# Unbeaten and Untroubled: Dominican Men Clear Group Phase with 89-60 Rout of Nicaragua

**By Jordan Wells**  \nPublished August 4, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> Powered by Ronald García's 18 points and early defensive dominance, the Dominican Republic swept Group A to set up a high-stakes semifinal against Mexico at the Centro American and Caribbean Games.

A 29-point margin of victory rarely tells the full tactical story of a group-stage finale, but for the host nation, Thursday night's 89-60 dismantling of Nicaragua was an emphatic statement of control. Under the guidance of Dominican Sports Immortal José “Maíta” Mercedes, the men's national team completed a flawless 3-0 march through Group A of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, sealing not just the top spot in the bracket but a direct path to the medal rounds.

Played inside the newly renovated Arena BanReservas Profesor Virgilio Travieso Soto at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the fixture followed a predictable script once the hosts dialed in their defensive rotations. While Nicaragua's David Watson put on a heroic individual display with a game-high 30 points and 8 rebounds alongside Nishon Thomas's 10-point, 12-rebound double-double, the sheer depth of the Dominican bench ultimately suffocated any upset bid.

## Balanced Offense and Defensive Adjustment

The hosts did not blow the game open immediately. Nicaragua kept the pressure on early, yielding a narrow 20-16 opening quarter to the Dominicans. But the second period revealed the structural gap between the two sides, as the home team outscored Nicaragua 23-16 to stretch the intermission lead to 43-32.

By halftime, Ronald García had already established his rhythm with 11 points, supported by Adrián Brito's 10 and Raúl Peña's industrious 7 points and 7 rebounds. When the second half resumed, the defensive intensity cranked upward, starving the Nicaraguan perimeter of clean looks and feeding a transition game that blew the score wide open.

### Key Contributors in the Group Finale

Player
Team
Points
Rebounds

Ronald García
Dominican Republic
18
-

Ángel Javier
Dominican Republic
14
9

Fernando de los Santos
Dominican Republic
12
-

Adrián Brito
Dominican Republic
12
-

David Watson
Nicaragua
30
8

Nishon Thomas
Nicaragua
10
12

## The Semifinal Landscape

With Group A safely conquered alongside second-place finisher Belize, the tournament shifts instantly into elimination pressure. The semifinal schedule for Saturday, August 1, pits Puerto Rico against Belize at 6:00 p.m., followed by the marquee showdown between the Dominican Republic and Mexico at 8:30 p.m. at the Arena BanReservas.

The victors will advance straight to the gold medal match on Monday, August 3, at 8:30 p.m., while the losing sides contest the bronze at 6:00 p.m. the same evening. Meanwhile, the classification matches for fifth through eighth place will fill out the Monday daytime slate, starting at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

For Mercedes and his squad, the mission remains fixed. Having navigated the preliminary stage without a blemish, the hosts now face the ultimate test of their championship credentials against a Mexican side standing directly between them and the gold-medal podium.

## Sources

- [Henry Arias Abad](https://diario55.com/republica-dominicana-avanza-semifinales-balonesto/) — original
- [diariodigitalrd.com](https://diariodigitalrd.com/2026/07/31/republica-dominicana-avanza-invicta-y-apunta-al-oro-en-el-baloncesto-de-santo-domingo-2026.html/) — original
- [eljaya.com](https://www.eljaya.com/265095/republica-dominicana-vence-a-nicaragua-y-avanza-invicta-a-las-semifinales-del-baloncesto-masculino-en-santo-domingo-2026/) — original
- [Elvin Pimentel](https://prensaextra.com/nacionales-dom/4229-republica-dominicana-busca-mantener-racha-perfecta-en-baloncesto-masculino-ante-mexico-en-semifinal) — original
- [laNacionDominicana.com](https://lanaciondominicana.com/noticia/rd-invicto-va-frente-a-mexico-este-sabado-en-baloncesto-en-semifinal-de-los/124582/) — original
- [elcorreo.com.do](https://elcorreo.com.do/republica-dominicana-culmina-invicta-la-fase-de-grupos-y-avanza-a-semifinales-del-jcc-2026/) — original
- [rccnoticias.com.do](https://rccnoticias.com.do/invicto-en-la-fase-preliminar-18-puntos-de-ronald-garcia-impulsan-logro-del-equipo-de-la-rd-574291/) — original