Eliminations Group A 1.Cuba 3-0 2.Mexico 2-1 3.Barbados 1-2 4.El Salv. 0-3 Group B 1.Puerto Rico 3-0 2.Jamaica 2-1 3.US Vir.Isl 1-2 4.Costa Rica 0-3

Cynthia Valentin

Esmary Vargas

   Cuba win the Centrobasket Tournament for Women Championship - July 1, 2006
On the last day of Centrobasket Tournament for Women Cuba dominated Mexico 116-73 to win the Centrobasket Tournament for Women Championship. The first half was dominated by Cuba 61-28 and maintained the lead until the end. Yakelyn Plutin led Cuba with 24 points and Yamara Amargo had 18, while the best scorer for Mexico was Erika Gomez (24 points).
In the other game Jamaica won the third place after beating Puerto Rico 71-67. Puerto Rico dominated the first quarter with 10 points lead (22-12), but Jamaica fought back in the rest of three quarters and won the game finally. Simone Edwards led Jamaica with 17 points and Cindy Valentin had 31 points in a losing effort.
Barbados finished fifth by beating USVI 78-52. The game result had no surprise. Atherley led Barbados with 23 points, while Rhymer scored 15 for USVI.
Costa Rica ended seventh after defeating easily El Salvador 75-53. Costa Rica led the game with 30 points after three quarters even they got 8 less points than El Salvador in the last quarter. Costa Rica was lead by Galvez Morales and Aguilar Villalobos (each 15 points), while thge best scorer for Cuba was Palacios Elias (21).
Cuba, Mexico and Jamaica qualified for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. Barbados and Puerto Rico will join the top three at the Central American and Caribbean Games that start on July 16 in Colombia.

Cuba - Mexico 116-73
Cuba: Yakelyn Plutin 24, Amargo Delgado 18, Avila Cosanas 14, Boulet Peillon 13, Gelis Gonzalez 13
Mexico: Gomez Lozada 24, Sivia Rodriguez 17, Ramirez Moralez 13, Garcia Alvarez 8

Jamaica - Puerto Rico 71-67
Jamaica: Edwards 17, Pitterson 14, Messam 11, Gidden 11
Puerto Rico: Valentin 31, Gonzalez 12, Rosado Roman 9, Santos Herandez 5

Barbados - USVI 78-52
Barbados: Atherley 23, Maynard Morris 20, Alleyne 17, Griffith 7
USVI: Rhymer 15, De Castro Cain 14, Liburd 13, Wilkins 12

Costa Rica - El Salvador 75-53
Costa Rica: Galvez Morales 15, Aguilar Villalobos 15, Vargas Perez 10, Alvarado 8, Gamboa 8
El Salvador: Palacios Elias 21, Gonazales Alvarenga 10, Sanchez Villalta 7

   Mexico and Cuba cross swords in the centrobasket finals - Jun. 29, 2006
By the hostly advantage and the best behaviour of senior point guard Erica Gomez, 29 points, Mexico defeated the Puerto Rico 72-69.
After a triumph of another semifinals, beat Jamaica 87-64, Cuba and Mexico gained the tickets of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for Women in Chile hand in hand.
Let's wait and see which team will be the champion of this tournament. But Cuba won the gold in the last Centrobasket Tournament also played in Mexico.
Puerto Rico and Jamaica will now have to fight for the last spot in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.

Semifinals:
Mexico - Puerto Rico 72-69
Mexico: Erika Gomez 29, Abril Garcia 17, Brisa Sivia 11, Lourdes Machuca 8
Puerto Rico: Cynthia Valentin (173-G) 17, Aixanell Santos 15, Esmary Vargas 12, Lindsay Gonzalez 11
Cuba - Jamaica 87-64
Cuba: Yakelyn Plutin 28, Yamile Martinez 16, Yayma Boulet 13, Yamara Amargo 10, Leidys Oquendo 10
Jamaica: Erika Messam 19, Oberon Pitterson 18

Last day of Groups Elimination games:

Costa Rica - US Virgin Islands 51-68
Costa Rica: Natalia Galvez 17, Monica Malavassi 9
US Virgin Islands: Damarah Rhymer 23, Raenielle De Castro 17, Shaquana Wilkins 10
Jamaica - Puerto Rico 68-73
Jamaica: Simone Edwards 19, Oberon Pitterson 17, Erika Messam 10
Puerto Rico: Lindsay Gonzalez 17, Cynthia Valentin (173-G) 15, Pamela Rosado 14, Esmary Vargas 12
El Salvador - Barbados 26-86
El Salvador: Flor Calvo 6, Claudia Guzman 4
Barbados: Astrid Alleyne 19, Toni Atherley 18, Wanda Maynard 16
Cuba - Mexico 95-60
Cuba: Yamara Amargo 18, Yayma Boulet 16, Yakelyn Plutin 14, Suchitel Avila 12
Mexico: Abril Garcia 10, Veronica Carmona 9, Brisa Sivia 9

   PR beats Costa Rica - Jun. 27, 2006
In game 2 action Puerto Rico dominated Costa Rica which guarantees PR a spot in the CentroAmerican games in Cartagena Columbia in July.
Puerto Rico controlled the game early on as they went on a 20 point run in the second quarter leading to a half time score of 40-15. The defense of PR

forced Costa Rica into 25 turnovers as the Boricua's went on to win 74-44. Cyndi Valentin led the way once again scoring 18 points while Esmary Vargas and Tañaria Tapia combined for 20 points. The young players also chipped in as Pamela Rosado and Zulmarie Sanchez scored 8 points a piece.

Up next for Puerto Rico is Jamaica, Tuesday the 27th. Good luck ladies!