Reading High’s Ruben Rodriguez and Muhlenberg grad Edwin Suarez each left the FIBA Americas U18 Championship at Tijuana, Mexico, with victories in their final games.
Rodriguez had seven points and six rebounds to help Puerto Rico defeat Mexico 86-82 in the fifth-place game Sunday.
Suarez had nine points and four rebounds to help the Dominican Republic beat Ecuador 96-75 in the seventh-place game for its first win in the tournament.
Rodriguez, a rising senior for the Red Knights, also had four assists and two steals in 21:45 off the bench for Puerto Rico Sunday. He was 2-for-8 from the field, including 0-for-4 on 3-pointers, and 3-for-4 from the line.
In six games, the 6-2 guard averaged 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, a team-high 2.0 steals and 0.3 blocks in 22.1 minutes per game.
Puerto Rico finished 4-2.
Suarez, a 6-6 forward, also had four assists and two steals in 14:48 as a starter Sunday. He shot 2-for-4 from the field and 5-for-7 from the line.
In six games, he averaged 11.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals — all team highs — as well as 1.7 assists and 0.3 blocks in 26.3 minutes per game.
The Dominican Republic finished 1-5.
Rodriguez and Suarez were All-Berks selections in each of the last two seasons, with Rodriguez being named the Berks Player of the Year in February.
The United States won the eight-team tournament. Brazil finished second, Canada third and Argentina fourth.
Source: Berkshire mont