The United States Virgin Islands Women’s Basketball Team suffered a tough loss against Mexico in the semi-finals of the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2027 Centrobasket Qualifier 2026 in Managua, Nicaragua.
The Virgin Islands Senior Women’s National Team played undefeated Mexico in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIBA Centrobasket Qualifier with an automatic entry into the 2027 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup on the line.
Mexico waltzed through Group A, winning all three of their games by an average of 20 points. However, the USVI ladies were seeking to compose a new manuscript for this playoff game.
The first quarter was a symphony of offensive discord as both teams’ defenses stood out in the opening frame. Mexico took a two-point lead into the second, which ballooned to a 10-point cushion with 1:27 left to go in the half. The USVI women found themselves 38-31 at intermission.
Head Coach of the USVI, Tajama Ngongba, and her coaching staff made some adjustments that got the VI ladies on the same sheet of music, scoring 17 points while only allowing six for nine minutes and 59 seconds of the 10-minute third period. As time was running off the clock in the third, Mexico’s Destiny Pitts nailed a three-point shot. The VI clung to a 48-47 going into the final stanza.
The USVI were up for most of the fourth quarter, but the Mexican players made big plays down the stretch. The first was a 3-point shot made by Alexia Lagunas, as the shot clock was about to expire with two minutes to go in regulation, giving Mexico a 60-58 lead. One minute later, Lagunas intercepted an errant pass by Anisha George and took the length of the court and scored with :57 left in the game, giving Mexico a 63-60 advantage. George cut the lead to one point on a made lay-up with :39 seconds to go. In the grand finale, Mexico scored one more basket, and the USVI turned over the ball, giving Mexico a 65-62 victory.
Mexico and Puerto Rico will face each other in the tournament championship game on Saturday, July 18, at 9:30 p.m. EST. The two teams have qualified for the 2027 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in El Salvador. The USVI will take on the Dominican Republic at 7 p.m. EST in the third-place game. The winner of this game will claim the final spot in the 2027 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
