FIBA ranks Argentina third in the Americas, the DR is sixth. Yet, over the years, the DR has become the nemesis of Argentina in the AmeriCup. The DR did it again in Managua, Nicaragua, going 84-83 against Argentina in the AmeriCup 2025. Interestingly, the Dominican team is coached by Nestor (Che) Garcia, a former deputy coach of the Argentine national team. The AmeriCup is taking place 22-31 August in Managua, Nicaragua.
Argentina was the big favorite. It took a win in overtime for the DR to repeat the nightmare of the Argentina team. The DR has defeated Argentina in the three most recent matches the teams have played internationally.
For the DR, it was the country’s second win at the FIBA AmeriCup 2025. It was about a team that would not give up. In a hard-fought contest, the emerging players of the DR came from behind after trailing for 35 minutes. The game would end 75-75, forcing an overtime. Argentina was not able to score its last basket to win the game.
The DR now leads in Group C. The DR has yet to play the host Nicaragua.
Newly hired by the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, David Jones-García had an outstanding participation in the game. He dropped the ball in for 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Next were Andres Felix and Angel Nuñez. The team is marked by teamwork that has made the difference.
The Dominican squad is led by national team captain Víctor Liz, alongside Gelvis Solano, Eloy Vargas, Andrés Féliz, Jean Montero, Ángel Delgado, David Jones, Joel Soriano, Jassel Pérez, Juan Miguel Suero, Ángel Núñez and Juan Guerrero.
In its report on the Argentina game, FIBA explains that Argentina led on the scoreboard for 35 minutes. A three-pointer by Ángel Núñez gave the Dominican Republic its first lead with just 4:45 remaining. From then until the end of the regular game, there were four lead changes. Núñez himself tied the game at 75 from the free-throw line to force overtime, where the Dominicans prevailed thanks to a clutch jumper from David Jones-Garcia with 17 seconds left, followed by two successful defensive stops against Argentina’s three-point attempts.
Andrés Feliz, the Real Madrid star guard, had a double-double of 14 points and 11 assists. He stood out as the most impactful and efficient performer in a matchup where calling it a “total team win” would be far from cliché.
Feliz also grabbed seven rebounds, Núñez delivered with 11 of his 14 coming in the fourth quarter. Also, a major defensive effort from Joel Soriano, who registered six blocks in key moments, marking the third-best shot-blocking performance in an AmeriCup game since 2003 (behind Peter John Ramos’ 8 and José Ortíz’s 7, both for Puerto Rico).
At the end, statistically, both Argentina and the DR teams were evenly matched. The Dominican Republic held slight advantages in rebounding (49-44), points in the paint (48-42), two-point field goal (56% on 44 attempts), and totaled 11 blocked shots.
The DR would stand out for its blocks. The 11 blocks recorded by the Dominican Republic set a new single-game record for a team at the AmeriCup. The previous mark belonged to Venezuela, with 10 (achieved twice).
The Dominican national basketball team had previously won its first game 84-59 against Colombia in the AmeriCup 2025. The DR is ranked 6th and Colombia 11th by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
The DR is playing in Group C against Colombia, Argentina and Nicaragua. Group B teams are Panama, Venezuela, Canada and Puerto Rico and Group A teams are Brazil, Uruguay, Bahamas and the United States.
The Dominican team is one of characterized for its emerging talents. In the Colombia game, a player little known to Dominican audiences, David Jones Garcia, an emerging talent who just this 2025 began playing with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, delivered 22 points to guide the Caribbean team to the win.
FIBA reported that the Dominican Republic effectively closed out the final minutes of the second and third quarters. A 10-0 run before halftime would give an 11-point lead (44-33) heading into the second half. Then, Néstor “Che” García’s team did the same in the third quarter, finishing with a 9-2 run to take an 18-point lead (66-48) into the final stretch, securing the victory.
David Jones-García showed his NBA credentials and stepped up for a Dominican team where four players scored in double digits. Jones and Andres Feliz engineered many of the points to grab the comfortable lead.
The San Antonio Spurs forward finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal for an efficiency rating of 24. Other notable players were Jassel Pérez (16 points and 6 rebounds), Joel Soriano (13 points and 5 rebounds), and Andrés Feliz (10 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds).
For Colombia, the best players were Braian Angola with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, as well as Romario Roque with 15 points, 5 steals, 3 assists, and 3 boards.
The Dominican team was more efficient, shooting 52 percent from the field, while the Colombians only made 30 percent of their shots, with just 5 three-pointers in 37 attempts (14 percent). The Dominicans also controlled transitions, scoring 35 points on fast breaks.
The nine assists by Andrés Feliz tied the record for a Dominican player in the AmeriCup since 2003. The Real Madrid player tied Luis Flores, who had nine assists on two separate occasions. Meanwhile, Romario Roque set a record for Colombia with 5 steals in a single game.
Néstor García highlighted his team’s defensive adjustments after a close first quarter. “At the start, they rotated the ball very well, and we had to adjust on defense. After that, we went on a run that allowed us to build a lead that we managed until the end of the game,” the Argentine coach stated in a press conference.
Jones-García downplayed his recognition as Player of the DR vs Colombia game, emphasizing the victory above all else. “Honestly, being the player of the game isn’t important to me. From the beginning, I told the coach and my teammates that the important thing is to win. In the end, it doesn’t matter who plays well; what matters is bringing joy to our country,” he concluded.
Brazil and USA, Canada and Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic and Argentina lead in the three groups.
Read more:
FIBA standings
YouTube Arg vs DR game highlights
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El Nacional
25 August 2025