MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico (CMC) — Jamaica’s dream of winning the Women’s Centrobasket Championship ended in disappointment here Wednesday, when they crashed to a 48-72 loss to Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico smothered the Jamaicans with their increased defence and they could not break free as the home side celebrated in front of their fans.

Vanessa Nicole Gidden netted 20 points and Nicole Louden 11 for Jamaica while Jazmine Sepulveda led the victors with 20 points and six assists and was chosen as tournament MVP.

Puerto Rico started the game by going to the paint and at the end of the first quarter led 24-12. In the second quarter, Jamaica made some defensive adjustments and hit back strongly as Simone Edwards (eight points) and Gidden combined for 12 points in the quarter to push Jamaica back to 30-37.

The home side launched a third quarter 17-0 run to increase the lead to 54-30 and Jamaica’s first basket was one by Gidden with 1:44 left as their offence went noticeably absent, outscored 20-5 to finish 35-57.

Jamaica rallied in the fourth quarter but by then Puerto Rico already had one hand on the title.

In the third place play-off, Trinidad and Tobago went down to Mexico 78-65 to miss out on a qualification berth for the 2011 FIBA-Americas Championship (Pre-Olympic) and the 2011 Pan-American Games.

T&T were outgunned by the Mexicans’ efficiency from long range (10-20) and in the field (30-61) and were made to pay dearly for points off turnovers (24) which decided the game, especially in the second half.

Mexico led the first quarter 18-12 after they made a quick 10-0 run to take an 18-10 lead in the final minutes of the quarter.

Trinidad and Tobago bounced back to close the gap as Sharmion Selman and Rhea Codio led a 17-7 run to take a 27-25 lead. However, Mexico opened up from three-point range and closed the half up 40-36 as Rhea Codio netted 13 for Trinidad & Tobago.

Mexico made 11 of their 22 total points off turnovers in the third quarter and finished with a 62-49 lead that Trinidad could not recover from, as they remained in double-digit deficit for the remainder of the game.

Rhea Codio had 22 points and Joneé Billy scored 13 in T&T’s losing effort.

The Dominican Republic dominated the US Virgin Islands 94-55 to finish in fifth place while Guatemala condemned St Vincent and the Grenadines to last place with a 96-36 defeat, to finish in seventh place.

Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Mexico all qualified for the 2011 FIBA-Americas Championship (Pre-Olympic) and the 2011 Pan-American Games.