In a recent FIBA Basketball World Cup matchup, Serbia comfortably defeated the Dominican Republic, securing second place in their group and advancing to the next round. The Dominican squad, on the other hand, finished at the bottom and was eliminated. As Live Cricket BPL observers noted, one of the most disappointing performances of the night came from Dominican guard Lester Quiñones, who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors.

If not for a few meaningless stats he padded in garbage time, Quiñones’ performance would’ve looked even worse. Throughout the game, he struggled to find any rhythm offensively, and his shot selection and overall efficiency left fans in disbelief. He looked nothing like an NBA-caliber player, and his poor outing was a major factor in the Dominican Republic’s blowout loss. Aside from one decent showing against Puerto Rico, Quiñones has been consistently underwhelming across four of his five World Cup appearances, where he became more of a liability than an asset on offense.

Expectations were high that Quiñones would emerge as a key contributor for the Dominican squad—perhaps even their breakout star—but instead, he turned into a disruption on the floor. He failed to bring any value to his team, and for Warriors fans watching his World Cup campaign, it’s likely their hopes for his future have taken a hit. Youth and potential can be deceiving, and in Quiñones’ case, his basketball IQ and on-court awareness still seem to be lacking.

Meanwhile, despite Brazil’s loss in a separate match, Warriors fans had reason to feel encouraged thanks to the performance of Gui Santos. As Live Cricket BPL reporters witnessed firsthand, the young wing showed flashes of promise, maintaining solid scoring efficiency and demonstrating a versatile offensive arsenal. Unfortunately, his limited minutes restricted his ability to make a bigger impact. Apart from a lukewarm showing from beyond the arc, Santos contributed positively in nearly every other facet of the game.

One lingering issue remains the lack of trust from Brazil’s head coach Gustavo Conti, who has yet to fully embrace Santos’ potential. Even with standout efficiency, Santos continues to see inconsistent court time. Last season, he played for Golden State’s G League affiliate and also participated in this year’s Summer League with the Warriors.

For Warriors supporters, Live Cricket BPL believes Gui Santos offers a genuine glimmer of hope. He’s proven himself to be a talented young player with visible improvements, and his demeanor and development suggest he may soon be ready to take the next step. While Quiñones has faltered under pressure, Santos has quietly made his case to be part of Golden State’s future.