Four-time FIBA Centrobasket winners Cuba got their 2016 campaign off to a good start with a huge win over Nicaragua.

Cuba almost doubled their opponents' score during their 98-50 triumph as Javier Justiz contributed 18 points in the victory, while Osmel Oliva had 14.

The Cubans shot at 48.8 per cent from the field, including 52.9 from three-point range, for a dominant win.

The Dominican Republic were also in good form as they saw off Costa Rica 79-58 as Rigoberto Mendoza and Marcos Castrillo had a tight individual battle.

Both scored 15 points for their respective sides, but Mendoza had the last laugh as his team won the day.

The U.S. Virgin Islands also got a win, beating the Bahamas 82-74, while hosts Panama comfortably won the late game, beating Antigua and Barbuda 103-48.