The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After losing their opener to host Puerto Rico, the Bahamas national team rebounded to take their frustration out on El Salvador at the FIBA Under-17 Centrobasket Championships.

In their opener on Wednesday at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, the Bahamas suffered a heartbreaking 75-70 loss to Puerto Rico in the feature game. Back in action yesterday, the Bahamas pulled even at 1-1 in Group A with an 86-57 rout over El Salvador.

Bahamas 86,

El Salvador 57

Malik Joseph came off the bench and lit up the nets for a game-high 20 points, shooting 9-for-12 from the field and 2-for-4 from 3 in 20 minutes. He also pulled down six rebounds.

Roman Dean and Deyton Albury, fresh off their appearances at the 10th Basketball Without Borders camp - hosted by the National Basketball Association, International Basketball Federation and Colombian Basketball Federation in Medellin, Colombia, also came off the bench and made their contribution. Dean had 13 points with 12 rebounds, three steals and a block shot, while Albury had 12 points, six steals, three rebounds and three assists.

In his starting role, Tyler Pinder scored nine points and Denardo Adderley chipped in with eight points and six rebounds.

Anthony Reyes led El Salvador with 19 points. Bryan Rimero also came off the bench with 19.

The Bahamas opened the game with a 21-12 spurt at the end of the first quarter. They extended it to 47-25 at the half. At the end of the third, the Bahamas was up 63-36.

Puerto Rico 75,

Bahamas 70

The combo of Deyton Albury and Roman Dean led the way for the Bahamas.

Dean, playing 37 minutes, scored 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field and 6-for-12 from the free-throw line. He also had three rebounds, two assists and as many steals.

Dean, on the other hand, produced 12 points with nine rebounds, two assists and two steals in 30:38 minutes. He was 5-for-14 from the field and 2-for-4 from the charity stripe. Tyler Pinder was the only other player in double figures with 11. Isaiah Braynen and Oswald Meadows both had eight eights. Meadows also pulled down seven rebounds.

The Bahamas led 17-16 after the first quarter, but trailed 38-29 at the half.

Puerto Rico extended its lead to 60-47 at the end of the third. However, they made a 23-15 run in the fourth to make it a close contest at the end.

The Bahamas is slated to play its third game at 5:45pm today against the US Virgin Islands. The semi-final is set for Saturday and the tournament wraps up on Sunday.