Jamaica’s men’s basketball team recorded a second victory on the trot after battling to a 71-65 win over the US Virgin Islands at the Centrobasket Tournament in the Dominican Republic.

The result leaves the team just one win away from guaranteeing a place at next year’s FIBA America’s Tournament in Argentina

Garfield Blair led the way with a game high 27 points and 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

Kimani Friend also had a good game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Akeem Scott chipped in with 15 points and 5 steals.

Jamaica led 20-13 after one quarter, 38-23 at the half, and had a 14 points lead at 50-36 at the end of the 3^rd quarters.

They will take on Panama in their final game of the group stages on Saturday.

The top four teams from the Centrobasket Tournament will qualify for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.

The top eight qualify for the 2010 CAC Games in Puerto Rico while the top three advance to the Pan American Games scheduled for Guadalajara, Mexico next summer.