Jamaica Makes History With First-Ever World Cup Qualifying Win, 92–90 Over Puerto Rico

Kofi Cockburn’s 26-point double-double and last-second clutch play lead the Reggae Hoops to a historic road win

Cockburn led Jamaica to a 92–90 win in San Juan. (Photo: Americas)

Jamaica’s national basketball team made history on Friday night, defeating Puerto Rico 92–90 to claim their first-ever win in the FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan.

In their debut at this stage of the qualifiers, the Reggae Hoops delivered a thrilling performance, led by an outstanding showing from Kofi Cockburn, who posted an impressive double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds, 11 of them defensive, and finished with a team-high 33 efficiency rating.

Puerto Rico held a five-point lead at halftime, but Jamaica stormed into the third quarter with a 16–0 run, using their size and athleticism in the paint to build a 12-point advantage. Puerto Rico battled back in the fourth quarter, setting up a tense finish before Cockburn’s clutch buzzer-beater secured a historic victory for the Jamaicans.

With NBA players unavailable for this window, the 7-foot center Cockburn, who plays in Hiroshima in Japan’s second division, dominated on both ends of the floor. Tyran De Lattibeaudiere added 15 points, including seven from the free-throw line, while Andrew Thelwell delivered an all-around performance with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Jamaica are to face Puerto Rico again on Tuesday, as they compete in Group B alongside Canada and The Bahamas in their pursuit of a spot at the 2027 FIBA World Cup.