Jamaican helps Puerto Rican club to basketball championships

Jamaican basketball player Adrian Uter scored eight points and dragged down three rebounds to help his team Vaqueros de Bayamon to an 84-75 win over Quebradillas Pirates in game three to land the BSN Puerto Rico National Basketball Championship.

The Manchester native, who represented Jamaica at the FIBA Americas Championship back in 2013, played 25 minutes in the 'bubble style' final to hand Bayamon their 15th Puerto Rican title following a three-nil series sweep.

Bayamon, who won game one 83-71 and then game two 67-60, played excellent defence, which was again the deciding factor in the match.

Mojica-Izquierdo was huge for the winning team with 30 points, including five triples on seven attempts, five rebounds and four assists. Ysmael Romero was a factor again on offence, getting 14 points, four rebounds and one assist. Kristian Doolittle had 14 points and five rebounds.

For the losing Pirates, Mark Lyons had 22 points, six rebounds and two assists; Lamar Patterson had 21 points, a rebound and two assists.

Made history

Uter, who has spent the last three years in Puerto Rico, was thrilled at achieving another title overseas.

"I made history being the first player in BSN to win a Championship with Ponce Lions & Bayamon Vaqueros. It's a great feeling to have swept the number one team in the regular season 3-0," said Uter.

The 36-year-old veteran has now taken his championship titles to four, having won twice with Ponce Lions in Puerto Rico, and once in the Israeli League with Habikaa.

The new manager of the Vaqueros Bayamon, former Major League baseball star Yadier Molina, could not hide his joy at the achievement.

"I am very happy for the boys. The guys really deserve it, "said Molina, who only in March became the owner of the entire franchise.