Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
THE JAMAICAN men's basketball team had its hopes of qualification for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, dashed when it crashed to its third straight defeat of the Centrobasket tournament in Panama City, 97-82 to Cuba, yesterday.
For the second game in a row Chazz Carr led the way for the Jamaicans with 22 points while Andre Smith had 21, but this was no match for Geoffrey Silvestre and the Cubans. Silvestre reeled off 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including a sensational 18-point third quarter which gave his team a 12-point lead heading into the final stanza.
THREE LOSSES IN THREE DAYS
The loss was the third in as many days for the Jamaicans, who lost their opener 85-69 to Mexico on Tuesday and were narrowly beaten 83-82 by Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
The early loss to Mexico put the Jamaicans on the back-foot from the start as to have a chance of progressing to the next round they would have had to have beaten defending champions Puerto Rico and Cuba.
In what was always perceived to be a tough zone, the Jamaicans ended up in last spot on three points behind Cuba, who they recently beat in the Caribbean Basketball Championships, and Mexico and Puerto Rico. Cuba and Jamaica will still advance to the next round but have no chance of playing for any of the top four spots.
At press time Mexico tipped off against Puerto Rico to decide Group B's winners. Things are a bit more competitive in Group A as Panama are the only team in the section to win both their games.
The Virgin Islands and Costa Rica are in second place on three points each and were also scheduled to play in a key encounter at press time.
Only the top four teams from the tournament will progress to the final stage of Olympic qualification the 2007 FIBA Americas Championships. While the top three will progress to the Pan American Games in Brazil.
