA (men)
The Colombian side came out of QD pool C on top after a perfect display.
They started with a 22 - 11 victory over Guatemala. Rodrigo Munoz and Antonio Perea combined for 15 points, firing from deep as well as finishing in the paint. They followed it up with a narrow win over Saint Lucia. Munoz was once again the offensive star for Colombia as his 7 points proved to be pivotal in the win.
They will take their spot in Pool D where they’ll face off against Chile and Brazil.
Other Main Draw-bound teams are Haiti and Jamaica. Haiti defeated Guyana 17 - 15 before handling business against Cayman Islands with a 14 - 9 victory to finish off QD action. They’ll take on Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic in pool play.
Jamaica went 3-0 in a dominant display, running past Saint Kitts and Nevis in their opener, decimating Cuba 22 - 4 and defeating Trinidad and Tobago to close out with a perfect display on Day 1. They’ll face Canada and Argentina in pool play.
CUBA (women)
It wasn’t a perfect showing from the Cuban women but they clutched up in an evenly contested QD pool.
They defeated Costa Rica handily 21 - 8 in their opener. Eugenia Perez put up a team-high 9 points in the win. They did however, suffer a loss to Guatemala who seemed to be the favourites to qualify after a 2-0 start.
Cuba however, stayed on task and defeated Cayman Islands 21 - 5. A loss for Guatemala in the closer allowed Cuba to claim the elusive spot to the Main Draw.
They’ll join Puerto Rico and Argentina in pool play.
PLAYERS
JABULANI NEWBY (men)
Jamaica were outstanding on their way to a main draw spot, and one Jabulani Newby stood as the teams charge-taker:
The team went 3-0 with him scoring 9+ points in each game. 9 over Saint Kitts and Nevis, 11 over Cuba and 10 over Trinidad and Tobago.
His consistent scoring and offensive star power makes him and Jamaica a threat in the main draw.
MISHELLE GARCIA (women)
Despite being unable to seal their spot to the Main Draw, Guatemala left their mark in San Juan, thanks to the offensive torch Mishelle Garcia.
She put up a team-high 9 points in their opening drubbing over Cayman Islands. She followed it up however, with a historic 17-point outburst in a huge win over Guatemala. She drilled 7 twos in the game. Another stellar offensive display in a narrow loss to Costa Rica earned her recognition as one of today's standout players.
DAY 2
Main Draw action tips off tomorrow as we await a blockbuster competition in San Juan. Tune in LIVE to catch the action.