AUCKLAND (FIBA U19 World Championship) - The USA have dominated from start to finish to record an easy 82-61 victory over Puerto Rico on day 5 of the FIBA U19 World Championship.

The US defence shut down the Puerto Rico perimeter game and forced their opponents to drive, where their interior defence, led by Howard Thompkins and Gordon Hayward were too much for the Puerto Ricans to deal with.

Puerto Rico never took the lead, as the US led 20-13 at quarter time, 43-19 at half time, 60-40 at the last change and ran out 21-point winners. The victors won the rebound count 51-42 and collected 12 steals to 5.

Thompkins (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Hayward (11 points, 7 rebounds) led the way for the USA, while Lio Fontan (16 points, 6/15, 4 assists) and Mike Rosario (11 points, 4/15 fg) both scored in double figures, but struggled mightily with the tough US perimeter defence.

With a 5-0 record, the USA are already into the quarter finals, and cannot lose top position in Group E regardless of their clash with Lithuania tomorrow night at the North Shore Events Centre.

Puerto Rico have three wins, and can move through to the quarter finals with a win over Egypt tomorrow morning at ASB Stadium.


Gordon Haywood, USA :

On their comprehensive team performance: “Puerto Rico’s a good team and we really wanted to step up to the challenge of guarding Mike (Rosario), her is a great player and scored 54 the night before so we really didn’t want to let that happen again.”

On the team’s unselfishness: “When we came into trials and our little training camp one of the focuses was that everyone can play so make the pass to the open guy because he’ll make the play, you don’t have to do it by yourself.”

On the team’s defensive strategy against Puerto Rico: “The key of team defence is to crowd them on the three point line, they’re a good three point shooting team so we wanted to make them put it on the floor and drive into the lane and let our big guys block some shots.”

FIBA