By: J. Daniel Pearson for Positively Osceola
Team USA rode the hot first-quarter shooting of Jahmi’us Ramsey to build a big lead and then cruise to a 100-79 win over Cuba, at Silver Spurs Arena in the opening round of qualifying for the 2025 FIBA Americup Basketball Tournament.
Ramsey, who plays professionally for Oklahoma City’s G-League team the Oklahoma City Blue, came out red hot in his Team USA international debut. He played in just six minutes in the first quarter but hit five of six shots taken – including a trio of three pointers in scoring 13 points and helping stake the United States to a 32-16 lead after one quarter.
“Sometimes when you make your first couple of shots, it just builds your confidence and you start feeling it,” Ramsey said of his big first quarter. “I’m just excited to have this opportunity to play on this team. It’s been a great experience so far.”
Although Team USA would slow down in the second period, key three-point shooting by Dusty Hannahs and Matt Hurt kept the game at status quo for the Americans as they used a 23-22 quarter to add another point to their halftime lead, 55-38.
But the short-handed Cuban team would not fold. Dressing only seven players, Yubel Cubilla and Tito Cesaro each scored eight points in the third period as they kept it close. In fact, Cuba was able to close the gap to within seven points on three different occasions. But Hannahs would score 10 in the quarter – including five in the final two minutes of the period — as the USA took a 10-point lead into the final quarter.
Team USA would tighten its defense in the final period, extending the lead comfortably back to 21. Ramsey led a balanced Team USA attack with 20 points, Hannahs, who plays professionally in Europe, had 19. All 12 USA players scored in the game, including 10 who scored five or more points.
Elfrid Payton, the most experienced player on Team USA who played eight years in the NBA including four seasons for the Orlando Magic, scored two points but had a team-high eight assists and 11 rebounds. Team USA’s roster is made up of professional players, most of which from the NBA G-League.
Renaldo Garcia, who plays professionally for Japan’s Saga B team, led Cuba with 20 points; Cubilla who is averaging 24.9 points per game for Metapan (El Salvador), added 14.
“It was a good first game for us,” Team USA Head Coach Jerome Allen said. “It’s difficult to take a bunch of guys who haven’t played together before and try to get them ready for an international competition in just a few days.”
Allen added that the nature of the tournament with just six qualifying games and the finals spread over 15 months also presented a challenge. “Really the only way to approach it is that each window is a two-game playoff that you are trying to sweep,” Allen said.
“Playing with only seven players against a deep and experienced roster put as at a disadvantage,” Cuba coach Onel Planas said after the loss. “We’ll have our full team available in Havana on Monday night and hopefully we can change the outcome.”
With the win, Team USA goes to 1-0 in Pool D that they share with Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. They will move on to play Cuba in the second game of the first window on Monday night in Havana. The second window opens in November, when Team USA will play home games against Puerto Rico (Nov. 22) and Bahamas (Nov. 25) at a site to be determined. The final round of qualifying occurs with games at Puerto Rico (Feb. 20, 2025) and at the Bahamas (Feb. 23).
The top three teams from each pool advance to the FIBA Americup Finals in Managua, Honduras on Aug. 23-31, 2025.
Formerly called the FIBA Americas Championship, the FIBA Americup is held every four years and is the America’s Basketball Championship. Since FIBA organized the entire Western Hemisphere west of the Atlantic Ocean under one zone, countries from North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America compete in this tournament. Prior to 2017, the tournament was held every two years.
This is the 20th edition of the tournament and Argentina is the defending champion. The USA has played in the event 11 times and leads all nations with seven championships.
