Team Caguas dominate on 2016 World Tour opening day

MEXICO CITY (2016 FIBA 3x3 World Tour) - 2012 FIBA 3x3 World Tour winner Jonathan García led Caguas (PUR) to a perfect 2-0 record on Day 1 at the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Mexico City Masters on 16 July.

The 1.80m playmaker scored 11 points and led Caguas to 2 wins before the 10-minute limit in Pool B against Mexico City (21-8) and especially against NY Harlem (21-19), who finished third overall at the World Tour last year. Wil Martinez hit a cold-blooded game-winner in that last game. Caguas play with the name 'CORKY' written on their jersey in tribute to Andy 'Corky' Ortiz, who won the World Tour with García in 2012 - and tragically died in a car accident last year.

Saskatoon (CAN) were the only other team to win both games before the limit as Michael Linklater and Michael Lieffers both finished the day 3rd in scoring (17pts). But the big shocker of the day was the reigning champs' elimination in the pool phase! Team Denver lost 2 nail-biters against 2 Canadian teams (Saskatoon and Hamilton) and will not be able to defend their Mexico City Masters title on Day 2.

Demián Álvarez made a lot of fans in the Perisur shopping mall with some dazzling plays and a game-winning block at the buzzer against Minnesota. The number one 3x3 player in Uruguay finished second in scoring on Day 1 (18pts, just 1 point behind NY Harlem's 'Disco Domo' Jones) and led Montevideo to a clean 2-0 record.

Last but not least, Team New York City showed some flashes of brilliance in Pool D with some powerful jams courtesy of Marcel Esonwune. Team Chimalhuacán qualified and made sure the crowd will have a local team to cheer for on Sunday.

The action resumes at 12.45 local time (GMT-9) tomorrow with the quarter-finals.

Schedule
Saskatoon (CAN, 1) – Chimalhuacán (MEX, 5)
Montevideo (URU, 6) – NY Harlem (USA, 2)
Caguas (PUR, 10) – Minnesota (USA, 3)
New York City (USA, 12) – Hamilton (CAN, 9)

Team New York City's Kevin Douglas showed some serious hops at the Dunk Contest Qualifier and earned the right to compete with pro dunkers Jordan 'Flight' Southerland and Michael Purdie in the final tomorrow.

In the Shoot-out Contest Qualifier, Demián Álvarez, Disco Domo Jones, Victor Raso (Hamilton, CAN) and Nolan Brudehl (Saskatoon, CAN) will also be back for the final tomorrow.

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