JAMAICA hammered Costa Rica, 91-61, in their opening game of the Men’s Centrobasket Championships at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, yesterday.

Five Jamaicans scored in double figures, led by 25-year-old shooting guard Weyinmi Rose with 18 points. He also contributed five rebounds and six assists.

Giving solid support were Dylan Ennis (16 points, three rebounds, three assists) and Samardo Samuels (14 points, eight rebounds).

Kimani Ffriend (11 points, seven rebounds, two assists) and Akeem Scott (11 points, four rebounds, four assists) also chipped in for Jamaica, who won by 30 points.

Clifford Araya top-scored for Costa Rica with 17 points. He also grabbed four rebounds and providing one assist.

A three-pointer by Rose at 7:37 in the first quarter was the first basket of the game with the score at 3-0.

Jamaica then burst ahead to 15-0 at 3:18 before Costa Rica got their first point at 15-1 on 2:55. The first quarter ended 20-5.

In the second quarter, Jamaica did not let up and raced to 39-21 at half-time.

The Sam Vincent-coached Jamaica then outscored the Central Americans, 22-16, in the third quarter to push their advantage to 61-37 before tightening the screws in the final 10 minutes of the game.

The last quarter was the most competitive, with Jamaica scoring 30 points to Costa Rica’s 24.

Jamaica’s shooting percentage in the match was 50, with Costa Rica at 35.1, and confirmed their dominance, earning 26 points from fast breaks, 18 from turnovers, and 25 from second chances.

Fifty of Jamaica’s points came in the paint, compared to Costa Rica’s 18 points, while honours were even from the bench with both teams contributing 22 points.

Jamaica will take on US Virgin Islands today, Dominican Republic tomorrow and Mexico on Thursday.