By Joiner Martínez
Feb 26, 2024, 3:10 PM EST
The Havana Sports City Coliseum experienced a historic event after the 81-67 victory of the Cuban basketball team against the United States in the first window of qualifying group D for the AmeriCup 2025 men’s basketball team.
This marked the first victory of a Cuban team against the United States in 52 years, after the 73-69 victory at the 1971 Cali Pan American Games.
The Antilleans took revenge for the defeat suffered against the Americans last Thursday (100-79) and both teams were left with a level record of 1-1 in Group D of these Qualifiers for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025.
To everyone’s surprise, Onel Planas’s team impressed with a strong defense and notable effectiveness, dominating most of the collective aspects, including field goals and free kicks, in which they had an astonishing 88% effectiveness.
“We placed a lot of emphasis on physical preparation to be able to defend and the other key was effectiveness in free throws. Our goal is to qualify for the AmeriCup,” Cuban coach Onel Planas told AFP.
The United States was never able to match the intensity of Cuba, which took the initiative from the first quarter and dominated that period 26-10. The locals were in control of the board at all times and did not fall into despair. In the second act, the Americans reduced the distance to 41-32, but in the third the Cubans returned to the fray.
In that third period, Elfrid Payton for the United States and Marlon Díaz for Cuba were expelled after an altercation between the two, but after the impasse the home team maintained the good momentum and extended the lead to 72-52 entering the 10th minute. finals.
The northerners, who in Thursday’s duel made 14 three-pointers, this time only scored 1 in the entire match on 16 shots and it was even in the last stretch. Cuba only shot 5 of 18 behind the arc but its substitute players contributed 44 points to just 15 of the American bench players. In fact, all 10 players Cuba registered for the game scored at least 2 points.
Pedro Bombino (19 points) and captain Jasiel Rivero (11 and 9 rebounds) carried the weight of the Cuban squad, while RaiQuan Gray shone for the Americans with 17 points.
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