Team Bahamas Sends a Message With Dominant Win Over Jamaica

Team Bahamas did not just show up against Jamaica — they showed out.

In a major FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers matchup at the Sir Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in Nassau, The Bahamas, delivered the kind of performance that makes people stop scrolling and pay attention. The scoreboard graphic making the rounds showed the Bahamas up 61–32, but that was only halftime. By the end of the night, Team Bahamas had turned that hot start into a 123–74 win over Jamaica.  

Now that is the type of score that feels personal.

The Bahamas came out aggressively from the first quarter, putting up 28 points early and then adding 33 more before the half. Jamaica had no real answer for the pace, the shooting, or the energy in the building. By halftime, the game already looked like it was slipping away, and by the final buzzer, it was clear Team Bahamas had made a statement in Group B.  

This tournament is part of the road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, which will be held in Doha, Qatar. In the Americas Qualifiers, 16 teams are competing across six windows for seven spots in the World Cup. In the first round, the top three teams from each group advance to the second round, which means every win matters — especially in a group as competitive as The Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.  

For Team Bahamas, this win was also about momentum. Earlier in the qualifying campaign, The Bahamas had already pulled off a huge 99–96 road win over Jamaica in Kingston, a game that helped put the team back into the qualification race after a tough start against Canada.   This rematch in Nassau felt different, though. The first one was a battle. This one was a message.

And honestly, this is why Bahamians get so excited about basketball right now. We have seen the talent. We have seen the names. We have seen the potential. But games like this show what happens when the talent, chemistry, and urgency all show up at the same time.

The preliminary roster announced for this window included a mix of NBA-level talent, veteran national team players, and rising Bahamian stars, with names like Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, VJ Edgecombe Jr., Kai Jones, Jaraun Burrows, Franco Miller Jr., Garvin Clarke Jr., Travis Munnings, and others listed among the available pool.   That kind of depth matters because these qualifying windows are not easy. Players are coming from different leagues, different seasons, and different levels of preparation, but they still have to come together and represent one flag.

Right now, Canada sits at the top of Group B and has already strengthened its hold on the group after beating Puerto Rico 110–84. The Bahamas, after the Jamaica win, moved to 2–3 in Group B, tied on record with Jamaica but sitting ahead in the standings at the time of FIBA’s update. Puerto Rico sits at 1–4, which makes the next matchup even more serious.  

The Bahamas will host

Puerto Rico on Monday, July 6, at 4:10 p.m. local time / 7:10 p.m. ET, and that game could be huge for the next step in the qualifying race.   So yes, the Jamaica win was big, but the job is not finished.

What makes this moment feel even bigger is the bigger picture. Bahamian basketball has been building toward something. We are no longer just celebrating individual players making it overseas. We are now watching a national team that has the potential to make noise internationally, and that is a different kind of pride!

When Team Bahamas wins like this, it is not just about the score. It is about representation. It is about young Bahamian athletes watching and realizing that the world stage is not some faraway dream. It is about seeing “Bahamas” across the jersey and knowing that a small country can still walk into a major tournament and make people uncomfortable.

Jamaica came into this game with something to fight for, but The Bahamas played like a team that understood the assignment. They protected home court. They controlled the game. They gave the crowd something to cheer about. And most importantly, they kept their World Cup qualifying hopes alive in a very loud way.

Now all eyes turn to Puerto Rico.

Because if Team Bahamas can carry this same energy into the next game, this qualifying run could get very interesting.

WATCH INTERVIEWS

I love seeing moments like this in Bahamian sports because they remind people that we are not just “small island” competitors. We have real talent, real drive, and real athletes who can stand on an international stage. This win over Jamaica was more than a box score. It was a reminder that Team Bahamas belongs in these conversations. Now they just have to keep going.

Celebrate the win, but stay locked in. The statement was made. Now it has to be backed up. Go Team Bahamas! 👍💪