Tortola, British Virgin Islands - Team Jamaica topped hosts British Virgin Islands (BVI) 65-61 to win the gold medal in the Caribbean Basketball Championships of 2009. (Discuss)

With the win, Jamaica automatically qualifies for Centrobasket 2010.

Led by Louisville star Samardo Samuels’ 7 points, Jamaica jumped out to a quick 20-10 lead on hosts BVI in the first quarter.

Jamaica would maintain a double-digit lead until the end of the third quarter when BVI tightened the game up and went into the fourth quarter with a nine point deficit, 49-40.

The game didn’t become close until the hosts rallied towards the end of the match, but two free throws by Jamaica’s Oritseweyinmi Efejuku with 6 seconds remaining sealed the win for the visitors.

Samuels ended the game with 17 points, Efejuku had 16 points, and Kimani Ffriend 11 points and 10 rebounds for Team Jamaica.  In a losing effort for the hometown British Virgin Islands, Kennedy Bass had 19 points and Halstead “JR” Chiverton 12.  This is the first time that BVI has ever qualified for Centrobasket.

In the third place game, Cuba downed Trinidad & Tobago 91-77 to win Bronze and becomes the fifth team to qualifiy for the 2010 Centrobasket Tournament.  The five teams include Jamaica, BVI, Cuba, and Centrobasket 2008 winners and runners-up Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Two spots remain for the 2010 Centrobasket which will be determined by the COCABA Tournament in August 2009.

Trinidad & Tobago was hoping to make their first Centrobasket appearance in 30 years.  The last time T&T played in Centrobasket was in 1989.  The British Virgin Islands edged Trinidad and Tobago 76-73 in the semifinals to reach the championship game.