DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic’s basketball team saw its AmeriCup journey come to an end on Thursday after a 94-82 loss to Brazil in the quarterfinals of the championship taking place in Managua, Nicaragua. Despite a promising start and a valiant effort, the Dominicans couldn’t overcome key absences and a late-game surge from the powerhouse Brazilian squad.

The Dominicans, led by their quick-witted guards, looked strong in the first half, but a late run by Brazil saw them trail 47-42 at halftime. In the third quarter, Brazil, a perennial contender in American basketball, extended their lead to a commanding 11 to 13 points, a margin that would prove too difficult for the Dominicans to close.

A glimmer of hope appeared early in the final quarter when Jassel Pérez sank two crucial three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 75-67. However, the Brazilians quickly responded, squashing any chance of a comeback.

The loss was compounded by critical player absences. The team was without key...