Jamaica topple BVI for first win

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (CMC):

Conditions were still imperfect, but Jamaica put that behind them to collect their first win of the 2010 Centrobasket Championship, when they toppled the British Virgin Islands (BVI) 71-56 on Thursday.

FIBA-Americas had suspended matches on Wednesday at the Virgil Soto Sports Complex, following issues with temperature control and a leaking roof.

Portable air-conditioning units and a blower were installed and Alberto Garcia, the FIBA-Americas secretary general, indicated the game between Jamaica and the BVI would serve as a test to see if the improvements solved the problems in the coliseum.

"We are going to play the first game because the tests done at the practices we staged are not enough," he said. "If the problems continue, we will cancel the event."

Things were not totally satisfactory, but the Jamaicans showed typical grit to get by the BVI.

Jamaicans dominate

The Jamaicans were without Roy Hibbert due to an injury, but they still dominated the boards and the offence inside.

Jamaica led 13-9 after the first quarter and had pulled ahead 30-18 at half-time.

In the second half, they kept a double-digit lead and never looked back, thanks to a balanced offence and a lot of effort on defence.

Akeem Scott had 18 points, Andre Smith 15 and Kimani Ffriend 14 with 10 boards for Jamaica.

Halstead Chiverton had 27 points and Kleon Penn 10 for the BVI.

In other matches, Belize put down Cuba 94-78 and Puerto Rico outlasted Mexico 95-82.

The Jamaicans are one of four English-speaking Caribbean teams in the competition, along with Trinidad & Tobago, the BVI and the United States Virgin Islands.