Jamaica was eliminated from the 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers Monday (April 19) night when they lost to El Salvador 66-68.

Omari Johnson scored 18 points on seven-for-15 shooting for the Jamaicans while Marcel Robinson scored 12 and Joel Bailey 10 in the losing effort. Marcel Robinson also had eight rebounds.

Warren Robinson scored nine points and pulled in 10 rebounds in the losing effort.

Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez led all scorers with 19 points and was supported by 11 points each from Jose Araujo and Ronnie Aguilar.

Jamaica led 18-15 at the end of the first quarter but El Salvador took the second quarter 21-18 to tie the scores 36-36 at half time.

Despite poor shooting from Jamaica, they managed to stay alive primarily because of El Salvador’s struggles at the free-throw line from where they made only eight of 18 attempts. El Salvador won the third-quarter 16-13.

Jamaica, meanwhile, shot themselves in the foot with several turnovers which saw them fail to take advantage of El Salvador’s struggles. Their shooters shot a combined 25 of 70 from the field.

The closely fought match went right down to the wire. With 41 seconds to go, Jamaica trailed 62-67 but made one final push to take the lead.

Robinson’s lay-up brought Jamaica to within three with 39 seconds to go. That lead was cut to just one after Bailey’s lay-up with just three seconds on the clock.

However, Aguilar drew a foul from Stefan Whittingham and made one of two free throws to seal the win and eliminate the Jamaicans who were losing their second consecutive match after winning their first two of the tournament.

Jamaica opened their Group A play on April 15 with a 69-67 win over Costa Rica and then defeated Guyana 107-87 on April 16.

They went down 54-92 to Nicaragua on April 17.

Following last night’s results Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador advanced to the next round of competition. Jamaica finished fourth and Guyana fifth.

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