The Dominican basketball team defeated Bahamas and US Virgin Islands in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifier that took place in Nassau, Bahamas on 23 February and 25 February 2018. The DR is the Group D leader followed by US Virgin Islands, Canada, and Bahamas, undefeated with a record of 4-0.
It took the Dominican basketball team the first half to warm up, but then there was no stopping the team led by Víctor Liz, Rigoberto Mendoza and Luis Montero as they forged forward for a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers. While the DR led at halftime by the thinnest of margins (35-34), the Dominican Republic overwhelmed the Bahamas team in the second half, cruising to a 96-63 win. A solid 15-5 advance at the beginning of the third quarter gave the Dominican team a double-digit advantage, 50-39 in the middle of the quarter, and that was pretty much it for the Bahamas home team.
Liz led the Dominican offensive with 19 points and three steals, followed by Rigoberto Mendoza’s 18 points and six steals. And then it was Luis Montero who scored 17 points in his first time wearing the Dominican national team shirt. He said it was “a dream come true” to play on the team. Montero is a 6’7” shooter who has played for NBA teams Portland Trailblazers, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons.
The same team then matched the US Virgin Islands on Sunday, 25 February, winning 113-85. Dominican Republic had six double-digit players on their side, headed by Edward Santana, with 20 points. Víctor Liz and Sadiel Rojas added 16 points, while Gelvis Solano made 13, Eloy Vargas did 12, and Dagoberto Peña achieved 11. Luis Montero played a complete game, with 12 rebounds, seven assists, seven points and two blocks.
As reported by FIBA, the US Virgin Islands team had a good start but as of the second quarter, the Dominican team showcased a better game in both sides of the court, and once the team achieved a double-digit advantage, this was never let go. The winners were very effective in field goals, with a 55.5% average and 72% in 2-pointers in the first 20 minutes of the game; thus, leaving for the locker rooms with an advantage, 54-41.
In the second half, the Dominicans gave no options to their rivals, and with a fast game in the transitions, dominated the floor. With a good defense, the Dominican team overpowered the Virgin Islanders, who FIBA says gave no resistance contrary to the better game they played in Santiago in November 2017.
The DR team is now one of 12 teams from across Americas, Asia and Europe that have secured their passage through to the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers. The other teams are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Serbia and Venezuela. The World Cup Qualifiers Second Round consists of three windows that will take place in September and November 2018 and end in February 2019.
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Tribune 242
FIBA Basketball
FIBA Basketball
FIBA Basketball
FIBA Basketball
26 February 2018
