What should have been remembered as one of the most thrilling games of the 2025 AmeriCup instead ended in chaos. On Sunday night in Managua, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic edged Argentina 84–83 in overtime, but the final buzzer sparked a brawl that left players bloodied, reputations tarnished, and FIBA preparing disciplinary action.
https://twitter.com/NBA_NewYork/status/1959853455293743582
The matchup was intense from start to finish. Both teams traded punches in regulation before pushing the contest to overtime, where the Dominican Republic escaped with a one-point win. But emotions carried past the final whistle.
Así fue el escándalo del final. pic.twitter.com/DnTAwIjOkN
— Carlos Altamirano (@altamirano45) August 24, 2025
As players lined up to shake hands, shoving broke out near midcourt. Within seconds, fists were flying. Dominican forward David Jones-Garcia, who had been one of the game’s standout performers, was seen charging across the baseline and throwing a punch at an Argentine player.
On the other side, Argentine big man Gonzalo Bressan left the floor with blood visible on his face, while teammates tried frantically to restore order. The melee lasted less than a minute but left a lasting mark.
Footage circulating online showed multiple angles of the skirmish, including one video where an Argentine player appeared to initiate contact with Jones-Garcia before tempers fully erupted. Still, the Spurs’ two-way guard could face a suspension for escalating the altercation with his retaliatory punch.
This isn’t the first time tensions between these two basketball nations have boiled over. In 2023, during World Cup qualifying, the Dominican Republic stunned Argentina in Buenos Aires, erasing a 17-point deficit and eliminating the Albiceleste from contention. That loss remains one of Argentina’s most painful in recent memory, and the rivalry has only grown sharper since.
Sunday’s battle carried echoes of that history. Argentina, coached by Pablo Prigioni, had fought valiantly despite injuries and roster turnover. But once again, the Dominican Republic came out on top, fueling frustrations that seemed to spill directly into the postgame melee.
FIBA is expected to release a statement soon, with sanctions likely for players on both sides. The organization has been clear in the past about cracking down on unsportsmanlike conduct, especially in international tournaments where emotions run high.
Meanwhile, Argentina must quickly regroup for its next Group C matchup against Colombia. The Dominican Republic, buoyed by back-to-back wins, will move forward with confidence, though the looming threat of suspensions could alter its momentum.
For both teams, the challenge now is to turn the page and refocus on basketball—because at the AmeriCup, the stakes are only getting higher.
