Ex-UNLV guard helps Mexicans pull upset

Of all the players competing on Wednesday’s opening day of the FIBA Americas Championship, perhaps no one was more excited to be in the Thomas & Mack Center than Romel Beck.

The 6-foot-6-inch former UNLV guard is playing for Mexico and had a good game in his return to Las Vegas, scoring 11 points to help lead Los Tri Colores to a 100-89 upset win over Puerto Rico in Group A pool play.

"It was great," Beck said of his return to the Thomas & Mack. "I never thought I’d be back here. But it brought back a lot of memories. It was kind of emotional."

Puerto Rico was supposed to cruise against the Mexicans. But it shot just 6-for-29 from 3-point range, and top player Carlos Arroyo struggled. The Orlando Magic guard was 0-for-10 from the field and had four points on four free throws.

"This is a big win for us," Beck said of Mexico, which had six players score in double figures, led by Victor Mariscal’s 30 points. "There’s a lot of changes in Mexico. New players. New coach. A new system. We’ve been together four months, and we’re getting better every day.

"To start this tournament with a win will give us a lot of confidence."

Beck, who was born in Mexico and grew up in San Bernardino, Calif., played professionally in Venezuela this year. He said he kept a low profile given that country’s anti-American feelings.

"I didn’t have any problems," he said. "The people were very nice to me."

As was the case Wednesday.

"It’s great to be back here and see so many old friends," Beck said. "This couldn’t have worked out any better."

• CROWDS SPARSE — The 12-day tournament’s opening day didn’t pack them in at the Thomas & Mack. Only a couple of hundred fans watched Panama-Uruguay and Puerto Rico-Mexico. Even Team USA didn’t draw as just 6,537 saw the Americans rout Venezuela.

• RAUTINS HURT — Canada lost more than the game Wednesday as reserve guard Andy Rautins injured his left knee in the Canadians’ 75-67 loss to Brazil. Rautins, who plays for Syracuse, was injured in the second quarter and played just 1:46. He was taken to Sunrise Hospital to have his knee examined, and his status for the rest of the tournament is questionable.