Puerto Rico Defeats Dominican Republic in Thrilling Basketball Match
SAN JUAN – The Puerto Rico national team won against the Dominican Republic in a vibrant match that was decided in overtime. The final score was 87-80, in a friendly match held at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, as part of the preparation for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025.
This tournament will take place from August 22 to 31 in Managua, Nicaragua.
Point guard José Alvarado was the key figure in the match, accumulating 25 points, including seven crucial ones in overtime. Alvarado, who had already represented his country in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, took on a leading role leading the Puerto Ricans under the direction of the new coach, Carlos González.
Ysmael Romero also had an outstanding performance for Puerto Rico, achieving a double-double with 17 points and 22 rebounds. Isaiah Piñeiro contributed 14 points to the score.
For the Dominican team, led by coach Néstor “Che” García, Jassel Pérez was the top scorer with 21 points. Andrés Feliz contributed 15 points and Ángel Delgado added 12.
The match remained close throughout regulation time. The Dominican Republic managed to force overtime thanks to the precision of Perez, who scored three free throws after receiving a foul on a three-point attempt with three seconds left. However, in overtime, Alvarado was again decisive, scoring seven consecutive points to secure Puerto Rico’s victory.
Both teams recorded a 41% field goal percentage. The low efficiency in three-point shots by the Dominicans, with 15% (5 of 32), proved to be a decisive factor in the final result of the match.
