THE WEEKLY GLEANER | DECEMBER 11 - DECEMBER 17, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | SPORTS 27 Livingston Scott/ Gleaner Writer JAMAICA’S BASKETBALL team defeated Puerto Rico 97-92 in their FIBA Americas World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico last Monday to complete the double over their opponents, ranked 79 places above them in the FIBA ranking. Jamaica, who had to surrender home-court advantage after the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) and the Montego Bay Convention Centre failed to meet the world governing body’s, FIBA’s, approval, stunned Puerto Rico 92-90 on Friday before executing an even more commanding display to secure back-to-back wins to start the qualifiers. “We had to really guard against complacency. We shook the world on Friday. Now we are playing with house money. So we had to fight complacency setting in, and it never did,” coach Rick Turner told The Gleaner. “So this is really a testament of the mentality of our team and the leadership of Kenton Facey and some of the veteran players who knew what was on the line. “We came here to win two games. I wouldn’t say we are surprised. This is exactly what we wanted to do. But the work continues. We need to take this momentum into the second window in February and not rest on our laurels.” Although the host scored the first point of the game, the Jamaicans soon assumed the ascendancy and never relinquished the lead after that. 20-POINT GAP At the start of the fourth quarter, Jamaica opened up a 20-point gap over their opponents. But the hosts, led by Stephen Thompson Jr (18 points), Zakai Zeigler (17 points), who were sometimes unplayable from the three-point line, and Alexander Morales (15 points), pulled them within three points (9592) of Jamaica, with 58 seconds left on the clock. However, the Jamaicans defended their basket well, and with 10 seconds to go, Tyran De Lattibeaudiere, drew a foul and scored both free throws to put the game beyond doubt. It was a great all-round performance from the Jamaican cast, led by Chase Audige (20 points), Romaine Thomas (18), Kofi Cockburn (15, 12 rebounds), and Tyran De Lattibeaudiere (15, five). Joel Bailey, Andrew Thelwell, and Kenton Facey, both nine points, also offered good support. Facey also had 10 rebounds. Jamaica and Canada are tied at the top of the standings on four points while Puerto Rico and the Bahamas occupy the lower half on two points each. Turner added that after the double win over world number-16 ranked Puerto Rico, they will be a big target for the rest of the qualification. “We have to keep pushing and get better and find ways to pull out wins against two really good teams in Bahamas and Canada. “We are not going to sneak up on anybody anymore. I don’t think teams are going to take us lightly anymore. They are going to give us their best, and we are going to give them our best. “But that’s what we want. We want to play the best. We’ve said that from the very beginning. We want to be on this stage. We want to play with elite company and prove to the world that we deserve to be here.” livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com ‘We shook the world’ Gregory Bryce Staff Reporter MOUNT PLEASANT Football Academy laid claim to their first-ever regional title, defeating Dominican Republic outfit Universidad O&M 3-2 on aggregate in the final of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup last Monday at the National Stadium. A 2-2 draw in the second leg was enough to see Mt Pleasant lift their maiden Caribbean Cup title following a 1-0 win in the first leg played in Santiago. The win marks the second time in a row that a Jamaican team was winning the Caribbean Cup, with Cavalier having won the last edition. Herard Frantzety scored the opening goal on the stroke of half-time before Warner Brown pulled Mt Pleasant level in the 62nd minute. Julen Olasagasti restored O&M’s lead in the 69th, but Mt Pleasant again pulled level through Tyreek Magee in the 87th. The game started with end-to-end action as both teams looked to assert their influence in the early stages. O&M were reduced to 10 men right before the half-hour mark as defender Junior Capellan was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Kimoni Bailey following a VAR review. Mt Pleasant looked to press their one-man advantage and earned a prime opportunity when Raheem Edwards stripped a defender of the ball in a dangerous area. Edwards was unable to capitalise on the chance, however, as O&M recovered quickly enough to force a corner. ACROBATIC EFFORT The visitors came close to an opener in the 45th minute when Jon Trincado pulled off an acrobatic effort in his box, but his shot was met by an equally stunning reaction save by goalkeeper Tafari Chambers. O&M would not be denied a second time, however, as Frantzety made no mistake with his look in at goal. Running through on a ball played behind the defence, Frantzety capitalised on a slip from Chambers to lob the ball into an empty net. Mt Pleasant came into the second half with sheer attacking intent but found themselves stymied by a resolute O&M defence. O&M’s blockade would not last long as second-half substitutes Shaqueil Bradford, Raphael Intervil, and Brown all combined for a goal. O&M’s goalkeeper, Iraitz Gelbentzu, parried Bradford’s shot from an angle, allowing for Intervil to play in Brown, who tapped home from point-blank range. Brown was initially flagged offside, but a review from VAR overturned the decision as Mt Pleasant pulled level on the night and ahead on aggregate. O&M restored their one-goal lead on the night and capitalised on a second slip from goalkeeper Chambers as defender Olasagasti sent a looping header from a free-kick into an unguarded net. With the away-goal rule still in effect for the Caribbean Cup, O&M held the advantage despite being level on aggregate. Mt Pleasant went searching for the all-important goal and found it through another second-half substitute. Intervil again provided the assist, finding Magee just inside the box, allowing the midfielder to beat the goalkeeper at his near post. Despite late pressure from O&M, Mt Pleasant’s defence held out for the result. The St Ann-based club will now be seeded into the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup. gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com CARIBBEAN KINGS Mount Pleasant’s Kimoni Bailey makes a pass ahead of the chasing Anyelo Gomez of Universidad O&M during the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final at the National Stadium in Kingston on December 2. Jamaica drew the seond-leg game 2-2 after a 1-0 win in the Dominican Republic for 3-2 aggregate win. PHOTO BY MATTHEW MCKOY Late goal hands Mt Pleasant first regional title, second in a row for a Jamaica club FIBA Americas World Cup qualification action between Jamaica and Puerto Rico at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan Puerto Rico on Monday, December 1. COURTESY OF FIBA.BASKETBALL/EN Jamaica’s basketball coach says Puerto Rico sweep needed careful attention THE WEEKLY GLEANER | DECEMBER 11, 2025 - JANUARY 7, 2026 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | SPORTS
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