Jamaica Storms San Juan and Completes Historic Sweep of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Any doubt about Jamaica’s arrival as a serious force in the FIBA Americas Qualifiers was emphatically erased here Monday night.

Two days after a miraculous buzzer-beater, the “JamRockerz” authored a complete, commanding 97-92 victory over Puerto Rico at a stunned Coliseo Roberto Clemente, completing a stunning road sweep and announcing themselves as genuine contenders for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

Forced to play both Group B games in hostile territory due to Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica, with a record of 2-0, proved Friday’s 92-90 thriller was no accident.

They have now won their first two World Cup Qualifying games ever and sit alone at the top of the group standings.

Jamaica seized control with a decisive 11-2 run in the second quarter, ignited by back-to-back Romaine Thomas three-pointers, to build a 14-point lead.

They would extend that advantage to 20 in the second half, weathering a frantic but ultimately futile late surge from Puerto Rico that cut the deficit to just three in the final minute.

The victory was a showcase of adaptability. After dominating the paint on Friday, Jamaica’s offence rained fire from deep, shooting a blistering 13-for-27 (48.2%) from three-point range.

They supplemented that with a near-perfect 18-for-21 performance from the free-throw line and a relentless effort on the glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds to win the second-chance points battle 20-13.

Centre Kofi Cockburn was a pillar of consistency, posting a dominant 15-point, 12-rebound double-double with 5 assists. Chase Audige led all scorers with 20 points, while Romaine Thomas had 18 points and Tyran De Lattibeaudiere 15, providing crucial offensive support.

For Puerto Rico, the loss marks a historic low, as they drop both games of a qualifying window for the first time. Despite a game-high 26 efficiency rating from Alexander Morales, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 18 points from Stephen Thompson Jr., the team was undone by 21 costly turnovers.

Jamaica’s Cinderella story continues. Having already made history, they now return home with a perfect record and the growing belief that a World Cup berth is within their grasp.