In a thrilling FIBA AmeriCup Qualification matchup on July 10, 2026, Guyana edged past Antigua and Barbuda 75–73 in a game that went down to the final possession. The victory gives Guyana a vital boost in Group A standings, while Antigua and Barbuda suffered a heartbreaking loss despite a valiant second-half rally.

Game Flow

Guyana came out firing, building a 14-point lead in the second quarter behind sharp shooting from guard Kevin DeSantos, who scored 12 points in the first half. Antigua and Barbuda struggled to contain Guyana’s pace, trailing 42–30 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Antigua claw back thanks to a zone defense that forced three consecutive Guyana turnovers. Guard Andre Samuel sparked the comeback with eight quick points, cutting the deficit to 60–56 entering the fourth. The teams traded baskets in a tense final period, with Antigua taking its first lead at 71–70 with 1:38 remaining on a baseline jumper by forward Jerome Isaac.

Final Minutes Drama

Guyana responded immediately: DeSantos drove hard to the rim, drew a foul, and calmly sank both free throws to regain the lead, 72–71. Antigua’s next possession ended in a travel violation, giving Guyana the ball with 45 seconds left. Point guard Marcus Liverpool buried a pull-up jumper from the elbow to make it 74–71.

Antigua’s Isaac answered with a tough layup, 74–73, and Guyana called timeout. Inbounding with 18 seconds, Guyana worked the clock before Liverpool was fouled with 6.1 seconds remaining. He split the free throws, making it 75–73. Antigua’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer from Samuel rimmed out, sealing the result.

Top Performers

• Guyana: Kevin DeSantos finished with a game-high 24 points and 5 assists. Marcus Liverpool added 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, including clutch foul shooting down the stretch.
• Antigua and Barbuda: Jerome Isaac notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Andre Samuel contributed 15 points and 6 assists.

Importance in the Qualification Race

The win gives Guyana a 2–2 record in group play, keeping them in contention for a berth in the FIBA AmeriCup. Antigua and Barbuda fell to 1–3 and now face an uphill battle, needing to win their remaining games and hope for other results to go their way.

Both teams showed high intensity and resilience in a closely contested match that highlighted the growing competitiveness of Caribbean basketball on the international stage.