Cuba vs USA

Havana, July 4 (ACN)-- The Cuban men's basketball team faces its US counterpart this Monday in this capital, in the closing of the third qualifying window for the 2023 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the shared venues of Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.

Although the Cuban team no longer has options to advance to the next round, it must complete the group stage this Monday in a duel that will begin at 7:10 p.m. at the Ciudad Deportiva coliseum.

As members of Group D, both teams have very different realities, since the representatives of the island are in the cellar with no wins in five games, in a group led by the Americans and Mexicans, both with 4-1; while Puerto Rico (2-3) is in third place.

According to the classification system, after completing the six matches, the top three of the preliminary stage in each group will be able to continue in the competition in search of guaranteeing one of the seven tickets from the American continent to next year's World Cup.

Last November 28, in the first clash between Cuba and the U.S., in the "bubble" of Chihuahua, Mexico, the players of the Caribbean nation left a very good impression despite the defeat with a score of 90-95.

In that game, the Cubans entered the court of the Gimnasio Auditorio Universitario without complexes and dominated the first quarter by a difference of 10 points (37-27).

After that excellent start, the Americans raised their level of play to win 33-16 in the second period, to go to the break with a favorable score of 60-53.

After the break, the island team was again superior with a third quarter in favor of 24-13, but in the last segment they lost 13-22, being very close to a victory that would have given the world the opportunity to see the representatives of the main power of that sport in the world.

For the national team, Jasiel Rivero, from the Valencia Basket club of the Spanish League, assumed his leadership with an outstanding performance of 34 points and nine rebounds.

Rivero achieved a high efficiency of 76.92 percent in two-point shots, with 10 baskets in 13 attempts, in addition to making three of five from long distance, according to the official site of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Along with him, Karel Guzmán (18) and Yoanki Mensía (12) scored double digits on offense; while for the Americans, Isaiah Thomas (21), BJ Johnson and Brian Bowen, both with 16 points, were outstanding.