CIUDAD OBREGÓN, Mexico — Georgia’s Justin Abson helped the Jamaican National Team compile a 2-1 record in the FIBA Americas World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament at ITSON Arena over the weekend. In the process, Jamaica advanced to the Americas Qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup.

Jamaica defeated Barbados, 101-79, on Friday and Costa Rica, 80-76, on Saturday before falling to host Mexico, 90-61, on Sunday. Abson finished third on the team in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and second in blocks (0.7 bpg) while also contributing 5.7 points, 1.2 assists and 0.7 steals in 16.6 minutes of action per contest.

Statistically, Abson enjoyed his best outing against Barbados, scoring seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 effort from the floor including a 3-pointer, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds and also notching two assists, a block and a steal. He had four points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steals versus Costa Rica before wrapping up the tournament with six points, four boards and a block against Mexico.

Jamaica earned a spot in Group B of the Americas Qualifiers for the World Cup, joining the Bahamas, Canada and Puerto Rico. All told, 16 teams from the Americas are competing for seven spots in the field for the 2027 World Cup, which will be contested Aug. 27-Sept. 12 in Doha, Qatar. The Americas Qualifiers games will be held in six windows between this November and March 2027.

Abson, a rising senior for the Bulldogs, is eligible to compete for Jamaica because his mother, Cheryl McDonnough, is a native of the island. He previously represented Jamaica as a member of the 3×3 national team at the 2022 Caribbean Games in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe.