Puerto Rico beat Bahrain in FIBA Pre-Olympic Tournament

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Fueled by the energy of a lively home crowd, Puerto Rico beat Bahrain with a final score of 99-56 in the FIBA 2024 San Juan Pre-Olympic Tournament. This win sends Puerto Rico to the semi-finals, while Bahrain faces elimination.

A passionate crowd of over 10,000 fans at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot cheered as Puerto Rico delivered a well-rounded performance, ensuring both Puerto Rico and Italy advance to the Semi-Finals.

The host nation established dominance early, conceding just one basket in the first quarter and leading 19-4 by the end. Puerto Rico’s stifling defense set the tone, forcing Bahrain to miss 18 of their first 19 shots. Despite a brief Bahrain rally in the third quarter, George Conditt IV and Davon Reed’s pivotal plays reignited Puerto Rico’s momentum.

Conditt IV earned the title of TCL Player of the Game with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Stephen Thompson Jr. contributed 20 points off the bench, supported by strong performances from Jordan Howard, Christopher Ortiz, and Aleem Ford. Bahrain’s Zee Hamoda led with 15 points and 4 rebounds. Ahmed Haji and Wayne Chism also contributed, but the team struggled against Puerto Rico’s relentless offense. Unexpected crowd favorite Ali Hasan thrilled fans with his performance, earning ‘MVP’ chants.