The Tribune

THE Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team finished the FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers for Group A with an undefeated record and will advance to the next round in November.

The Bahamas improved to 3-0 at the event after Sunday night’s 87-79 win over Costa Rica at the Jose Adolfo Pindea National Stadium in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.

Kentwan Smith led The Bahamas with a team high 20 points, followed by 18 points from Garvin Clarke and 18 points from Travis Munnings. Defensively, The Bahamas forced 14 turnovers and limited El Salvador to just five made three pointers.

The Bahamas opened the tournament in thrilling fashion as they rallied from an 18-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Cuba 89-88. They trailed 88-80 with 1:57 remaining and ended the game on a 9-0 run, capped by a winning floater with seven seconds left from Franco Miller Jr.

Munnings finished with a team high 18 points, Smith scored 15, Sammy Hunter scored 13, Mychel Thompson scored 11 and Miller added 10 points and nine assists.

In game two, The Bahamas dominated Costa Rica 75-51.

Miller led a balanced scoring attack with 11 while Clarke added 10 as the only team members in double figures. Hunter finished with nine points, Munnings added 8 and Romad Dean chipped in with seven.

The Bahamas led 17-8 after the end of the first quarter and outscored their opponents by 17 in the second period before cruising to an easy victory.

All 11 players who checked in scored at least two points while the team had 17 assists on 27 made field goals.

Cuba was the other team out of Group A to advance to the qualifiers in November.