Dominican Republic Defeats Colombia in FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Opener
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The Dominican Republic started strong at the FIBA AmeriCup 2025, earning an 84-59 victory over Colombia on the opening day of Group C at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.
The Caribbean side, guided by head coach Néstor “Che” García, now sits at the top of the group alongside Argentina.
Turning Point
The game shifted late in the second and third quarters. A 10-0 run before halftime gave the Dominican Republic an 11-point lead (44-33). They repeated the effort in the third quarter, finishing on a 9-2 run to extend the advantage to 66-48, sealing control of the matchup.
Standout Performance
David Jones-García stood out with a complete performance, recording 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal for an efficiency rating of 24. The San Antonio Spurs forward was named Player of the Game.
Other key contributors included:
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Jassel Pérez – 16 points, 6 rebounds
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Joel Soriano – 13 points, 5 rebounds
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Andrés Feliz – 10 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds
For Colombia, Braian Angola led with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Romario Roque impressed with 15 points, 5 steals, and 3 assists.
By the Numbers
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Dominican Republic FG%: 52%
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Colombia FG%: 30% (5-of-37 from three-point range)
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Fast Break Points (Dominican Republic): 35
Feliz’s 9 assists tied the Dominican AmeriCup record set by Luis Flores in 2003, while Roque set a new Colombian record with 5 steals in a single game.
Postgame Reactions
Coach García praised his team’s defensive adjustments:
“At the start, they rotated the ball very well, and we had to adjust on defense. After that, we went on a run that allowed us to build a lead we held until the end,” he said.
Jones-García kept his focus on the team’s success:
“Being named Player of the Game isn’t what matters most. The important thing is winning and bringing joy to our country.”
