Santo Domingo 2026: Dominican Republic to face Puerto Rico in basketball final

The Dominican Republic's national basketball team secured a spot in the final of the Central American and Caribbean Games, defeating Mexico 78-65 in a decisive semifinal match. The victory sets up a championship clash against Puerto Rico, who advanced after a dominant 111-68 win over Belize.

The game, held at the Arena Banreservas Virgilio Travieso Soto, saw the Dominican team establish an early lead, finishing the first quarter at 16-13. By halftime, they had significantly extended their advantage to 51-23, demonstrating strong offensive and defensive play. Mexico attempted a comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 15 points, but the Dominican team's fast-paced counter-attacks reasserted their control, ending the quarter with an 18-point lead at 59-41.

Key players for the Dominican Republic included Cristopher Maldonado, who led the team with 21 points and seven rebounds, and Eugri Germán with 16 points. Rodalis Romero was instrumental in defense, contributing seven of the team's 11 blocks. For Mexico, Alejandro Muñoz posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

The Dominican team's efficiency was highlighted by their exceptional 92 percent success rate from the free-throw line, converting 24 of 22 attempts. This win marks the eighth time the Dominican Republic has triumphed over Mexico in their 18 tournament encounters, underscoring their historical dominance in this regional rivalry. The gold medal match is scheduled for Monday at the same venue.