Cuba loses to Mexico in basketball qualifiers

Havana, February 25 (RHC/JIT) -- The Cuban national team lost by a score of 72-82 to Mexico in the beginning of the second window of the world basketball qualifiers in the Americas.

A third quarter with a difference of 11 points in favor of the visitors weighed heavily in the final score of the game, played at the Coliseum of the Havana Sports City.

After starting the game tied at 16 in the opening segment, the Mexicans managed to take a slight advantage of two points to go to the break up 39-37.

After the return, the Aztecs grew from the perimeter and scored 21 of the 28 points in that time with seven three-pointers, including four by Orlando Mendez, who was the second best scorer for his team with a total of 19.

In the decisive quarter, the home team won 18-15. It began with many mistakes on both sides and only six points for each side in the first five minutes. Cuba got within six with 68-74 on the scoreboard and 2:15 minutes left to play, but the rivals secured with better finishing.

Carlos Giron with 23 points was the best offensive player for the winners, who also had a stronghold in center Daniel Amigo with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

For Cuba, Jasiel Rivero scored 13 and grabbed nine rebounds.

This was Cuba's third consecutive loss in Group D and they must beat Puerto Rico (1-2) next Sunday at the same venue.

Mexico leads the section undefeated and is followed by the United States (2-1) with a 93-76 win over the Puerto Ricans on Thursday.

At the press conference after the match, DT Omar Quintero congratulated his team in general because everyone contributed.

"We never expected this 3-0 but the team has become a big family with a lot of pretensions. Tomorrow we rest and then we plan to reach the fourth win against the United States," announced the former captain of that team until 2017.

The player Girón said that they expected a very complicated game but they were able to do what the coach planned and in the end they achieved great shots.

For his part, Cuban coach Eduardo Moya blamed the defeat on tactical indiscipline, given mainly by the players getting carried away by the emotion of shining in front of their public.

"Today they played for their family, for their friends, but they did not play for themselves, which is what they should understand," he said.

Rivero considered that they must improve deficiencies in the coordination of the inside game and hopes that in the next game he can surpass his numbers of Thursday to help his team.