KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Franco Miller poured in a game-high 32 points to lead Bahamas to a thrilling 99-96 win over the Jamaica JamRockerz in the opening match of the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier here on Thursday.
Playing at the National Indoor Sports Centre, the Bahamas used a strong fourth-quarter performance to edge past the home side and begin their campaign on a winning note.
Jamaica started slowly and trailed 14-8 early on, but turned things around in the final four minutes to hold a slim 28-26 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bahamas started the ensuing period on a 12-0 run to lead 38-26, before Jamaica’s Chase Audige scored 10 of his 19 first-half points to give Jamaica a narrow 55-53 advantage at halftime.
Both teams battled fiercely in the third quarter, but Jamaica, led by Audige and Kofi Cockburn, extended their lead slightly to 81-77 heading into the final period.
However, costly turnovers and offensive struggles down the stretch allowed The Bahamas back into the game, and they eventually went on to win the contest.
Spain-based Audige led Jamaica with 27 points, while Cockburn, who is based in Japan, added 20. Jamaica will next face Canada at the same venue on Sunday.
The top three teams from the group will advance to the second round of the Americas Qualifiers, where they will be placed into two groups of six. From those groups, the top three teams will qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, while the two fourth-place finishers will contest a playoff for the final spot.
and then 