MIAMI (United States) – The excitement reached a boiling point during the first slate of games of the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers Window 3. United States, Argentina, Colombia and Panama punched their tickets to the tournament, joining host Nicaragua plus Brazil and Uruguay. Some teams like Dominican Republic and Venezuela improved their odds, while others like Canada and Puerto Rico remain in good positions despite suffering losses. All in all, we saw a high level of competition and each game had key developments. These are the stats and key facts from the February 20-21 games:
VEN vs ARG
VEN won despite dishing just 10 assists. No other team had won in these Qualifiers with 10 or fewer dimes (the previous minimum was BAH 11 vs. CUB in Window 2).
ARG, despite losing to VEN, qualified to AmeriCup for the 20th time to extend their perfect streak alongside Brazil (already qualified). CAN and PUR (not yet qualified) are looking to remain in that select group.
PUR vs USA
USA scored 29 points in the second half, the fewest amount for them in a half in these Qualifiers.
USA won while scoring just 72 points. The only time they produced fewer points was in their loss to CUB (67-81).
USA is averaging 101.6 points per game at home (3-0) in these Qualifiers, while generating 69.5 (1-1) on the road.
With their ticket to AmeriCup, USA will participate for the 12th time (3rd consecutive).
COL vs CHI
COL scored 40 points in the first quarter, the most for a team in these Qualifiers (the previous high was 37 for URU vs. PAN in the second quarter of their Window 1 game).
In the first half of COL vs. CHI the teams combined for 111 points, the most for a half in these Qualifiers. The previous high mark was 105 in PAR vs. PAN in the first half of their Window 2 game.
BAH vs CUB
BAH made 39 field goals, the second most for a team in these Qualifiers. The top mark is 40 (USA vs. CUB and PAN vs. PAR).
URU vs BRA
The combined 131-point mark ties the lowest for a game in these Qualifiers (COL 67-64 VEN in Window 1 and VEN 67-64 ARG in Window 3).
In the second half, the teams combined for 55 points, the smallest amount for a half in these Qualifiers (previous mark was 57 points in PAN vs. URU in Window 2).
BRA won despite making just 21 field goals, the fewest for a winning team in these Qualifiers (previous mark was 24 for multiple teams).
URU scored 61 points, their fewest amount in these Qualifiers. In their 3 wins they averaged 87.3 points, while in their 2 losses they generated 63 points per game.
Both BRA and URU had already qualified for the 2025 AmeriCup. BRA will participate for the 20th time (perfect attendance) while Uruguay will play in their 19th edition (only missed 1989).
DOM vs CAN
CAN lost their first game in these Qualifiers. They were averaging 88.7 points per game and made 30+ field goals in each of their previous four before this contest. This time around they only scored 65 on 26 made baskets.
CAN had only 12 assists, their fewest in the competition. They were averaging 26.3 per game and their previous low was 21.
DOM grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, their most in these Qualifiers.
Andrés Feliz (DOM) took 18 shots, the most for a Dominican player in these Qualifiers (previous high was 17 for LJ Figueroa vs. CAN).
PAN vs PAR
PAN scored 36 points in the fourth quarter, the third most in a period in these Qualifiers (40 COL vs. CHI, then 37 URU vs. PAN).
PAR won the first and third quarters vs. PAN despite losing the game. In their previous 4 games (16 quarters) they had only outscored their opponent once (3/4 vs. URU).
PAN qualified for AmeriCup for the 14th time. This will be their 4th consecutive appearance and 8th in the last 9 editions.
PAR was eliminated. The last time they played in an AmeriCup was in 2013.
MEX vs NCA
MEX made 42 field goals, the most for a team in these Qualifiers (40 was the previous record in USA vs. CUB and PAN vs. PAR).
MEX made 17 three-pointers, tying for most in these Qualifiers. Seventeen were also made in CAN vs. NCA and USA vs. PUR).
NCA scored just 3 points in the third quarter, tying their own mark for the fewest points in a period in the Qualifiers (3 points in the fourth vs. CAN).
FIBA